About the Prayer
Friday prayer (Salat El’Jumu’ah or El’Jum`ah صلاة الجمعة) is a congregational prayer that Muslims hold every Friday. The importance of this prayer has been stressed over the centuries as it is a time when a community can come together to increase awareness and vigilance about modern-day issues and problems.
The prayer is held in the earliest part of noon. If it is very much delayed, then the time for Friday prayer will be over, and Noon (Thuhr) prayer will have to be prayed. Generally, Friday prayer substitutes for the Thuhr prayer; however some scholars do not deem it to be sufficient as the Thuhr prayer is one of five prayers Muslims perform every day. Please refer to your marja’ for more information.
The Friday prayer is two obligatory sermons (khuṭbah) preceded by two obligatory bows (ruka’as) delivered by the Leader (Imam). In this respect, the sermons are an integral part of the Jumu’ah prayer. The Imam starts with the first sermon. Once done, he pauses and sits briefly before he starts the second sermon. In practice, the first sermon is longer and contains more content than the second sermon. Traditionally, the Imam reads Surat al-Jumu’ah (The Friday, #62) in the first ruka’a and Surat al-Munafiqoon (The Hypocrites, #63) in the second rukaa.
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When Friday Prayer, with all its requirements is held, it will be obligatory to attend it if one who established it is an infallible Imam or his representative. But in a situation other than this, joining or attending it is not obligatory.
Why You Should Attend
- Gives you an opportunity to remember Allah (swt)
- Gives you an opportunity to spend time with fellow believers
- Increases your vigilance and awareness about modern issues
- Multiple opportunities to increase your spirituality
- Displays unity and strength amongst Muslim communities
Importance
O ye who believe! When the call is proclaimed to prayer on Friday (the Day of Assembly, yawm al-jumuʿah), hasten earnestly to the Remembrance of Allah, and leave off business, that is best for you if you know!
And when the Prayer is finished, then may you disperse through the land, and seek of the Bounty of Allah, and praises Allah abundantly, that you may prosper.
Any man who performs Ghusl on Friday, perfumes himself if he has perfume, wears the best of his clothes, then goes to the mosque and offers as many prayers as he wishes while not harming anybody, then listens quietly while the Imam speaks until he offers the prayer, will have all his sins between that Friday and the next forgiven.