Acts of worship which are prescribed on Fridays

I know that Friday has many virtues. Could you tell me some acts of
worship that I can do on this day?.
Praise be to Allaah.
Yes, Friday is a good day;there are many ahaadeeth which speak of its
virtues. See Question no. 9211 .
There are many acts of worship which are prescribed for the Muslim to
do on this day.These include:
1 – Salaat al-Jumu'ah (Friday prayer)
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"O you who believe (Muslims)! When the call is proclaimed for the
Salaah (prayer) on Friday (Jumu'ah prayer), come to the remembrance of
Allaah [Jumu'ah religious talk (Khutbah) and Salaah (prayer)] and
leave off business (and every other thing). That is better for you if
you did but know!"
[al-Jumu'ah 62:9]
Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in Zaad al-Ma'aad (1/376):
Friday prayer is one of the most important obligations in Islam, and
one of the greatest gatherings of the Muslims. Gathering on Friday is
more importantand more obligatory than any other gathering apart from
'Arafah. Whoever neglects it, Allaah will place a seal on his heart.
It was narrated from Abu'l-Ja'd al-Damari – who was a companion of the
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) – that the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Whoever neglects
threeJumu'ahs, Allaah will place a seal on his heart."
Narrated by Abu Dawood, 1052; classed assaheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh
Abi Dawood, 928
It was narrated from 'Abd-Allaah ibn 'Umar and Abu Hurayrah that they
heard the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) say on the minbar:
"Let people stop neglecting Jumu'ah, or Allaah will place a seal on
their hearts, then they will be among those who are neglectful."
Narrated by Muslim, 865.
2 – Making a lot of du'aa'.
On this day there is a time when a person's Lord will answer his
du'aa' – by Allaah's leave.
It was narrated from AbuHurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that
the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
mentioned Friday and said: "On this day there is a time when no Muslim
stands and prays,asking Allaah for something, but Allaah will grant
him it" – and he gestured with his hands to indicate how short that
time is.
Narrated by al-Bukhaari,893; Muslim, 852
3 – Reading Soorat al-Kahf.
It was narrated from AbuSa'eed al-Khduri that theProphet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Whoever reads Soorat al-Kahf
on Friday, he willbe illuminated with lightbetween the two Fridays."
Narrated by al-Haakim; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh
al-Targheeb, 836
4 – Sending a lot of blessings upon the Prophet (peace and blessings
of Allaah be upon him).
It was narrated from Aws ibn Aws that the Prophet (peace and blessings
of Allaah be upon him) said: "The best of your days is Friday. On that
day Adam(peace be upon him) was created; on that dayhe died; on that
day the Trumpet will be blown; and on that day all of creation will
swoon. So send a great deal of blessings upon me, for your blessings
will be shown to me." They said,"O Messenger of Allaah, how will our
blessings upon you be shown to you when you have turned to dust?" He
said, "Allaah has forbidden the earth to consume the bodies of the
Prophets, peace be uponthem."
Narrated by Abu Dawood, 1047; classed assaheeh by Ibn al-Qayyim in his
comments on Sunan Abi Dawood, 4/273; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani
in Saheeh Abi Dawood, 925.
He said in 'Awn al-Ma'bood:
Friday is singled out because it is the best of days and the chosen
day.So there is an advantageto sending blessings upon him on that day
that is not present on any other day.
Along with these virtues and acts of worship, the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) forbade singling out Friday for
fasting, or singling out the night of Friday for doing acts of worship
that are not narrated in sharee'ah.
It was narrated from AbuHurayrah that the Prophet (peace and blessings
of Allaah be upon him) said: "Do not single out the night of Friday
for qiyaam al-layl,and do not single out the day of Friday for
fasting, unless that is part of the habitual fasting of any one of
you."
(Narrated by Muslim, 1144).
Al-San'aani said in Subul al-Salaam:
This hadeeth indicates that it is haraam to single out the night of
Friday for worship or reading Qur'aan that is not one's regular
custom, apart from that which is indicated in thetexts, such as
reading Soorat al-Kahf.
Al-Nawawi said:
This hadeeth clearly states that it is forbiddento single out the
night ofFriday for prayer or the day of Friday for fasting. It is
agreed (among the scholars) that this is makrooh.
He also said:
The scholars said that the reason why it is forbidden to single out
Friday for fasting is that Friday is a day of du'aa', dhikr and
worship, such as ghusl, going early to the prayer, waiting for the
prayer, listening to the khutbah and recitinga lot of dhikr
afterwards,because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"Then when the (Jumu'ah) Salaah (prayer) is ended, you may disperse
through the land, and seek the Bounty of Allaah (by working), and
remember Allaah much"
[al-Jumu'ah 62:10]
And there are other acts of worship to be done on this day. So it is
preferable not to fast then, as this will help a person to perform
these duties in an energetic manner and enjoy them without feeling
bored ortired. This is like the pilgrim on the day of 'Arafah in
'Arafah, because the Sunnah is for him not to fast on that day for the
same reason… This is the reason for not allowing singling out Friday
for fasting. And it was said that the reason is so thatpeople will
not go to extremes in venerating it as happened in the case of
Saturday. But thisview is weak, because on that day we offer Jumu'ah
prayer and do other acts of worship which are a kind of veneration.
And it was said that the reason for its prohibition is so that people
would not think that this was obligatory. This is also a weak view
because it is encouragedto fast on Mondays and there was no fear that
anyone would think it was obligatory. No attention should be paidto
this far-fetched view. The same argument is applicable in the case of
fasting the day of 'Arafah and the day of 'Ashoora', etc. The correct
view is that which we have stated above.
And Allaah knows best.

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And Allah Knows the Best!

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Published by :->
M NajimudeeN Bsc- INDIA

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