Friday for Muslims: what does it mean and how to spend the day right

2024 Author: Miguel Ramacey | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 06:11

Friday is a very important day for Muslims. It is considered more significant and pious than any other in the week.

On this day, Muslims gather in the mosque for joint prayer. Immediately before prayer, a sermon is read, designed to give valuable knowledge about God and the religion of Islam.

What is the name of Friday among Muslims

It is believed that the name of the holiday, Juma, comes from the Arabic "jamaa" - "to collect":

This day is called the word "Juma", as in Arabic it indicates a gathering of people. Before Islam, during the period of "jahiliyya" (the period of pre-Islamic ignorance), the Arabs called this day the word "aruba" (the book "Tahrir al-faz tanbih").

According to one version, this is due to the fact that on Friday, believers gather in the mosque to perform a collective prayer. It is also believed that on this day, Adam and Hava (Eve) were gathered together by Allah on earth, and the presence of numerous blessings and virtues was noted.

Meaning in Islam

Holy Friday is the sixth day of the week for Muslims. In Islam, it has received a special significance compared to other days of the week. Every Friday, a prayer is read, for which a special time is set aside. Imams of all mosques deliver a sermon on a different topic every Jumuah.

From various Ahadith (records of the words and actions of the Prophet) it is known that the Prophet Muhammad celebrated this day, and he declared Jumah as a weekly holiday for Muslims. He usually wore clean and new (washed) clothes, performed ablution, used incense especially for this day.

Main day of the week

Friday for Muslims is considered the "mother" of all days. According to Muslim theologians, only that believer will receive blessings and be worthy of the benefits of this day, who is waiting for it with anxiety and impatience. But unhappy will be a careless person who has little interest in this and who “does not even know what day he woke up in the morning.”

Blessed Friday among Muslims is considered the most beneficial part of the week. It consists of twelve hours, one of which is the hour when God answers all the prayers of believers.

Friday Prayer

Friday for Muslims is considered the most perfect for prayer.

Prayer on this day (juma-prayer) is one of the most pronounced duties in Islam. The onset of Friday for Muslims means that the time has come when all believers gather together to worship their God, gain strength and confirm their faith.

In manyMuslim countries this day is a day off. However, workplaces do not have to be closed on Friday, except during prayer times in the community. In Western countries, many Muslims try to take a break for prayer time.

Friday prayer is exactly the same as the rituals performed the rest of the week, except that on Friday the imam delivers a two-part sermon known as a khutbah, with a pause between the two parts to allow time for personal prayer, or dua. Whoever is considered by the community to be the most educated person in matters of religion can serve as an imam, since there is no official "clergy" in Islam. The Imam usually recites and explains Qur'anic verses relating to community issues and encourages the congregation to remember their obligations to God and to each other, giving advice on how a true Muslim should behave in daily life.

Conditions for holding Friday prayers

It is important that a Muslim does not neglect her because of work, study or other worldly affairs. Believers must definitely take part in this prayer, ignoring it three times in a row without a good reason will force the believer to deviate from the righteous path.

Although attending Friday prayers is mandatory, there are several categories of Muslims for whom it may be optional:

• women are allowed to perform such prayers at home;
• minors may also not attend Juma Prayer;
• travelers (according to Sharia, these are persons who have moved away fromat home more than 87 km for a period not exceeding 15 days);
• Physically and mentally ill people also have the right not to attend.

Friday Virtues

Among the main benefits of this day are the following:

1. On Friday Allah created Adam.
2. Adam was sent to earth on this day as his viceroy.
3. Adam died on Friday.
4. On Friday there is a blessed hour during which a person is given everything that is lawful and good for Allah, for which he prays.
5. The blessed hour on Friday is such that Duas answered and accepted.
6. Kityamat (Resurrection) Day will be on Friday.

Required activities for this day

In addition to the obligatory attendance of prayer, there are a number of actions - what Muslims do on Friday. And this applies to everyone, not only men, but also women and children.

The following are some important things to do on Friday for all Muslims:

1. The believer must perform a full bath (ghusl).
2. A Muslim must wear his best, clean clothes before going to the mosque.
3. Use miwask (twig brush).
4. Use incense before entering the mosque. Since this day is not like other ordinary days, complete cleanliness must be observed, in addition to washing the whole body. It is necessary to have an overall pleasant appearance, because an unpleasant smell can create problems for other people during prayer.

5. The path to the mosque followsto walk, as this leads to receiving blessings and forgiveness of sins:

   Allah made the feet of those people whose feet are covered with dust on the path of the Lord (Tirmidhi)

   Come to the mosque in advance, before the start of the sermon, as it is believed that angels stand at the doors of every mosque on this day, writing down the names of everyone who came to the Friday prayer. Early appearance is equivalent to sacrificing a camel.

   You should sit as close as possible to the imam, trying to benefit from his sermon.

   Khutba (sermon) must be listened to very carefully.

   On Friday it is supposed to read chapter 18 of the Koran, which is called "The Cave":

Who reads Surah "The Cave" on the day of Friday, the light will shine between two Fridays! (al-Hakim 2:399, al-Bayhaqi 3:249)

It is recommended to prepare for Juma from Thursday evening. In this case, a person will receive the greatest benefit for himself on Friday.

Differences between Friday and other days

On the day of Juma, believers are blessed with numerous blessings, the most important of which is forgiveness. Allah forgives all the sins that a believer has committed between two Fridays, in case he did not commit kabair (greater sins).

This day coincides with the day in Paradise, which is called al-Mazid (addition, addition). On this day, the inhabitants of Paradise can contemplate Allah.

For Muslims, Friday is a day of strengthening relationships. Juma is considered a good reason to visitrelatives, maintain family ties, develop family relationships.

Through the Friday prayer, you can save yourself from the fire of hell.

The man who died on Friday is believed to escape the death throes. Death on this day is considered a sign of grace. It also means that the life path of a Muslim who died on this day was successfully completed.

Worshipers should visit the mosque on the holiday as early as possible. Such an early prayer allows you to receive a great reward from the Almighty. Early prayer disciplines and promotes the purification of the soul.

On the day of Juma, the sermons are usually quite short, and the prayers are long. On this sacred day, the Messenger of Allah honors the Almighty and speaks of the virtues of Friday. After prayer, the believer must perform four rak'ahs at home (a complete cycle of verbal expressions and movements during prayer).

History shows that Friday was a very important day for many nations, including pre-Muslim cultures. She is still considered blessed in many religions, such as Hinduism. Thus, Friday is considered a special and important day from the very beginning of mankind.