﷽
VIRTUES OF THE DAY OF JUMA (FRIDAY)
AND THE RECENT IMPACT OF COVID19
ON ITS SIGNIFICANCE
INTRODUCTION:
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِذَا نُودِىَ لِلصَّلَوٰةِ مِن يَوْمِ ٱلْجُمُعَةِ فَٱسْعَوْا۟ إِلَىٰ ذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ وَذَرُوا۟ ٱلْبَيْعَ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌۭ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ
O you who have believed, when [the adhan] is called for the prayer on the day of Jumu’ah [Friday], then proceed to the remembrance of Allah and leave trade. That is better for you, if you only knew.
Al Qur’an (Ch62, v9) (“Surah Jumu’ah [62] – Translation and Transliteration – الجمعة”, 2021)
Juma (Friday) is observed to be one of the most important days in Islam. The importance of Friday could be well understood from the verse of Surah Juma (Ch62) of the Qur’an, where ALLAH (S.W.T.) is asking the believers to leave every important task for Salat-al-Juma (Friday Prayer).
Numerous other Hadith also tell us the virtue and significance of Salat-al-Juma (Friday Prayer). According to many authentic Hadith, if one leaves three Friday prayers, then ALLAH (S.W.T.) will print a stamp on his heart.
حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي عُبَيْدَةُ بْنُ سُفْيَانَ الْحَضْرَمِيُّ، عَنْ أَبِي الْجَعْدِ الضَّمْرِيِّ، – وَكَانَتْ لَهُ صُحْبَةٌ – أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ “ مَنْ تَرَكَ ثَلاَثَ جُمَعٍ تَهَاوُنًا بِهَا طَبَعَ اللَّهُ عَلَى قَلْبِهِ ” .
Narrated Al-Ja’d ad-Damri:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: He who leaves the Friday prayer (continuously) for three Friday on account of slackness, Allah will print a stamp on his heart.
Sunan Abi Dawud (1052) (“Sunan Abi Dawud 1052 – Prayer (Kitab Al-Salat) – كتاب الصلاة – Sunnah.com – Sayings and Teachings of Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه و سلم)”, 2021)
According to Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.), Friday is the most important day and many important events happened on this day (including the creation of Adam and Eve and their entry into paradise). In addition, the final hour will be established on the day of Friday.
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا الْمُغِيرَةُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ، عَنِ الأَعْرَجِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ “ خَيْرُ يَوْمٍ طَلَعَتْ فِيهِ الشَّمْسُ يَوْمُ الْجُمُعَةِ فِيهِ خُلِقَ آدَمُ وَفِيهِ أُدْخِلَ الْجَنَّةَ وَفِيهِ أُخْرِجَ مِنْهَا وَلاَ تَقُومُ السَّاعَةُ إِلاَّ فِي يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ ” . قَالَ وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ أَبِي لُبَابَةَ وَسَلْمَانَ وَأَبِي ذَرٍّ وَسَعْدِ بْنِ عُبَادَةَ وَأَوْسِ بْنِ أَوْسٍ . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى حَدِيثُ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ .
Abu Hurairah narrated that: the Prophet said: “The best day that the sun has risen upon is Friday. On it Adam was created, on it he entered Paradise, and on it, he was expelled from it. And the Hour will not be established except on Friday.”
Jami` at-Tirmidhi (488) (“Jami` at-Tirmidhi 488 – The Book on the Day of Friday – كِتَاب الْجُمُعَةِ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ – Sunnah.com – Sayings and Teachings of Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه و سلم)”, 2021)
The importance of ‘Day of Juma’ and ‘Juma (Friday)’ Prayer in Islam is so highly rated that if all the pens at the same time start writing about the virtues associated Friday, then all the pens will run dry out of ink, but the virtues of the ‘Salat al Juma (Friday Prayer)’ will not end.
VIRTUES OF THE DAY OF ‘JUMA (FRIDAY)’:
As mentioned already, there are some special days which ALLAH (S.W.T.) likes the most and out of those days, Friday is one of the important days. The following points will make us clear the virtues of Jumma in a better way:
JUMA (FRIDAY) HOLDS SUPREMACY OVER OTHER DAYS OF THE WEEKS: Just like Jews and Christians have an assigned special day (Saturday and Sunday), the Muslims also have an assigned special day (Friday, known as ‘Juma’ in Arabic) that holds supremacy over other days of the week. Many Sahih Hadith (Authentic Narrations of Prophet) is the strong proof to justify this claim.
THE QUR’AN ITSELF DECLARES THE SUPREMACY AND VIRTUE OF JUMA (FRIDAY) OVER OTHER DAYS OF THE WEEK: The Qur’an itself is the strong evidence to justify the claim of Juma (Friday) as the most important day of the week. The whole chapter of the Qur’an i.e. Surah Juma (Ch62) is after the name of ‘Juma’. Apart from this, ALLAH (S.W.T.) also asks the believers in the same Surah to leave every important task and stand before ALLAH (S.W.T.) on Friday Prayer (Salat Al Juma).
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِذَا نُودِىَ لِلصَّلَوٰةِ مِن يَوْمِ ٱلْجُمُعَةِ فَٱسْعَوْا۟ إِلَىٰ ذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ وَذَرُوا۟ ٱلْبَيْعَ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌۭ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ
O you who have believed, when [the adhan] is called for the prayer on the day of Jumu’ah [Friday], then proceed to the remembrance of Allah and leave trade. That is better for you, if you only knew.
Al Qur’an (Ch62, v9)
ALLAH (S.W.T.) PERFECT THE RELIGION ON THE DAY OF FRIDAY:
ٱلْيَوْمَ يَئِسَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ مِن دِينِكُمْ فَلَا تَخْشَوْهُمْ وَٱخْشَوْنِ ۚ ٱلْيَوْمَ أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِى وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ ٱلْإِسْلَـٰمَ دِينًۭا ۚ فَمَنِ ٱضْطُرَّ فِى مَخْمَصَةٍ غَيْرَ مُتَجَانِفٍۢ لِّإِثْمٍۢ ۙ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ
This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion. But whoever is forced by severe hunger with no inclination to sin – then indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.
Al Qur’an (Ch5, v3)
As narrated by Hazrat Umar (R.A.), this verse was revealed to Prophet MUHAMMAD (S.A.W.).
Sahih Al Bukhari
THE REWARDS MENTIONED IN HADITH MAKES JUMA (FRIDAY) THE DAY THAT HOLDS VIRTUE:
According to many Sahih Hadith (Authentic narrations of Prophet), Friday is the day that comes to the believer with lots of rewards. When offered with a good and happy heart, the rewards of Friday are endless. The messenger of ALLAH (S.W.T.) has commanded the believers to take a fresh bath on this day, use a Miswak, and dress up nicely on this day. Rasool ALLAH (S.A.W.) has considered this day as the day of Eid, as on this day, the Qur’an was completed, and also on this dayall, Adam and Eve were created, entered the paradise, and were expelled from the paradise.
حَدَّثَنَا أُمَيَّةُ بْنُ بِسْطَامٍ، حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ، – يَعْنِي ابْنَ زُرَيْعٍ – حَدَّثَنَا رَوْحٌ، عَنْ سُهَيْلٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ “ مَنِ اغْتَسَلَ ثُمَّ أَتَى الْجُمُعَةَ فَصَلَّى مَا قُدِّرَ لَهُ ثُمَّ أَنْصَتَ حَتَّى يَفْرُغَ مِنْ خُطْبَتِهِ ثُمَّ يُصَلِّيَ مَعَهُ غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ الْجُمُعَةِ الأُخْرَى وَفَضْلَ ثَلاَثَةِ أَيَّامٍ ” .
Abu-Huraira reported Allah’s Apostle (ﷺ) as saying: He who took a bath and then came for Jumu’a prayer and then prayed what was fixed for him, then kept silence till the Imam finished the sermon, and then prayed along with him, his sins between that time and the next Friday would be forgiven, and even of three days more.
Sahih Muslim (857a) (“Sahih Muslim 857a – The Book of Prayer – Friday – كتاب الجمعة – Sunnah.com – Sayings and Teachings of Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه و سلم)”, 2021)
RECENT IMPACT OF COVID19 ON THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE DAY OF JUMA:
In 2019, when the pandemic started to expand all over the planet, almost all the countries imposed a nationwide lockdown due to which the Masjids (Mosques) were temporarily closed, and in Saudi Arabia, the annual Pilgrimage (Hajj and Umrah) were banned.
The Muftis gave the Fatawa to offer all the necessary prayers at home (including Salat-al-Juma). (“FATWA ON FRIDAY PRAYERS DURING COVID-19 (ENGLISH)”, 2021)
Although the Covid19 struck the entire planet, barred the Muslims across the world from entering mosques to offer prayers to ALLAH (S.W.T.), the Covid19 pandemic was not stronger than the promise of ALLAH (S.W.T.). The COVID19 pandemic wasn’t able to reduce the virtues and significance of the day of Juma. The words of ALLAH (S.W.T.) are permanent and true. Once ALLAH (S.W.T.) speaks anything, it is meant for real, and thus Covid19 did not reduce or lessen the significance/virtues of Juma. Also, the people who performed ‘Salat al Jumah’ at home will INSHA ALLAH be rewarded equally by ALLAH (S.W.T.). Indeed, ALLAH (S.W.T.) is the knower of all things and understands his creation well.
CONCLUSION:
Juma (Friday) holds much more value than all the other days of the week combined together, and indulging in any kind of worship on this day is the rewarding act by ALLAH (S.W.T.). Now, ALHAMDULILLAH, we all have come out of the pandemic, and thus the Muslims living all around the world must observe this day with a lot of love, affection, and careful attention. The Muslims must perform all the duties perfectly on this Day (as prescribed by the Prophet MUHAMMAD (S.A.W.)) and receive the unending Thawab (Rewards).