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:

Sallamalekum. Mashallah you are doing a good job and hope you get rewarded in this life and the life after inshallah. I wanted to ask you, what exactly is the salat for Jumma? What are we required for Jumma? Wasn`t Jumma prayer started by Hazrat Umar ra. So if the Jumma was started by Hazrat Umar how can there be sunnahs in it, because our beloved prophet never prayed Jumma prayers as such? Is jumma a bidaa. May Allah forgive me for my thoughts. All the people that I know have strong beliefs about Jumma and it differs a lot amongst.

Jazak Allah once again. 

(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:

Is jumaa Friday bida

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 no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Q-1: I wanted to ask you, what exactly is the salat for Jumma?

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 Lubanah al-Badri relates that the Prophet (saws) said: "The most prominent of the days [lit. the 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 sky or earth or wind or mountain or sea who are not worried concerning the day of Jumu'ah." Related by Ahmad and Ibn Majah.

Ibn Mas'ud reports that the Prophet (saws) noticed some people staying away from al-Jumu'ah and said: "I had the notion to order someone to lead the people in prayer, and then to go and burn the houses of those who stayed away from al-Jumu'ah."

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.

Q-2: What are we required for Jumma?

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.

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.

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.

Q-3: Wasn`t Jumma prayer started by Hazrat Umar ra.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 62 Surah Jumua verse 9:

9 O ye who believe! When the call is proclaimed to prayer on Friday (the Day of Assembly or Jumua) hasten earnestly to the Remembrance of Allah and leave off business (and traffic): that is best for you if ye but knew!

It is related that the above verse of Surah Jumua was revealed shortly after the migration of the Prophet (saws) from Makkah to Madinah, and the Messenger of Allah (saws) established the Jumua prayer in Madinah for the first time on the very first Friday after his entry into the city of Madinah.

Hadrat Umar (r.a.) did not initiate the Jumua prayers, but under the direct Command and Guidance of Allah Subhanah, the Messenger of Allah (saws) himself established the Jumua prayers after his migration to Madinah; and the believers continued and will continue this tradition until the end of time, Insha Allah.

Q-4: So if the Jumma was started by Hazrat Umar how can there be sunnahs in it, because our beloved prophet never prayed Jumma prayers as such? Is jumma a bidaa.

Under the direct Command and Guidance of Allah Subhanah, the Messenger of Allah (saws) established the Jumua prayers; and thus the assembly and prayers of Jumua are considered an obligatory part of worship in Islam.

If one trusts, obeys, and follows the guidance and commands of Allah and His Messenger (saws), one can be assured of never ever being misled; but if one believes, obeys and follows any other guidance, other than that of Allah and His Messenger (saws), one can be assured of being led astray.

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