Importance Of Friday In Islam

Friday is the sixth day in Islamic week. The literal meaning of Friday is congregation. In islam, this day is given the most importance than any other days of the week. Every Friday, prayer of jummah is offered and for this prayer special time is taken.

Imams of all masjids deliver khutbah on a special topic evey Friday. This practice is being practiced by muslims even before the migration of Muhammad s.a.w.w from makkah ro madinah, but in low numbers (reference ibn-e majah  1082).

From various ahadith, it is proven that Muhammad s.a.w.w used to celebrate this day and he declared jummah as weekly eid for muslims. He s.a.w.w used to wear  clean and new (washed) clothes, used to take bath, wear fragrance , wear surmah for this day specially.

Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.w described the virtues of jummah prayer in the following hadith with these words;
" When the Friday comes, at every door of the Masjid there stands Angels who write down ( the names of ) those who come First, then who comes next. When the Imam sits down, the records are closed and they come to listen to the reminder , i.e. the Khutba...."
Muslim 1984.

From authentic ahadith, it is taken that prophet Muhammad s.a.w.w advised muslims to recite surah al-kahf on every Friday to keep safe from the fitnah of dajjal.

While the fast on jummah is forbidden i.e. the single fast in a week cannot be observed on jummah but it can be observed in pair i.e. with with Thursday or with Saturday.

From the history , it is proven that jummah was most important day for the previous nations as well. It is still considered a blessed day in many religions for example Hinduism. Thus, Friday is considered a special and important day right from the very beginning of humanity.

"Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Apostle (p.b.u.h) said, "Any person who takes a bath on Friday like the bath of Janaba and then goes for the prayer (in the first hour i.e. early), it is as if he had sacrificed a camel (in Allah's cause); and whoever goes in the second hour it is as if he had sacrificed a cow; and whoever goes in the third hour, then it is as if he had sacrificed a horned ram; and if one goes in the fourth hour, then it is as if he had sacrificed a hen; and whoever goes in the fifth hour then it is as if he had offered an egg. When the Imam comes out (i.e. starts delivering the Khutba), the angels present themselves to listen to the Khutba."

Bukhari,2:425, Muslim,2:582 ( Book of Friday Prayer)

The above mentioned hadith tells the importance of Friday.