Fix your eyes on this paragraph alone for a moment Yes, do not go beyond this first paragraph until you have answered these questions: On which day was Adam (AS), the first man, created? On which day was he expelled from paradise to come down to this earth? On which day of the week will the last hour come? Which day of the week is best and most virtuous? On which day did Prophet Muhammad stand on Mount Arafah during the hajj and then Allaah revealed to him: "This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion." (Q5:3)
Many questions but only one answer! It is Yawmul-Jumuah (Friday), the day of congregation. It is the best day Do you know why the sixth day of the week is very meritorious and preferred above the rest of the days. Several events took place on this day. It is the best day. Narrated Abu Hurairah (RA): The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessing be upon him) said: "The best day on which the sun has risen is Yawmul-Jumuah on it Adam was created, on it he was expelled (from Paradise), on it his repentance was accepted, on it he died, and on it the Last Hour will take place on Friday every beast is on the lookout from dawn to sunrise in fear of the Last our, but not jinn and men .,." (Abu Dawood)
In addition, he (RA) also related that Allaahs Messenger (peace and blessing be upon him) took hold of my hands and said: "Allaah, the Exalted and Glorious, created the clay on Saturday and He created the mountains on Sunday and He created the trees on Monday and He created the things entailing labour on Tuesday and created light on Wednesday and He caused the animals to spread on Thursday and created Aadam (peace be upon him) after Asr on Yawmul- Jumuah, the last creation at the last hour of the hours of Yawmul-Jumuah i.e. between afternoon and night." (Muslim) In addition, Aadam was placed in paradise, on Yawmul-Jumuah, and ironically he was also taken out on Yawmul-Jumuah. The last hour will not commence except on Yawmul- Jumuah.
Abu Hurairah (RA) narrated: "The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessing be upon him) said: "The best day on which the sun has risen is Yawmul-Jumuah, on it Aadam was created, on it he was expelled (from Paradise), on it his repentance was accepted, on it he died, and on it the Last Hour will take place. On Yawmul- Jumuah, every beast is on the lookout from dawn to sunrise in fear of the Last Hour, but not jinn and men." (Abu Dawood) Yawmu!-Jumuah is a day of Eid Yawmul-Jumuah, is a day of celebration and festivities for us. It was made like that for the nations before us, the Jews and the Christians but they differed from the truth and went astray.
Abu Hurairah (RA) narrated: I heard Allaah’s Messenger (peace and blessing be upon him saying:- "We (Muslims)are the last (to come) but (will be) the foremost on the day of resurrection though the former nations were given the Holy Scriptures before us. And this was their day (Yawmul-Jumuah,) the celebration of which was made compulsory for them but they differed about it. So Allaah gave us the guidance for it (Yawmul- Jumuah,) and all the other people are behind us in this respect: the Jews (day is) tomorrow (i.e. Saturday) and the Christians (is) the day after tomorrow (i.e. Sunday) (Bukhari)
The Jumuah prayer: This day is called al-Jumuah because it is the day of gathering. It is the most important feature of this day. As Muslims, we are obliged to attend this salaah in the major places of worship. Allaah says: "O you who believe! When the call is proclaimed for the salaah on AI-Jumuah, then hasten to the remembrance of Allaah and leave off business. That is better for you if you did but know." (62:9). This congregational prayer has a lot of things attached to it, we point out some of them below. Do not miss it Missing the salaah deliberately will only mean you a stamp of punishment from your Lord. AI-Jad ad-Damri (RA) related that The Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) said: "He who leaves the Yawmul-Jumuah, prayer (continuously) for three Yawmul- Jumuah, on account of slackness, Allaah will print a stamp (of his evil and sinful deeds) on his heart." (Abu Dawood).
And be informed that attending the congregational prayer wipes away your minor sins. Abdullah bin Amr bin al`As (RA)related that the prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) said: Three types of people attends Yaomul Jumuah, prayer; One is present in a frivolous (unserious and disturbing) way and that is all he gets from it; another comes with a supplication, Allaah may grant or refuse his request as He wishes; another is present silently and quietly with-out stepping over a Muslim or annoying anyone, and that is an atonement for his sins till the next Friday and three days more, the reason being that Allaah, the Exalted, says: "He who does a good deed will have ten times as much" (6:160)." (Abu Dawood)
No side-talk Have you not seen people who have turned the Jumuah sermon into a discussion session, each one (the Imaam and the followers) competing to lead the other? This not the way of the Khutbah (sermon) on Jumuah.
Be informed that while the Imaam is giving the Khutbah (sermon), it is forbidden to talk and to correct anybody verbally. Greeting someone else with the salaam or even responding to it is not allowed, nor is enjoining the good and forbidden evil except in the case of a harm resulting there from. e.g. a blind man who has lost his way and is likely to fall into a pit or any form of danger. Beyond this, whoever contravenes his prohibition is likened to an ass carrying books. It will never be profited by it. Abdullah bin Abbaas (RA) related that the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) said: "If anyone speaks on Yawmul-Jumuah while the Imaam is preaching, he is like an ass which carries books, and he who tells him to be quiet is not credited with the Jumuah prayer." (Tirmidhi)
A good example Let us learn from the incident that occurred between these two great companions Abu Ad-Darda (RA) and Ubayy bin Kab (RA). Abu ad-Darda says: "The Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) was upon the pulpit and was addressing the people and he recited a verse, and next to me was Ubayy bin-Kab and i asked him: When was that verse revealed? He refused to talk to me until the Messenger of Allaah came down from the pulpit and then he said to me: You have nothing from your Jumuah, except your useless talk. When the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) had finished, I went to him and informed him of what had happened, and he said: "Ubayy has told the truth. If you hear your Imaam speaking, be quiet until he is finished." (Ahmad)
Jumuah is an obligation: The Jumuah prayer is an obligation for every Muslim except those in six categories, the woman, the slave, the sick, the child, the people of the desert (i.e. the nomads) and the traveller. Narrated Taariq bin Shihaab (RA): The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessing be upon him) said: The Jumuah prayer is an Obligatory duty upon every Muslim in congregation except for four people: the slave, the woman, the child before puberty, and the sick." (Saheeh Abu Dawood). As for the traveller, it is related from Ibn Umar (RA) in a hadeeth with weak chain but of sound and authentic meaning that the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) said: "The Jumuah prayer is not obligatory upon the traveller." (Tabarani)
As for the woman, if she wishes to go for Jumuah then she should be allowed to do so. The Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) said: "Do not prevent the female servants of Allaah from attending Allaahs mosques. If the wife of any of you should seek permission to go to the mosque, do not prevent her. (Muslim) Look good, smell good It is preferred for you - man or woman, an elderly or young person, a traveler or a resident when you desire to attend the Salatul Jumuah or any gathering of the people, to cleanse and to wear your best attire. Allaah says: "O Children of Aadam! Take your adornment (by wearing your clean clothes) while praying ... " (Q7:31).
You should perform ghusl (bath), put on your finest clothing, apply perfume, and brush your teeth. This is because Abu Ayyub AIAnsari (RA) related that he heard the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) saying: "Whoever performs Ghusl on Friday and applies perfume, if he has any, wears his best clothes, then goes to the masjid and performs voluntary prayer, if he wishes, does not bother anyone, listens when the Imaam appears until he starts the prayer. Then all of this will be an expiation for whatever (minor sins) occurs between that Jumuah and the next Jumuah." (Ahmad)
Not for females: Can the females also perfume herself when she sets out for Jumuah? Well, you should not forget that you have been exempted from the congregation but if you do decide to attend, perhaps you should hear this! Abu Musa AI Ashari (RA) related that the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) said: "Any woman who wears perfume and then passes by some people (men) so that they smell her perfume, she is an adulteress (by that)." (Abu Dawood). Your type of perfume was also described by the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) when he said: ".. .Beware! The perfume of men is that whose smell becomes visible and its colour does not appear. Beware! The perfume of women is that whose colour becomes visible and whose smell is not obvious ... "(Abu Dawood)
This article was culled from the publications of Deen Communication Limited