BENEFIT: Making Friday Count

The Questioner says: Our beloved Shaykh, we are occupied throughout the week with worldly affairs, so we wish to dedicate Friday to the worship of Allāh. Could you kindly mention to us the righteous deeds that we may perform on Friday? May Allāh grant you Paradise. The Answer — and Allāh is the One who grants success to what is correct: In the Name of Allāh, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate. All praise is due to Allāh, who created death and life in order to test His servants as to which of them is best in deed, and who made this worldly life a field of cultivation for the Hereafter, commanding therein His remembrance and obedience. I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allāh, alone without partner, and I bear witness that Muḥammad is His servant and Messenger. May the peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him, his family, and all of his Companions. My dear brother, know that if a person is occupied with worldly matters throughout the week, this in itself is not unlawful, for Allāh the Exalted said: “When the prayer is concluded, disperse through the land and seek from the bounty of Allāh, and remember Allāh often so that you may succeed.” [Al-Jumuʿah 62:10] The danger, however, is when the world becomes one’s greatest concern and the limit of one’s knowledge, causing him to forget his share of the Hereafter. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever makes the world his utmost concern, Allāh will scatter his affairs, place poverty before his eyes, and he will not attain of the world except what was decreed for him. But whoever makes the Hereafter his intention, Allāh will gather his affairs, place richness in his heart, and the world will come to him submissively.” [Authenticated by Sheikh Al-Albānī). It is therefore incumbent upon the Muslim to realise that life is short, and that no matter how long the world lasts, it is destined to perish. Allāh the Exalted said: “The life of this world is nothing but the enjoyment of delusion.” [Āl ʿImrān 3:185] And He said: “Know that the life of this world is but play and amusement, adornment, boasting among you, and competition in wealth and children.” [Al-Ḥadīd 57:20] Thus, the believer should strive to make all of his time filled with acts of obedience, not restricting himself only to Friday. He should preserve the congregational prayers throughout the week, increase in remembrance of Allāh, recitation of the Qur'ān, supplication, maintaining ties of kinship, giving charity, and voluntary acts of worship. The Prophet ﷺ said: “The most beloved deeds to Allah are those that are consistent, even if few.” [Narrated by Muslim] As for the righteous deeds on Friday: Friday is a great day which Allāh has favoured over all other days. It has many virtues and special characteristics. Among the greatest deeds on Friday are: 1⃣. Performing ghusl (bath), using fragrance, and wearing one’s best clothes. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Ghusl on the day of Jumuʿah is obligatory upon every adult.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhārī and Muslim] 2⃣. Going early to the masjid. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever performs ghusl on Friday like the ghusl of janābah and then goes in the first hour, it is as if he offered a camel in sacrifice…” [Narrated by Al-Bukhārī and Muslim] 3⃣. Listening attentively to the khuṭbah and attending the prayer with humility. The Prophet ﷺ said: “If you say to your companion on Friday, ‘Be quiet,’ while the imam is delivering the sermon, you have engaged in idle talk.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhārī] 4⃣. Sending abundant prayers upon the Prophet ﷺ. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Indeed, among the best of your days is Friday. So increase your prayers upon me on that day, for your prayers are presented to me.” [Narrated by Abū Dāwūd, authenticated by Al-Albānī] 5⃣. Reciting Sūrat Al-Kahf. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever recites Sūrat Al-Kahf on Friday, it will illuminate him with light between the two Fridays.” [Narrated by Al-Ḥākim, authenticated by Al-Albānī]