بِسْمِ ٱللَّٰهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

In Islam, Muslims consider Friday or Jumuah as a special and blessed day. Just as Saturday for the Jews and Sunday for the Christians. They refer to Friday as Ummul-Yaum or the Leader of Days. Numerous authentic Hadiths from various Sunans have conveyed the blessings of Friday.

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْيَمَانِ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا شُعَيْبٌ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الزِّنَادِ، أَنَّ عَبْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنَ هُرْمُزَ الأَعْرَجَ، مَوْلَى رَبِيعَةَ بْنِ الْحَارِثِ حَدَّثَهُ أَنَّهُ، سَمِعَ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ ‏ “‏ نَحْنُ الآخِرُونَ السَّابِقُونَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ، بَيْدَ أَنَّهُمْ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ مِنْ قَبْلِنَا، ثُمَّ هَذَا يَوْمُهُمُ الَّذِي فُرِضَ عَلَيْهِمْ فَاخْتَلَفُوا فِيهِ، فَهَدَانَا اللَّهُ، فَالنَّاسُ لَنَا فِيهِ تَبَعٌ، الْيَهُودُ غَدًا وَالنَّصَارَى بَعْدَ غَدٍ ‏”‏‏.‏

I heard Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) (p.b.u.h) 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 (Friday) the celebration of which was made compulsory for them but they differed about it. So Allah gave us the guidance for it (Friday) and all the other people are behind us in this respect: the Jews’ (holy day is) tomorrow (i.e. Saturday) and the Christians’ (is) the day after tomorrow (i.e. Sunday).”

Source: Sahih al-Bukhari 876

Narrated by: Abu Hurairah (RA)

A lot of events happened or will happen on this blessed day such as the creation of Prophet Adam. His entry into heaven and his expulsion from it. The day of doom or apocalypse will also happen on Friday.

وَحَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا الْمُغِيرَةُ، – يَعْنِي الْحِزَامِيَّ – عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ، عَنِ الأَعْرَجِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ “‏ خَيْرُ يَوْمٍ طَلَعَتْ عَلَيْهِ الشَّمْسُ يَوْمُ الْجُمُعَةِ فِيهِ خُلِقَ آدَمُ وَفِيهِ أُدْخِلَ الْجَنَّةَ وَفِيهِ أُخْرِجَ مِنْهَا وَلاَ تَقُومُ السَّاعَةُ إِلاَّ فِي يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ ‏”‏ ‏.‏

The best day on which the sun has risen is Friday; on it Adam was created. on it he was made to enter Paradise, on it he was expelled from it. And the last hour will take place on no day other than Friday.

Source: Sahih Muslim 854b

Narrated by: Abu Hurairah (RA)

On Friday, Allah will grant your dua.

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مَسْلَمَةَ، عَنْ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ أَبِي الزِّنَادِ، عَنِ الأَعْرَجِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ذَكَرَ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ فَقَالَ ‏ “‏ فِيهِ سَاعَةٌ لاَ يُوَافِقُهَا عَبْدٌ مُسْلِمٌ، وَهْوَ قَائِمٌ يُصَلِّي، يَسْأَلُ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى شَيْئًا إِلاَّ أَعْطَاهُ إِيَّاهُ ‏”‏‏.‏ وَأَشَارَ بِيَدِهِ يُقَلِّلُهَا‏.‏

Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) (p.b.u.h) talked about Friday and said, “There is an hour (opportune time) on Friday and if a Muslim gets it while praying and asks something from Allah, then Allah will definitely meet his demand.” And he (the Prophet) pointed out the shortness of that time with his hands.

Source: Sahih al-Bukhari 935

Narrated by: Abu Hurairah (RA)

وَحَدَّثَنِي أَبُو الطَّاهِرِ، وَعَلِيُّ بْنُ خَشْرَمٍ، قَالاَ أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، عَنْ مَخْرَمَةَ بْنِ، بُكَيْرٍ ح وَحَدَّثَنَا هَارُونُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ الأَيْلِيُّ، وَأَحْمَدُ بْنُ عِيسَى، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَخْرَمَةُ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي بُرْدَةَ بْنِ أَبِي مُوسَى الأَشْعَرِيِّ، قَالَ قَالَ لِي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عُمَرَ أَسَمِعْتَ أَبَاكَ يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي شَأْنِ سَاعَةِ الْجُمُعَةِ قَالَ: قُلْتُ نَعَمْ سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: «هِيَ مَا بَيْنَ أَنْ يَجْلِسَ الإِمَامُ إِلَى أَنْ تُقْضَى الصَّلاَةُ».

‘Abdullah b. Umar said to me: Did you hear anything from your father narrating something from the messenger of Allah (ﷺ) about the time on Friday? I said: Yes, I heard him say from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) (these words): ” It is between the time when the Imam sits down and the end of the prayer.”

Source: Sahih Muslim 853

Narrated by: Abu Burda b. Abu Musa al-Ash’ari

أَخْبَرَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ سَوَّادِ بْنِ الأَسْوَدِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو، وَالْحَارِثُ بْنُ مِسْكِينٍ، قِرَاءَةً عَلَيْهِ وَأَنَا أَسْمَعُ، – وَاللَّفْظُ لَهُ – عَنِ ابْنِ وَهْبٍ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْحَارِثِ، عَنِ الْجُلاَحِ، مَوْلَى عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ أَنَّ أَبَا سَلَمَةَ بْنَ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، حَدَّثَهُ عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ “‏ يَوْمُ الْجُمُعَةِ اثْنَتَا عَشْرَةَ سَاعَةً لاَ يُوجَدُ فِيهَا عَبْدٌ مُسْلِمٌ يَسْأَلُ اللَّهَ شَيْئًا إِلاَّ آتَاهُ إِيَّاهُ فَالْتَمِسُوهَا آخِرَ سَاعَةٍ بَعْدَ الْعَصْرِ ‏”‏ ‏.‏

It was narrated from Jabir bin ‘Abdullah that: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Friday is twelve hours in which there is no Muslim slave who asks Allah (SWT) for something but He will give it to him, so seek it in the last hour after ‘Asr.”

Sunan an-Nasa’i 1389

Narrated by: Jabir bin ‘Abdullah (RA)

To my knowledge, they say that the opportune time is when the Khatib or Imam rests between the two sermons during the Friday congregational prayer. The time is very short so be attentive and supplicate when the window arises.

The other opinion for the opportune hour on Friday is the last hour after ‘Asr (evening prayer) before the new day dawns. In Islam, a new day starts after Maghrib. So make lots of Dua during this interval.

On Friday, the angels will write down your name when you arrive at the mosque.

حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ يُونُسَ، حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، وَالأَغَرِّ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ “‏ إِذَا كَانَ يَوْمُ الْجُمُعَةِ كَانَ عَلَى كُلِّ باب مِنْ أَبْوَابِ الْمَسْجِدِ الْمَلاَئِكَةُ، يَكْتُبُونَ الأَوَّلَ فَالأَوَّلَ، فَإِذَا جَلَسَ الإِمَامُ طَوَوُا الصُّحُفَ وَجَاءُوا يَسْتَمِعُونَ الذِّكْرَ ‏”‏‏.‏

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “On every Friday the angels take their stand at every gate of the mosque to write the names of the people chronologically (i.e. according to the time of their arrival for the Friday prayer) and when the Imam sits (on the pulpit) they fold up their scrolls and get ready to listen to the sermon.”

Source: Sahih al-Bukhari 3211

Narrated by: Abu Hurairah (RA)

If you can, do come early to the mosque on Friday as the angels jot down those who come before the Imam sits at the minbar (pulpit).

The blessings of Friday: Atonement of sins from one Friday till the other

حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ حُجْرٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، عَنِ الْعَلاَءِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ “‏ الصَّلَوَاتُ الْخَمْسُ وَالْجُمُعَةُ إِلَى الْجُمُعَةِ كَفَّارَاتٌ لِمَا بَيْنَهُنَّ مَا لَمْ تُغْشَ الْكَبَائِرُ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ جَابِرٍ وَأَنَسٍ وَحَنْظَلَةَ الأُسَيِّدِيِّ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى حَدِيثُ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ ‏.‏

Abu Hurairah narrated that: Allah’s Messenger said: “The five prayers, and Al-Jumuah (the Friday prayer) to Al-Jumuah are atonement for what is between them, as long as the major sins have not been committed.”

Source: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 214

Narrated by: Abu Hurairah (RA)

As long as you do not commit major sins, InshaAllah, Allah shall forgive your sins from one Friday to the next Friday.

حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ “‏ مَنْ تَوَضَّأَ فَأَحْسَنَ الْوُضُوءَ ثُمَّ أَتَى الْجُمُعَةَ فَاسْتَمَعَ وَأَنْصَتَ غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا بَيْنَ الْجُمُعَةِ إِلَى الْجُمُعَةِ وَزِيَادَةُ ثَلاَثَةِ أَيَّامٍ وَمَنْ مَسَّ الْحَصَى فَقَدْ لَغَا ‏”‏ ‏.‏

If anyone performs ablution, doing it well, then come to the Friday prayer, listens and keeps silence, his sins between that time and the next Friday will be forgiven, with three days extra; but he who touches pebbles has caused an interruption.

Source: Sunan Abi Dawud 1050

Graded authentic by al-Albani.

Another Hadith from Sunan Abi Dawud states that the person who performs wudhu’ before joining the Friday congregational prayers and does not talk during the sermons will have his sins forgiven from one Friday until the next.

The blessings of Friday: Those who passes away on Friday are protected from the trials of the grave

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ مَهْدِيٍّ، وَأَبُو عَامِرٍ الْعَقَدِيُّ قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ أَبِي هِلاَلٍ، عَنْ رَبِيعَةَ بْنِ سَيْفٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ “‏ مَا مِنْ مُسْلِمٍ يَمُوتُ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ أَوْ لَيْلَةَ الْجُمُعَةِ إِلاَّ وَقَاهُ اللَّهُ فِتْنَةَ الْقَبْرِ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ غَرِيبٌ وَلَيْسَ إِسْنَادُهُ بِمُتَّصِلٍ ‏.‏ رَبِيعَةُ بْنُ سَيْفٍ إِنَّمَا يَرْوِي عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الْحُبُلِيِّ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو وَلاَ نَعْرِفُ لِرَبِيعَةَ بْنِ سَيْفٍ سَمَاعًا مِنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو ‏.‏

Abdullah bin Amr narrated that: The Messenger of Allah said: “No Muslim dies on the day of Friday, nor the night of Friday, except that Allah protects him from the trials of the grave.”

Source: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1074, graded as Hadith Hasan.

Narrated by: Abdullah ibn Amr (RA)

Even though the Hadith is graded as a Hadith Hasan, let us make lots of dua for our family and ourselves that when we die, it happens on a Friday or on the night of Friday. Truly the grave is a frightening place.

The blessings of Friday: A light will shine for a person till the next Friday

وَعَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «من قَرَأَ سُورَة الْكَهْف فِي يَوْم الْجُمُعَة أَضَاء لَهُ النُّور مَا بَيْنَ الْجُمْعَتَيْنِ» . رَوَاهُ الْبَيْهَقِيُّ فِي الدَّعَوَاتِ الْكَبِير

Abū Sa’id reported the Prophet as saying, “If anyone recites sūrah al-Kahf (Quran, 18) on Friday, light will shine brightly for him till the next Friday.”

Source: Mishkat al-Masabih 2175, graded as Hadith Hasan by Albani.

Narrated by: Abu Said (RA)

Surah al-Kahf has 110 verses and it is quite long but you may start, stop and continue reciting till the end during the whole Friday.

The blessings of Friday: Increases your beauty and loveliness

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عُثْمَانَ، سَعِيدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْجَبَّارِ الْبَصْرِيُّ حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ ثَابِتٍ، الْبُنَانِيِّ عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ “‏ إِنَّ فِي الْجَنَّةِ لَسُوقًا يَأْتُونَهَا كُلَّ جُمُعَةٍ فَتَهُبُّ رِيحُ الشَّمَالِ فَتَحْثُو فِي وُجُوهِهِمْ وَثِيَابِهِمْ فَيَزْدَادُونَ حُسْنًا وَجَمَالاً فَيَرْجِعُونَ إِلَى أَهْلِيهِمْ وَقَدِ ازْدَادُوا حُسْنًا وَجَمَالاً فَيَقُولُ لَهُمْ أَهْلُوهُمْ وَاللَّهِ لَقَدِ ازْدَدْتُمْ بَعْدَنَا حُسْنًا وَجَمَالاً ‏.‏ فَيَقُولُونَ وَأَنْتُمْ وَاللَّهِ لَقَدِ ازْدَدْتُمْ بَعْدَنَا حُسْنًا وَجَمَالاً ‏”‏ ‏.‏

Anas b. Malik reported that Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said: In Paradise there is a street to which they would come every Friday. The north wind will blow and would scatter fragrance on their faces and on their clothes and would add to their beauty and loveliness, and then they would go back to their family after having an added luster to their beauty and loveliness, and their family would say to them: By Allah, you have been increased in beauty and loveliness after leaving us, and they would say: By Allah, you have also increased in beauty and loveliness after us.

Sahih Muslim 2833

Narrated by: Anas bin Malik

Such is the blessing of Jumuah, that in paradise for every man and woman, Allah increases their beauty and loveliness. May Allah forgive us and with His grace provides us all entry into Jannah without trial and torment of the hellfire.

Conclusion

Truly Friday has been the chosen day of blessings for Prophet Muhammad’s (ﷺ) ummah. Lets give lots salawat upon Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) and Istighfar and hope for Allah’s forgiveness on this blessed day.

Remember to makes lots of dua of Friday especially during the opportune hour. May Allah S.W.T grant all of your wishes.

As always, do share this piece of article out to all of your family and friends. May it be one of the long lasting good deeds that rewards us well. Here in this world and in the hereafter, InsyaAllah.