Why Friday is Important in Islam: Friday holds significant importance in Islam for several reasons. It is considered the best day of the week and has a special status in the Islamic calendar. We might naturally think “Why Friday is Important in Islam” of all days? This significance is derived from various Quranic verses and hadiths that emphasize the virtues and blessings associated with Friday.
Yawm al-Jumu’ah, Arabic for Friday
Yawm al-Jumu’ah, the Arabic word for Friday, properly translates as “day of gathering or assembly.”
Prior to the advent of Islam, the Arabs referred to this day as “al-‘Arubah,” which implies that it is a pleasant day. The name was changed to al-Jumu’ah by Ka’b ibn Lu’ayy, the Prophet’s seventh great-grandfather, who used to gather the Quraish, the Prophet’s tribe, on Fridays after the sun had set. Ka’b ibn Lu’ayy had unwavering faith in the arrival of the Prophet Muhammad (saw) and was steadfast in his adherence to the religion of the Prophet Ibrahim (as).
Hadiths on the importance of Friday in Islam
The Quran states, “O you who have believed, when [the adhan] is called for the prayer on the day of Jumu’ah [Friday], then proceed to the remembrance of Allah and leave trade. That is better for you, if you only knew” (Surah Al-Jumu’ah, 62:9). This verse highlights the obligation of Muslims to leave their worldly affairs and engage in congregational prayer and the remembrance of Allah on Fridays. It signifies the importance of prioritizing worship and seeking spiritual growth.
Furthermore, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) emphasized the significance of Friday through his teachings and actions. In a famous hadith, he said, “The best day the sun rises over is Friday; on it Allah created Adam. On it, he was made to enter paradise, on it, he was expelled from it, and the Last Hour will take place on no other day than Friday” (Sahih Muslim). This hadith highlights the historical events associated with Friday and its connection to the creation of humanity and the Day of Judgment.
Another hadith narrated by Abdullah ibn Umar states that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “Among the best of your days is Friday; so increase your prayers upon me on that day, for your prayers are presented to me” (Sunan Abi Dawood). This hadith encourages Muslims to send blessings and prayers to the Prophet on Fridays, highlighting the importance of showing love and reverence for him.
Congregational gathering and Sermon
In addition to the spiritual significance, Friday also serves as a day of congregational gathering and a platform for delivering sermons. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) would deliver a sermon, known as the Khutbah, to the congregation before the Friday prayer. This sermon provides an opportunity to impart religious knowledge, guidance, and reminders to the community.
We will now examine the twelve distinct qualities of Friday that make it so wonderful! Lets learn Why Friday is Important in Islam:
12 Reasons Why Friday is Important in Islam
1) It is a blessed day.
The hadith that follows demonstrates that Friday has always been the most auspicious day of the week:
This is a result of disputes over this subject between earlier nations:
The Messenger of Allah (saw) said, ’We (Muslims) are the last (to come) but (will be) the foremost on the Day of Resurrection, though the former nations were given the Scriptures before us. Then, this was their day (i.e. Friday) that was prescribed for them, but they differed about it. So Allah gave us the guidance for it (Friday) and all the other people are behind us in this respect: the Jews’ (holy day is) tomorrow and the Christians’ is the day after tomorrow’. [Bukhari and Muslim]
2) A Surah has the name of Friday.
Only Saturday and Friday, two of the seven days of the week, are mentioned by Allah in the Noble Qur’an. The only ayah that refers to Friday by name is the one after this one:
O believers! When the call to prayer is made on Friday, then proceed ˹diligently˺ to the remembrance of Allah and leave off ˹your˺ business. That is best for you, if only you knew. [Quran 62:9]
In addition to mentioning Friday, Allah titled a whole Surah, Chapter 62 of Surah al-Jumu’ah, after it. This demonstrates the significance of this day spent with our Lord.
3) Allah (swt) swears by Friday.
The fact that a Surah is named after Friday was already mentioned. As we shall see below, Allah also swears in the Noble Qur’an by Friday:
By the sky full of constellations, and the promised Day ˹of Judgment˺, and the witness and what is witnessed! [Quran 85:1-3]
In reference to the preceding verse, the Prophet of Allah (saw) said,
’The Promised Day is the Day of Resurrection, and the one witnessed is the Day of ’Arafah, and the witness is Friday. The sun does not rise nor set upon a day that is more virtuous than it. In it, there is an hour in which no believing worshipper makes a supplication to Allah for good, except that Allah answers it for him, and he does not seek Allah’s protection from evil, except that He protects him from it’. [Tirmidhi]
In addition to swearing by Friday, Allah specifically chooses one hour of it (the last hour before sunset) to respond to all of our du’as. SubhanAllah!
4) It has a close relationship to the Prophet Adam (as).
The Prophet Adam (as), father of mankind, experienced the following five noteworthy events on Friday:
“Allah made Adam,” [Ibn Majah] “He was made to go into paradise.” [Muslim] “His (Tawbah’s) repentance was accepted” [Abdul Dawud] “Allah sent Adam to the earth.” [Ibn Majah] “Allah made Adam die,” [Ibn Majah]
According to the following hadith, Allah created the Prophet Adam (as) just before sunset:
Abu Huraira reported that Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) took hold of my hands and said:
Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, created the clay on Saturday and He created the mountains on Sunday and He created the trees on Monday and He created the things entailing labour on Tuesday and created light on Wednesday and He caused the animals to spread on Thursday and created Adam (peace be upon him) after ‘Asr on Friday; the last creation at the last hour of the hours of Friday, i. e. between afternoon and night. This hadith is narrated through another chain of transmitters. [Sahih Muslim]
As was previously said, this is the hour when all supplications are accepted by Allah.
5) Friday is the best day of the week
In addition to the hadith mentioned above, which demonstrates that Friday is a special and auspicious day, the Prophet (saw) also stated specifically that Friday is the best day of the week:
Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: The best day on which the sun has risen is Friday; on it Adam was created, on it he was made to enter Paradise, on it he. was expelled from it. [Muslim]
SubhanAllah, when it is stated in such plain terms, there is no question that we should focus more on our charitable activities on Friday! We must make the most of this best day of the week by increasing our Qur’anic reading, praying more, or making Sadaqah.
6) Friday is a day of Eid
Every week, Friday is considered an Eid festival by Muslims:
The Messenger of Allah (saw) said, ’Indeed this (day of Friday) is a day of Eid (festival), which Allah has made for the Muslims. So whoever comes to the Friday (prayer), let him take a bath, and if he has perfume then let him put some on. And upon you (I urge to use) is the tooth stick (siwak/miswak)’. [Ibn Majah]
The Prophet (saw) may have instructed us against observing a fast only on Fridays since for us, Fridays are like an Eid. It is preferable to fast on Thursday or Saturday instead of a Friday, for any reason.
The Messenger of Allah (saw) said, ’None of you should fast on Friday, but only that he fasts before it or he fasts after it’. [Muslim]
7) On a Friday, Allah perfected the religion.
As we’ve already discussed, our Father Adam’s (as) creation’s crucial moment occurred on a Friday. However, there are a lot more significant occasions for which Friday was divinely chosen, such as the completion of Islam for this Ummah.
Thus, Islam was consummated on “a double Eid” day. It was Friday, a Muslim holiday known as Eid. Additionally, it was the Day of ‘Arafah (9th Dhul Hijjah), an Eid for people performing the Hajj:
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Verily the Day of `Arafah, the Day of Sacrifice (Yawm An-Nahr), and the days of Tashreeq (the 10th, 11th and 12th of Dhul-Hijjah) are our days of festivities. These are the days of eating and drinking.” (Sunan al-Nasa’i)
8) The Hour of Acceptance is on Friday.
As was previously mentioned, supplications are accepted every Friday during a particularly special hour:
On the authority of Abu Hurairah (ra) who said, ’Abu al-Qasim (the kunyah of the Prophet) (saw) said, “Indeed, there is surely a time on Friday at which no Muslim would stand, pray and beg Allah for what is good except that He would give it to him”. And he indicated with his hand that (this time) is short and narrow’. [Bukhari and Muslim]
Based on the following two ahadith, scholars propose the following two dominant theories about the timing of this auspicious period:
1. On the authority of Jabir ibn ’Abdullah (ra) that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said, ’Friday is twelve hours in which there is no Muslim slave who asks Allah for anything except that He will give it to him, so seek it in the last hour after ’Asr’. [Nasa’i]
2. The Messenger of Allah (saw) said, ’It is between when the Imam sits down to when the prayer ends’. [Muslim]
The majority view holds that prayers are accepted during the final hour after ‘Asr, or the hour before sunset. This is so because the Prophet Adam (as) was created at this time by Allah. And Allah is the wisest.
As we continue to read these hadiths, it becomes more and more obvious that Friday is indeed a day of joy for humanity. The Hour of Acceptance is observed on this day, which also happens to be the day on which we were formed and on which Islam was perfected. Every single week, when Friday arrives, we have the opportunity to experience this hour and ask Allah for everything we desire. This is definitely a reason to rejoice and to be happy!
And if that weren’t reason enough to rejoice, we shall learn that Friday has significance for us even after our death.
9) Protection against the grave’s trial
A Muslim who dies on a Friday will be protected from the test of the grave, which is a profound benefit of Fridays:
“there is no Muslim who dies on the day of Friday or the night of Friday, but Allaah will protect him from the trial (fitnah) of the grave.” Narrated by Ahmad, 6546; al-Tirmidhi
10) It is when the Day of Judgement will take place.
The Prophet (saw) said, ‘The Last Hour will not take place except on Friday’. [Muslim]
Another hadith informs us that Fridays are feared by Allah’s creation as a result: “There is no angel drawn near (to Allah), no heaven, no earth, no winds, no mountains, and no sea that does not fear Friday.” [Ibn Majah]
Sadly, jinn and men are an exception to this rule:
‘On Friday, every beast is on the lookout from dawn to sunrise in fear of the Last Hour, but not jinn and men’. [Abu Dawud]
More information about Friday’s connection to the Day of Judgement may be found in the following hadith:
On the authority of Aws ibn Aws (ra) who said, ’The Messenger of Allah (saw) said, “Among the most excellent of your days is Friday. On it Adam [as] was created, on it he died, on it the last trumpet will be blown and on it the shout will be made, so invoke more blessings upon me on it, for your blessings will be presented to me”’.
He (the narrator) said, ‘The people said, “O Messenger of Allah, how can our blessings be presented to you while your body has decayed?” He said, “Indeed Allah, Mighty and Exalted be He, has prohibited the earth from (consuming) the bodies of Prophets”’. [Abu Dawud]
As a result, the Prophet (saw) explicitly instructs his Ummah to send him more salaams (blessings) on Fridays. This relates to what he said:
The person closest to me on the Day of Judgement is the one who sent the most Salat (blessings) upon me. [Tirmidhi]
It’s interesting to note that the Noble Qur’an refers to the Day of Judgement as Yawm al-Jam, the Day of Gathering (The Noble Qur’an, 42:7 and 64:9).
The connection between Friday and the Day of Judgement can be shown by the fact that the word Jam is derived from the same Arabic root word as Jumu’ah. According to scholars, Fridays, and particularly the Friday prayers itself, serve as a reminder and practise run for the actual Day of Judgement.
11. On a Friday, we will see Allah.
Unquestionably, seeing Allah, as we will on the Day of Judgement, is the biggest event and the biggest reward of Friday:
This ultimate reward of seeing Allah will likewise be experienced by the inhabitants of Paradise. According to scholars, the two ayahs that follow, which mention “even more” (ziyadah and mazid), make reference to seeing Allah:
’Those who do good will have the finest reward and even more (ziyadah). Neither gloom nor disgrace will cover their faces. It is they who will be the residents of Paradise. They will be there forever’. [The Noble Qur’an, 10:26]
’There they will have whatever they desire, and with Us is even more (mazid)’. [The Noble Qur’an, 50:35]
This incredible reward is experienced by the people of Paradise on a Friday, where again they will ‘gather’ and due to this experience they will increase in ‘beauty and loveliness’:
The Messenger of Allah (saw) said, ’Indeed, in Paradise there is a market to which they would come every Friday. The north wind will blow and would scatter fragrance on their faces and on their clothes and would add to their beauty and loveliness, and then they would go back to their families after having an added lustre to their beauty and loveliness, and their family would say to them, “By Allah, you have been increased in beauty and loveliness after leaving us”, and they would say, ”By Allah, you have also increased in beauty and loveliness after us“’. [Muslim]
We earnestly pray that Allah (swt) will allow us all admittance into His eternal Garden of Bliss, where we will be truly blessed to meet Him every Friday, and that He will show us all His favour and mercy. Ameen!
12. Friday is the “master of all days”
You won’t be at all surprised to learn that the Prophet (saw) referred to Friday as the “master of all days” after reading the ahadith above. The qualities of other days, even the days of Eid, diminish in comparison to the rank of Fridays:
Therefore, it is unquestionably crucial that we consider this day’s virtues and do our best effort on Friday.
Conclusion: Why Friday is Important in Islam?
Now you can appreciate Why Friday is Important in Islam. In conclusion, Friday holds great importance in Islam due to its spiritual significance, historical events, and the practices and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). It is a day of congregational worship, remembrance of Allah, and gathering for the Friday prayer. Muslims are encouraged to prioritize their spiritual growth, send blessings upon the Prophet, and engage in collective worship and unity on this blessed day.
The famous Yemeni companion, Abu Hurairah (ra), mentioned that the Prophet (saw) was once asked, ‘For what reason was the day called Jumu‘ah?’ He said, ‘Because on that day, the clay was shaped from which your father, Adam [as] was made, and on that day will be the trumpet blast (on the Day of Judgement), the Resurrection and the great seizure (of the disbelievers). And in its last three hours, there is an hour when whoever supplicates Allah in it, it will be responded to’. [Ahmad]
So this was Why Friday is Important in Islam so much. Read more Islamic Blogs or Follow us on social media for daily Islamic reminders.
