What is the importance & objectives of friday prayer/Quthba? Is it applicable to ladies as well?
Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,
As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
(May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)
One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:
What
is the importance & objectives of friday prayer/Quthba? Is it applicable to
ladies as well?
(There may be some grammatical and spelling
errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from
questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in
confidentiality.)
Answer:
significance of friday jumua
In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask
for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever
He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that
there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that
Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.
Your Question: What
is the importance & objectives of friday prayer/Quthba?
Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 62 Surah
Jumua verses 9-10:
9 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!
10 And when the Prayer is finished then may ye disperse through the
land and seek of the Bounty of Allah: and celebrate the Praises of Allah often
(and without stint): that ye may prosper.
Abu Hurairah reports that the Messenger of
Allah (saws) said: "The best day on which the sun rises is Friday. [On
Friday] Adam was created, and on that day he entered Paradise, and on that day
he was expelled from
Related by Muslim, Abu Dawud, an-Nasa'i, and
at-Tirmidhi.
Abu Hurairah reports that one Friday the
Prophet (saws) said: "O gathering of Muslims, Allah has made this day (of
Friday) an Eid for you, so make ghusl and use the miswak (on this day)."
Related by at-Tabarani
Abu Sa'id reports that the Prophet (saws)
said: "Every Muslim should have a ghusl on Friday and wear his best
clothing, and if he has perfume, he should use it."
Related by Ahmad, al-Bukhari, and Muslim.
Abu Lubanah al-Badri relates that the Prophet
(saws) said: "The most prominent (or leader) of the days is the day of Jumu'ah
and the most honored in Allah's sight, and it is more honored in Allah's sight
than the day of breaking the fast, or the day of sacrifice. It has five significant merits: Allah created
Adam on this day; on this day Allah sent Adam down to the earth; on this day
Allah caused Adam to die; on this day, there is a time during which if anyone
asks anything of Allah it will be granted to him unless he asks for something
which is forbidden; and on this day, the Hour will be established. There are no
Angels close to Allah or the sky or the earth or the wind or the mountain or the
sea who are not worried concerning the day of Jumu'ah."
Related by Ahmad and Ibn Majah.
There is absolutely no denying the importance of the day of Jumua (Friday) in the sight of Allah Subhanah. It is the most prominent day of the week, and the Lord Most Merciful has made this day of Friday a day of Eid for the believers.
Ibn Mas'ud reports that the Prophet (saws) noticed
some people staying away from al-Jumu'ah (Friday
Related by Ahmad and Muslim.
Abu Hurairah and Ibn 'Umar report that they
heard the Prophet (saws) say: "Those who are not attending the Jumua Salah
should change their ways; otherwise, Allah, the Exalted, will seal their hearts
and they will be reckoned the heedless."
Related by Muslim, Ahmad and an-Nasa'i.
Abu al-Ja'd ad-Damari reports that the
Prophet (saws) said: "Whoever misses three Jumua prayers in a row out of
negligence will have a seal put over his heart by Allah."
Related by Bukhari and Muslim.
Jabir ibn Samurah says: "The Messenger
of Allah (saws) would deliver his Jumua sermon standing, would sit in between
the two sermons, would recite some verses, and would remind the people [about
Allah]."
Related by Muslim, Abu Dawood, Ibn Maajah,
and An-Nisai.
The Jumua prayer consists of two short sermons followed by
a two-rakah prayer. In light of the
above guidance of the Quran and the authentic traditions of the Messenger of
Allah (saws), the Jumua or Firday prayer is absolutely obligatory upon every
free, sane, adult, resident male believer who does not have a valid excuse from
attending the prayer, to be observed in congregation.
Abu Sa'eed reported that the Prophet (saws)
said "Ghusl on Friday is obligatory (wajib) on every adult, as is using a ‘miswak’
(toothbrush) and applying some perfume."
Related by al-Bukhari and Muslim.
Ibn Salam reports that he heard the Prophet (saws)
say, while he (saws) was upon the pulpit on Friday: "It would do no [harm]
to anyone if he were to buy two gowns for Friday other than his work
clothes."
Related by Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah.
Salman al-Farsi reports that the Prophet (saws)
said: "A man who performs ghusl on Friday, purifies [himself] what he can,
and uses dye [for his hair] or perfumes himself in his house, goes to the
mosque, and does not cause separation between two people [who are already
seated], prays what Allah has prescribed for him, and then listens quietly
while the imam speaks, all his sins between that Friday and the next Friday
will be forgiven."
Related by Ahmad and al-Bukhari,
It is an absolutely preferred Sunnah that a believer
should purify himself with a ghusl, put on his best adornment, clean his teeth
and apply perfume and attend the Friday or Jumua prayer, which consists of two
short sermons and a two rakah-prayer in congregation.
Your Question: Is it
applicable to ladies as well?
Tariq ibn Shihab reports that the Prophet (saws)
said: "Al-Jumu'ah (The Friday Mid-day prayer) is a duty upon every Muslim
in the community, save four: a slave, a woman, a child, or a person who is
ill."
Although it is not obligatory for the believing women to
attend the Jumua sermon and prayer in the mosque like the men, if she wishes to
attend the Jumua sermon and prayer, she is not to be stopped from going to the
houses of Allah Subhanah.
Fiqh-us-Sunnah Fiqh 2.50
It is better for women to pray in their
houses than to attend congregational prayers. However, they may go to the
mosque and attend the congregational prayer if they avoid wearing or using any
attractive or tempting adornment or perfume.
Ibn 'Umar reports that the Prophet (saws)
said: "Do not prevent the women from going to the mosques, although their
houses are better for them." (Related by Ahmdad)
Abu Hurairah relates that the Prophet (saws)
said: "Do not keep the slave girls of Allah from the mosques of Allah. And
they are to go out unperfumed."
(Related by Abu Dawood).
A woman by the name of Umm Humaid as-Sa'diyah
came to the Messenger of Allah (saws) and said: "O Messenger of Allah
(saws), I love to pray with you."
The Prophet (saws) said: "I am aware of that, but your salah in
your residence is better for you than your salah in your people's mosque. And
your salah in your people's mosque is better than your salah in the [larger]
congregational Mosque."
If the woman chooses to pray her Friday prayer at home,
she is obligated to pray the four rakah obligatory ‘dhuhr’ prayers; but if she
attends the Jumua prayers and prays the Friday mid-day prayer in congregation
in the mosque, they would suffice and she is no longer obligated to offer her
normal ‘dhuhr’ prayers on that day.
Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to
Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only
Source of Strength.
Your brother and
well wisher in Islam,
Burhan