Narrated by Umar Abu Hurairah(Radhiallah o anho):
Allah's Messenger (sallAllaahu 'alaihi wasallam) said:
When the prayer commences then there is no prayer (valid), but the obligatory prayer.
This hadith has been narrated by Warqa with the same chain of transmitters.
Sahih Muslim Number 1531
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--- ETIQUETTES OF FRIDAY ---
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Friday is an important day of the Believers. Many important events which become the turning points in the history of Islam had taken place on this auspicious day. Prophet Adam (peace be on him) was created on Friday, the verse declaring perfection of Islam was revealed on this day; and the Day of Resurrection shall occur on Friday. Hence this auspicious day should be observed with sanctity and solemnity, with maximum Divine service.
Allah, the Almighty affirms
" O ye who believe! When the call is proclaimed to prayer on Friday ( the Day of Assembly), hasten earnestly to the remembrance of Allah, and leave off business ( and traffic): that is best for you if ye but knew!" (al-jumu'a 2-)
Friday, is primarily the Day of assembly, the weekly meeting of the Congregation, when we show our unity by sharing in common public worship, preceded by a 'khutba' in the which the Imam ( or Leader) reviews the week's life of the community and offers advice and exhortation on good living. Notice the gradations of social contact for Muslims if they followed the wise ordinances of their Faith.
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Each individual remembers Allah for himself or herself five or more times everyday in the home or place of business, or local mosque, or open air, as the case may be.
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On Friday in every week there is a local meeting in the central mosque of each local centre, it may be a village, a town, or ward of a big city,
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At the two 'Ids every year, there is a large local area meeting in on center.
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Once at least in a lifetime. where possible, a Muslim shares in the vast international assemblage of the world, in the center of Islam, at the Makkan Pilgrimage. A happy combination of decentralisation and centralisation, of individual liberty and collective meeting, and contact at various stages or grades. The mechanical part of this ordinance is easy to carry out. Are we carrying out more difficult part?--- the spirit of unity, brotherhood, mutual consultation, and collective understanding and action?
The idea behind the Muslim weekly "Day of Assembly" is different from that behind the Jewish Sabbath (Saturday) or the Christian Sunday. The Jewish Sabbath is primarily a commemoration of Allah's ending His work and resting on the seventh day: we are taught that Allah needs no rest, nor does He feel fatigue.
The Jewish command forbids work on that day but says nothing about worship or prayer; our ordinance lays chief stress on the remembrance of Allah.
But the Christian Church, although it has changed the day from Saturday to Sunday has inherited the Jewish spirit. Our teaching says: When the time for Jumu'a prayer comes, close your business and answer the summons loyally and earnestly, pray, consult and learn by social contact; when the meeting is over, scatter and go about your business!
In Islam, prosperity is not to be measured by wealth or worldly gains. There is a higher prosperity,-
Abu Hurairah ( Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
"The most important day that ever dawned is Friday. It was on this day that Adam (peace be upon him) was created and on this day he was admitted to paradise and it was on Friday when he was expelled from there (and was appointed vicegerent of Allah ) and it is on this day that the Doom shall occur." (Muslim)
Abu Sa'eed Khudri ( Allah be pleased with him) reports that reports that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) observed:
"The are five acts which, if performed on a single day, shall mark a man for the paradise. These are:
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To enquire after the health of the sick.
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To join a funeral.
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To observe a fast.
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To offer Friday prayer.
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To set a slave free. (Ibn Hibban)
That "Single day" can be only a "Friday" when all the righteous acts. including that of 'Friday prayer" may be performed.
Abu Sa'eed Khudri ( Allah be pleased with him) reports that reports that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) observed:
"One who recites Surah Kahf ( The Cave) on Friday, will have radiant light glowing for him between the two Fridays."
Abu Hurairah ( Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) observed:
"Seventy thousand angles ask for the forgiveness of the person who recites Surah Dukhan ( Smoke) on Friday night and he gets all his sins pardoned." (Tirmidhi)
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is reported to have said:
"There is an auspicious moment on Friday during which and supplication addressed to Allah is graced with Divine acceptance." (Bukhari)
There is, however, difference of opinion among the Islamic scholars regarding that 'auspicious moment.' A section of scholars are of the opinion that the 'moment' falls between the duration the 'Khutbah' (address) till the end of the prayer; whereas some others believe that the 'auspicious moment' lies at the end of Friday when the sun is about to set. It is, there fore, advisable to keep most of the time in prayer, supplication, reciting the Holy Qur'an and remembering Allah, the Almighty. It is better to include the following supplication among the supplications offered on Friday:
"O 'Allah! You are my Lord. There is no god except you. I ma your servant and I hold firm to my promise and allegiance to you as far as lies in my command. I acknowledge all the bounties and favours that You have conferred on me. I confess my sin; forgive me, for there is non one else except You Who has the power to grand pardon for sins and I beseech protection against the evil effects of my own sins." (Bukhari, Nasi'i)
The Friday Prayers are obligatory upon every male adult having normal health and sensinility and not in journey. Wherever there be three persons, Friday prayer must be offered. In such a case, one of them will lead the Friday prayer followed by other two.
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) is reported to have said:
"People should not neglect Friday Prayers under any circumstances, otherwise their hearts will be sealed, (the will be deprived of Divine Guidance); they will become one with those who are forgetful (of Religion)." (Muslims)
ON CLEANING AND PURIFYING ON FRIDAYS
One should take extra care to clean and purify oneself for saying Friday prayers. Islam lays too much emphasis on bathing and adoring oneself for the day which is full of blessing and auspiciousness.
Abu Sa'eed ( Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) observed:
" It is binding upon every one who has attained maturity that he should take a bath on Friday. He should use tooth-stick (Mas'swak) and perfume if it is available." (Bukhari)
Abdullah bin 'Umar (Allah be please with him) reports that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
"The person who comes to offer prayers in the Friday congregation should bathe himself first." (Bukhari, Muslims)
Salman (Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
" An individual who bathes on Fridays, performs ablution, oils, and scents himself, then goes to the mosque in the noon, without disturbing two persons already sitting in the line, offer the prescribed prayer, and listens to the 'Khutbah' (sermons of the Khatib) attentively, shall have all the sins pardoned, he my have committed during this Friday and the pervious me." (Bukhri)
ON REACHING THE MOSQUE EARLY AS POSSIBLE
On should hasten towards the mosque as soon as her hears the call for Friday Prayer. On should close one's business and stop other worldly activities and other engagements then and there.
Allah, the Almighty enjoins:
" O ye who believe! When the call is proclaimed to prayer on Friday ( the Day of Assembly), hasten earnestly to the remembrance of Allah, and leave off business ( and traffic): that is best for you if ye but knew!" (al-jumu'a 2-)
Thus a Believer should know beyond about that he is not for amassing wealth and material comforts by doing more and more business even at the cost of remembering Allah. Hence he must not be engrossed in worldly business headlong even after hearing call for Friday prayers. He should bear in mind that the essence of life is the remembrance of Allah.
In short, one should reach the mosque for offering the Friday Prayer as soon as possible for him and try to get a seat in the front line.
Abu Hurairah ( Allah be pleased with him) reports the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
"One who has bathed on Friday and cleansed himself of all impurities by washing his whole body thoroughly with water, and reached the mosque at the earliest time, is like one who has sacrificed a camel. He, who reaches next, is like one who has sacrificed a cow, and the one who reaches in the third place is like a person who offers the sacrifice of a horned ram. Coming nest to him like a person who gives away as it were, one egg in the way of Allah. Later when the Imam gets up to deliver the sermon, the angels leave the gate of the mosque and come over to sit in the mosque to hear the sermon and say the prayers." (Bukhari, Muslim)
Arbad bin Saria (Allah be pleased with him) reports:
" The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to invoke Mercy of Allah three times upon those who formed the first line and only once upon those who were in the second line. ( Ibn Majah, Nasa,i)
Abu Hurairah ( Allah be pleased with him) observes:
" The people do not know the high degree of reward and blessings reserved for the people who from the first line of prayer. If they know it, they would start drawing lost for the priviledge of joining the first lone." (Bukhari, Muslim)
Abdullah bin Abbas ( Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) observed:
"The person who retreats from the first line of prayer and stands in the second line with the intention that his Muslim brother my suffer no inconvenience, Allah will grant such a man reward and blessing as much as to people in the first line." (Tabrani)
It is undesirable to go to the mosque at the nick of time when the prayer is going to be performed. You have been prohibited from overstepping the necks of men and sitting with legs joined to the belly. You should go to the mosque and sit in a reverential posture without making separation between any two, 'In other words you should not make room for you forcibly.
ON DELIVERING KHUTBAH (SERMON)
The 'Khutbah' should be heard attentively with concentration of mind and in a receptive attitude. The person delivering the sermon lays emphasis on worshipping Allah, the Almighty, alone and refrain from evil acts. But, to make the sermon effective and receptive, the 'khutbah' should be brief and to the point raised therein. Hence 'khutbah' must not be longer than the prayer (salat).
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) has observed:
" Long prayer and a short 'khutbah' bear witness to the wisdom of the khatib ( the person delivering khutbah). Thus you should offer long prayer and deliver a short khutbah." (Muslim)
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) has ovserved:
" The men who bathes and comes to offer Friday prayer and say the prayer which Allah has destined for him and then sits quietly and listens to the sermon in rapt attention and with perfect devotion till the preacher has finished the sermon and afterward says obligatory prayer with the Imam, Allah shall pardon all his sins which he committed during the period between that Friday and the preceding one and his sins even committed during three days before it." (Muslim)
