About Jumu'ah Prayer

Jummah Prayer - The Friday Prayer

Jumu'ah (Friday prayer) is the weekly congregational prayer that replaces Dhuhr on Fridays for those obligated to attend. It is obligatory (fard 'ayn) for every free, sane, adult Muslim male who is a resident — women, travellers, the sick, and those with valid excuses are exempt but may still attend.

Friday is the best day of the week in Islam — the Prophet ﷺ described it as the day "on which the sun has risen" most gloriously. It is the weekly 'Eid of the Muslims, a day of gathering, collective dhikr, and abundant blessings.

Significance & benefits

The Command of Allah

"O you who believe! When the call is proclaimed for the prayer on Friday, then proceed to the remembrance of Allah and leave trade. That is better for you, if you only knew" (Qur'an 62:9).

The Best Day

The Prophet ﷺ said: "The best day on which the sun has risen is Friday: on it Adam was created, on it he was admitted to Paradise, and on it he was expelled from it. And the Hour will take place on no day other than Friday" (Muslim 854).

Expiation of a Week's Sins

The Prophet ﷺ said: "The five daily prayers, and from one Friday to the next, are expiation for whatever sins come in between them, so long as one does not commit a major sin" (Muslim 233).

Fajr on Fridays is the Best Weekly Prayer

Ibn 'Umar reported the Prophet ﷺ said: "The best prayer before Allah is Fajr prayer on Friday in congregation" (Al-Bayhaqi, classed as saheeh by Al-Albani in Sahih al-Jami' 1119; IslamQA 9211).

Great Reward for Coming Early

The Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever does ghusl on Friday like ghusl for major ritual impurity, then goes to the prayer in the first hour, it is as if he sacrificed a camel. Whoever goes in the second hour, it is as if he sacrificed a cow…" (Bukhari 814, Muslim 850).

For every step to Jumu'ah, the one who has done ghusl, set out early, sat close to the imam and listened attentively will have the reward of fasting and praying qiyam for one year (Tirmidhi 496; IslamQA 13692).

The Hour of Accepted Du'a

There is an hour on Friday during which no Muslim supplicates to Allah without it being granted. The most supported opinion places it in the last hour after Asr until sunset (Bukhari, Muslim; IslamQA 9211).

Recitation of Surah Al-Kahf

The Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever recites Surah Al-Kahf on Friday, a light will shine for him between the two Fridays" (Hakim, Bayhaqi — classed as saheeh).

Salawat Upon the Prophet ﷺ

The Prophet ﷺ said: "Send a great deal of salawat upon me on Friday, for it is presented to me" (Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah — IslamQA 9211).

How to perform / practice

Before the Prayer

  1. Perform ghusl (full ritual bath) after Fajr on Friday — strongly Sunnah and linked to great reward (Bukhari 877, Muslim 846).
  2. Use siwak, wear perfume, and put on your best clean clothes.
  3. Recite Surah Al-Kahf from Thursday sunset until Friday sunset.
  4. Send abundant salawat upon the Prophet ﷺ throughout the day.
  5. Go early to the mosque — the earlier you arrive, the greater the reward. Walking is preferred when feasible.

At the Mosque

  1. Pray voluntary prayers until the imam ascends the minbar (pulpit) — there is no regular confirmed Sunnah before Jumu'ah, but praying voluntary prayers upon entering the mosque is Sunnah (tahiyyat al-masjid).
  2. Sit close to the imam and listen attentively to the khutbah — speaking, even to say "Shhh", during the khutbah nullifies the reward of Jumu'ah (Abu Dawud 1051).
  3. Perform two fard rak'ahs of Jumu'ah in congregation with the imam.
  4. Pray four Sunnah rak'ahs after Jumu'ah in the mosque — or two rak'ahs at home (Sahih Muslim 881; IslamQA 203681).

After Jumu'ah

  1. Make du'a especially in the last hour before sunset — this is the most likely time for the "hour of acceptance."
  2. Seek forgiveness (istighfar) abundantly, as Jumu'ah expiates the week's minor sins.

References