My khutba today deals with the importance, virtues and etiquettes of Jumu’ah. I have chosen to talk on this topic because it is observed that sometimes people come to the Masjid to perform their Jumu’ah prayers but do not observe the etiquettes that should be observed, especially during the time when the khutba is being delivered. There are some people who exchange greetings, shake hands, attend phone calls, look here and there, and even talk while the khutba is being delivered. They appear to be unmindful of the importance of honoring Jumu’ah as it should be honored.
Jumu’ah is a very special day when Muslims come together and remember Allah (SWT) collectively. The importance of Jumu’ah can be understood by the fact that there is a whole surah dedicated to it—Surat al-Jumu’ah, in which Allah (SWT) instructs the believers to offer the Salat ul-Jumu’ah.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا نُودِيَ لِلصَّلَاةِ مِن يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ فَاسْعَوْا إِلَىٰ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَذَرُوا الْبَيْعَ ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ
O you who believe! When the call to prayer is made on Jumu’ah, hasten towards the remembrance of Allah and leave all transactions––that is best for you, if only you knew (al-Jumu’ah, 62:9).
The Jumu’ah prayer is an obligation upon every free, adult, sane, resident Muslim who has the ability to attend the prayer and does not have a valid excuse to miss it.
It is not an obligation, however, upon a slave, a woman, a child, a sick person, and a traveler.
We must never be neglectful of the Jumu’ah prayer. The Prophet (SAW) said, “People must cease neglecting Jumu’ah or else Allah will put a seal over their hearts and they will truly be among the negligent.” We learn through another hadith that whoever missed three Jumu’ah prayers in a row out of negligence will have a seal put over his heart by Allah (SWT). Ibn Abbas (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said, “The person who leaves out Jumu’ah prayer without a valid reason is written down as a hypocrite in a book that is absolutely protected from any changes and modifications.” In other words, he will be labeled as a hypocrite forever. However, if he repents, or Allah (SWT) forgives him solely out of His mercy, then this is another matter.
What are some of the virtues of Jumu’ah? According to a hadith, “The best day on which the sun rises is Jumu’ah. It was on this day that Adam (AS) was created, the day on which he was granted entry into Paradise, the day when he was taken out from it, and the day on which the Day of Judgment will take place.” The day Adam (AS) was removed from Paradise is also significant because that became the cause for man’s existence in this world, which itself is a great blessing.
We learn through a hadith that there is a time in Jumu’ah in which if one asks anything of Allah (SWT), it is granted to him unless what one asks for is unlawful. The Prophet (SAW) is also reported to have said, “Jumu’ah is the best of all days and the most virtuous in the sight of Allah (SWT). It has more greatness than Eid ul-Fitr and Eid ul-Adha.” It is a day on which sins are forgiven. According to a hadith, “The five daily prayers and from one Jumu’ah to the next is an expiation for whatever sins come in between them.” The scholars have written that this hadith refers to minor sins because major sins are not forgiven without making Taubah or repentance. A Prophetic tradition tells us that the charity given on Jumu’ah is greater (in reward) than any other day of the week. It is said that once Ibn Abbas (RA) was reciting the following verse:
الْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ الْإِسْلَامَ دِينًا
Today I have perfected your religion for you, completed My blessing upon you, and chosen for you Islam as the acceptable system of faith and worship (al-Ma’idah, 5:3).
A Jew was sitting near him. On hearing this verse being recited he remarked: “If this verse was revealed to us, we would have celebrated that day as a day of Eid.” Ibn Abbas replied: “This verse was revealed on two Eids, i.e. on the day of Jumu’ah and the day of Arafah.” In other words, what is the need for us to make that day into a day of Eid when it was already a day of two Eids.
What are some of the etiquettes of Jumu’ah? Taking a bath (ghusl) on Jumu’ah is among the Prophet’s Sunnah. Therefore, it is preferred for anyone; man or woman, elderly or young, traveler or resident who desires to attend Salat ul-Jumu’ah to take a bath. It is also recommended that one clips one’s nails on the day of Jumu’ah. The brushing of teeth or using the miswak is also highly recommended. According to a hadith, brushing the teeth purifies the mouth and brings the pleasure of the Lord. The Prophet (SAW) has emphatically urged the strict observance of oral hygiene at all times, especially during prayers. We have to ensure that there is no bad or foul odor emitted from our mouths. This is the reason why it is undesirable to enter the Masjid after eating raw garlic, onion or anything that may produce foul smell. The need for oral hygiene is also emphasized because we recite the Qur’an or Kalamullah (the words of Allah) through our mouth. Dressing well on the day of Jumu’ah is another area which needs our attention. The Prophet (SAW) insisted that we should put on our finest clothing on Jumu’ah.
Allah (SWT) says,
يَا بَنِي آدَمَ خُذُوا زِينَتَكُمْ عِندَ كُلِّ مَسْجِدٍ
“O Children of Adam! Wear fine clothing at every time and place of prayer….” (al-A’raf, 7:31)
This is all the more desirable on the day of Eid, and Jumu’ah is a day of Eid for Muslims. Use of perfume is also recommended. It is one of the things that the Prophet (SAW) used to love. Another thing we should try to do on the day of Jumu’ah is to go early for prayers and be at the Masjid before the Imam arrives to deliver his khutba. The earlier a person goes the more reward he gets. It is Wajib (mandatory) for every Muslim to attend the khutba from the very beginning. The khutba is an integral part of the Jumu’ah prayer. It is established by authentic sources that the khutba of Jumu’ah stands for two rak’at of prayer. Every day other than the day of Jumu’ah, the dhuhr prayer consists of four rak’at. There is no dhuhr prayer on Jumu’ah. The Jumu’ah prayer consists of two rak’at. The other two rak’at of dhuhr are substituted by the khutba. Only those who miss their Jumu’ah for any reason have to pray the normal four rak’at of dhuhr.
The khutba is to be listened to attentively. It is forbidden to engage in talking, socializing, attending to phone, playing with the prayer rug or any such activities once the khutba has started. If we are not mindful of these things, we will lose the blessings and goodness of Salat ul-Jumu’ah, and the same may even be nullified. To engage in conversation before the khutba starts is permissible, but laghw or vain talk should be avoided. It is also disliked to walk between sitting people during Friday gathering unless there is an empty spot to fill.
Those who come late to Jumu’ah prayers because of laziness, or for any other reason, unless it is an emergency, then these individuals are similar to those whom Allah (SWT) reprimanded in the Qur’an regarding being heedless of Jumu’ah. This was the attitude of some of the believers at the time of the Prophet (SAW). Now what we have is the same phenomenon. Some of our brothers wait until the Imam is about to finish his khutba; then they come in to catch the two rak’at of Salat ul-Jumu’ah. We should be very careful about punctuality while attending the Friday prayers.
أَقُولُ قَوْلِي هَذَا وَأَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ لِي وَلَكُمْ وَلِسَائِرِ المُسْلِمينَ وَالمُسْلِمَاتْ فَاسْتَغْفِرُوهْ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ
الحمد لله رب العالمين والصلاة والسلام على سيد المرسلين وعلى آله وأصحابه أجمعين
There is a lot of reward in reciting Surat al-Kahf either before the Jumu’ah prayer or after it. According to a hadith, one who recites Surat al-Kahf on Jumu’ah will have light from that Jumu’ah to the next. This means that such a person will be blessed with the light of guidance. Sending salutations and blessings (Darud and Salam) upon the Prophet (SAW) during the night and day of Jumu’ah is also highly recommended and is conducive toward maximizing the benefits of Jumu’ah. It is the Prophet (SAW) who brought guidance to us. He guided us from darkness to light. He purified our hearts by the grace of Allah (SWT). In gratitude and appreciation for the great blessing we received through him from Allah (SWT), it is obligatory upon us to keep invoking Allah’s blessing upon him, especially on the day and night of Jumu’ah.
For Muslims, Jumu’ah is a working day. It was not legislated to consider Jumu’ah as a day off and not work during it, because Allah (SWT) says in Surat al-Jumu’ah,
فَإِذَا قُضِيَتِ الصَّلَاةُ فَانتَشِرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَابْتَغُوا مِن فَضْلِ اللَّهِ وَاذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ
“When the prayer is finished, spread through the earth and seek Allah´s bounty and remember Allah much so that hopefully you will be successful” (al-Jumu’ah, 62:10)
Finally, there are two important matters for us in this country to be cautioned of. First of all, we must not neglect Jumu’ah prayers because of work, study, or other engagements, unless there is a valid reason or an emergency. Every Muslim should make attending Jumu’ah prayer his top priority. It is important to do so since ignoring it three times with no valid reason will cause the heart to be sealed from the right path. The second matter to watch for is the losing of one’s interest in the importance of Jumu’ah. It is our duty to remind ourselves and other Muslims about this great day which is the best day of the week—the most prominent, the most honored, and the most virtuous day in the sight of Allah (SWT).
Let us pray to Allah (SWT) to make us conscious about the importance, virtues and etiquettes of Jumu’ah so that we benefit from its great blessings, and not be among the losers.
