بِسْمِ ٱللَّٰهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

Friday is the best day for Muslims as there are an abundant amount blessings that Allah showers down to us. However there are prohibitions that we must observe too. Here are the five don’ts for Muslims on Friday that we must watch out for according to the Hadiths below.

List of The Five Don’ts for Muslims on Friday

1. Do not sit with your thighs on your stomach and hugging them

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَوْفٍ، حَدَّثَنَا الْمُقْرِئُ، حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ، عَنْ أَبِي مَرْحُومٍ، عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ مُعَاذِ بْنِ أَنَسٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم نَهَى عَنِ الْحُبْوَةِ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ وَالإِمَامُ يَخْطُبُ ‏.‏

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prohibited to sit on hips by erecting feet, sticking them to the stomach and holding them with hands on Friday while the imam is delivering the sermon.

Source: Sunan Abi Dawud 1110, graded as a Hasan Hadith

Narrated by: Anas ibn Malik (RA)

It is forbidden to sit in the above described position as it is seen as a sign of disrespect towards the Imam who is giving the sermon.

2. Do not speak whilst the Khatib is giving the sermon

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا شَبَابَةُ بْنُ سَوَّارٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي ذِئْبٍ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ الْمُسَيَّبِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ قَالَ ‏ “‏ إِذَا قُلْتَ لِصَاحِبِكَ: أَنْصِتْ، يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ، وَالإِمَامُ يَخْطُبُ، فَقَدْ لَغَوْتَ ‏”‏ ‏.‏

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “If you say to your companions: ‘Be quiet’ on a Friday while the Imam is delivering the sermon, you have engaged in laghaw (idle talk or behaviour).”

Source: Sunan Ibn Majah 1110

Narrated by: Abu Hurairah (RA)

Do hold your tongue and focus on the Khatib’s sermon. Let others talk if they want to but have to leave it as they are. In some mosques, the Bilal usually reminds the congregation to avoid reprimanding or doing idle talk before the Khatib / Imam takes his place on the minbar with the hadith above.

3. Do not abandon Friday prayer three times in a row

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ إِدْرِيسَ، وَيَزِيدُ بْنُ هَارُونَ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بِشْرٍ، قَالُوا حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَمْرٍو، حَدَّثَنِي عَبِيدَةُ بْنُ سُفْيَانَ الْحَضْرَمِيُّ، عَنْ أَبِي الْجَعْدِ الضَّمْرِيِّ، – وَكَانَ لَهُ صُحْبَةٌ – قَالَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ ‏ “‏ مَنْ تَرَكَ الْجُمُعَةَ ثَلاَثَ مَرَّاتٍ، تَهَاوُنًا بِهَا، طُبِعَ عَلَى قَلْبِهِ ‏”‏ ‏.‏

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Whoever abandons Friday (prayer) three times, neglecting it, a seal will be placed over his heart.”

Source: Sunan Ibn Majah 1125

Narrated by: Abu Ja’d Ad-Damri (RA)

Unless there are valid reasons such as life threatening risks, severe health issues or disabilities that are permitted by the Sharia law please do not skip the Juma’ah prayer. If you’ve done so, do repent and recite the Istighfar, may Allah accept it and remove the seal from your heart. Verily Allah is the most forgiving.

4. Don’t directly sit down without offering salat

وَحَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، وَعَلِيُّ بْنُ خَشْرَمٍ، كِلاَهُمَا عَنْ عِيسَى بْنِ يُونُسَ، – قَالَ ابْنُ خَشْرَمٍ أَخْبَرَنَا عِيسَى، – عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ أَبِي سُفْيَانَ، عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ جَاءَ سُلَيْكٌ الْغَطَفَانِيُّ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ وَرَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَخْطُبُ فَجَلَسَ فَقَالَ لَهُ ‏ “‏ يَا سُلَيْكُ قُمْ فَارْكَعْ رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَتَجَوَّزْ فِيهِمَا – ثُمَّ قَالَ – إِذَا جَاءَ أَحَدُكُمْ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ وَالإِمَامُ يَخْطُبُ فَلْيَرْكَعْ رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَلْيَتَجَوَّزْ فِيهِمَا ‏”‏ ‏.‏

Sulaik Ghatafani came on Friday when the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was delivering the sermon. He (Sulaik) sat down. He (the Holy Prophet) said to him: 0 Sulaik, stand and observe two rak’ats and make them short, and then said: When any one of you comes on Friday, while the Imam delivers the sermon, he should observe two rak’ats and should make them short.

Source: Sahih Muslim 875g

Narrated by: Jabir b. ‘Abdullah (RA)

If you arrive late for the Friday prayer, Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) still asks that you do the salat before taking your seat even when the Imam or Khatib is delivering the sermon.

5. Do not fast on Friday

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، وَحَفْصُ بْنُ غِيَاثٍ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ: نَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ عَنْ صَوْمِ يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ إِلاَّ بِيَوْمٍ قَبْلَهُ، أَوْ يَوْمٍ بَعْدَهُ ‏.‏

It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said: “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbade fasting on a Friday unless it (is joined to) the day before or the day after.”

Source: Sunan Ibn Majah 1723

Narrated by: Abu Hurairah (RA)

You can actually fast on a Friday but it must be accompanied by a fast the day before or the day after. If don’t plan on it then it is better to not fast on Friday as the prophet says.

Conclusion for The Five Don’ts for Muslims on Friday

Let’s strive to do our best to observe the prohibitions listed above. Maybe there are some prohibitions above that we can’t wrap our heads around but Allah knows what is best for us.

If you have time, do look at the five dos for Muslims on Friday. Maybe you can adopt some of the good practices in that list.

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