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Some Special Things To Do For Friday Prayer

“O Believers, when the call is proclaimed for the prayer on Friday, come to the remembrance of Allah and leave off business, that is better for you if you but did know.” (Qur’an, 62:9)

Purifying and cleaning
The person intending to perform the Friday prayer is greatly encouraged to perform Ghusl (full bath or shower). The majority of the scholars are of the opinion that the Ghusl for the Friday prayer is recommended (Sunnah) and not obligatory. It can be performed starting from the time of Fajr Prayer. Also, if a person performs Ghusl and then later invalidates his Wudhu (ablution), he need not repeat the Ghusl. Doing Wudhu is sufficient. Furthermore, one Ghusl is enough for both Janabah (sexual impurity) and the Friday prayer.

Going early to the Masjid
There is a great reward in going early to the Friday prayer, beginning after sunrise. By leaving early, one gets the reward of waiting for the Prayer, making Dhikr (remembering Allah) and offering voluntary prayers during that time. Abu Umamah narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, “The angels sit at the doors to the Masjids and with them are scrolls in which they record the people (who come). When the Imam appears, the scrolls are rolled up.” Abu Umamah was asked, “Does the one who comes after the Imam still have a Friday Prayer?” he said, “Certainly, but he is not one of those who is recorded (as coming early).” (Ahmad and Al-Tabarani)

Dressing well
This is a special time that requires Muslims to appear in the best manner possible. One should therefore put on his best attire for the Friday prayer.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “If one has the means, he should buy two pieces of clothing, other than his work clothes or (everyday clothing), to wear on Friday.” (Abu Dawood)

Performing Tahiyyat
If a person comes late to the Friday Prayer while the Imam is delivering the Khutbah, should he pray the two Rak’ah of Tahiyyat Al-Masjid (prayer of greeting the mosque) and then sit or should he simply skip them? The strongest opinion is to perform the Tahiyyat Al-Masjid based on the Hadith of the Prophet (peace be upon him): “If one of you comes to the Masjid, he should pray two Rak’ah before he sits.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim) However, Tahiyyat Al-Masjid is not required of the person giving the Khutbah. Also, this requirement is limited only to prayers offered in a Masjid.

Other etiquette

1. Walking to the Masjid whenever feasible as there is a reward for every step taken to the Masjid.

2. Avoiding stepping over people to get to a particular spot in the Masjid.

3. Avoiding dividing two people who are sitting together.

4. Not making someone stand and taking his place.

5. Not clasping one’s hands and intertwining one’s fingers while waiting for the prayer.

6. Sitting in the front row and close to the Imam whenever possible.

7. Remaining quiet while the Imam is delivering the Khutbah. This actually includes listening to the Imam and not engaging with anything else while the Imam is speaking.

8. Going to the Masjid in a state of calmness and not being in a hurry.

9. Reciting Surah Al-Kahf, as an authentic Hadith states: “For whoever recites Surah Al-Kahf on Friday, it will be a light for him from that Friday to the next.” (Al-Bayhaqi and Al-Hakim) The Surah could be read any time of the day.

Indeed, the Friday prayer is one of the most important acts of worship in Islam. The Prophet (peace be upon him) has described the wonderful blessings and benefits that Allah has vouchsafed for Muslims through this meritorious act.

Knowing how important this prayer is in Allah’s sight, Muslims must do their best to perform it in the best way possible. They should strive and sacrifice for the sake of this Prayer.

– AlJumuah magazine

The Exalted Status Of Al-Aqsa Mosque

AL-AQSA is the first Qiblah (direction of prayer) of Muslims, and the land of Al-Israa’ and Al-Mi’raj. Our hearts bleed for all the sacrilegious acts been perpetrated against Al-Aqsa. The status of Al-Aqsa is clearly explained in the Hadith that reads: “People are not to travel except to three mosques: The Sacred Mosque (in Makkah), Al-Aqsa Mosque (in Jerusalem), and my Mosque (in Madinah).” (Reported by Muslim)

The city of Jerusalem was chosen at the command of Allah by Prophet Dawud (David, peace be upon him), in the 10th century B.C. After him his son Prophet Sulayman (Solomon, peace be upon him) built a mosque in Jerusalem according to the revelation that he received from Allah. For several centuries this mosque was used for the worship of Allah by many Prophets and Messengers. It was destroyed by the Babylonians in the year 586 B.C., but it was soon rebuilt and was rededicated to the worship of Allah in 516 B.C.

It continued afterwards for several centuries until the time of Prophet Isa (Jesus, peace be upon him). After he departed this world, it was destroyed by the Romans in the year 70 C.E. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was taken there in his miraculous journey of Al-Israa’ and from there he went for Al-Mi’raj. When Muslims took the city of Jerusalem in 636 C.E. during the caliphate of Umar he ordered for the building of this mosque again and it stands until now as a Masjid for the worship of Allah as it was originally built by our Prophet Sulayman (peace be upon him).

The significance of Jerusalem is that it is the city of many Prophets of Allah as Makkah is the city of Prophets Ibrahim (Abraham), Isma’il (Ishmael) and Muhammad (peace be upon all of them). The Mosque of Al-Aqsa is one of the ancient mosques and in the Qur’an Allah called it and its land “… the neighborhood whereof We have blessed…” (17: 1)

When Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was in Makkah and also for about 17 months after his Hijrah to Madinah, he and his followers used to pray toward the direction of Al-Aqsa Mosque. This was to establish in the minds of Muslims the link between the teachings of Prophet Muhammad and other Prophets of Allah (peace be upon them all). When this principle was established in their minds then Allah ordered Muslims to turn to the Ka’bah and pray toward its direction.

Now, we are not allowed to pray to the direction of Jerusalem and Al-Aqsa Mosque, but we must respect and honor the city of Jerusalem and its blessed mosque. It is also the duty of all Muslims to guard and protect this mosque from any harm and damage, for the mosque belongs to those who believe in all the Prophets and Messengers of Allah.

How To Concentrate In Your Prayers

1. Repeat what the mu’adhin (person who calls prayers) says.

2. Make dua between adhan and Iqamah.

3. Make fresh wudu for Salah.

4. Use msiwak before Salah.

5. Dress in fine clothes for Salah.

6. Move through Salah with tranquility.

7. Pray as if you will die after this Salah.

8. Think about the verses and dhikr you are reciting in Salah.

9. Repeat verses for added contemplation.

10. Memorize and use new passages of Quran.

11. Pause at the end of each ayah.

12. Recite in a beautiful voice.

13. Maintain eyesight on your prostration location.

14. Recite dhikr after prayer, patiently.

15. Don’t look around in prayer.

16. Suppress your yawning during prayer.

17. Don’t stick to the same prayer place in the Masjid.

18. Arrive early for Salah.

Simple Formula To Be The Best

BEING humans, we all crave to have the best in life, to get the best in life, and to be the best in life. Don’t we? How many times have these thoughts crawled in our brains?

“I want to be the best employee or the best student!” “I want to own the best mobile, the best car and be married to the best wife.”

Dear brothers and sisters, as Muslims has the thought ever come to us that “I want to be the best Muslim?” Leave alone working for it, have we ever just thought about it?

Well, now that this topic has come up, give it a second thought. If you believed that to be the best of Muslims you need to spend your full day in the Masjid or fast everyday of your life, you were wrong!

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) gave us a simple formula to be the best: “The best amongst you is the one who learns the Qur’an and teaches it.” (Al-Bukhari)

Subhan Allah, as simple as that! It doesn’t require you to be on your prayer mat 24/7. No, the key is Allah’s speech – the Qur’an.

Hold on to it even if it’s by starting to read a page everyday (make sure you understand it). This is something that Allah has ordered in the Qur’an.

“And hold fast, all of you together, to the rope of Allah (i.e. the Quran), and be not divided among yourselves; and remember with gratitude Allah’s favors on you…” (Qur’an, 3:103)

“And We have indeed made the Qur’an easy to understand and remember, then is there any that will remember (or receive admonition)?” (Qur’an, 54:17)

Feed A Fasting Person

The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, “Whoever feeds a fasting person will have a reward like that of the fasting person, without any reduction in his reward.” (Al-Tirmidhi, authenticated by Al-Albani)

Buy a box of dates and give it to the masjid, for the sake of Allah alone. The fasting people will break their fast with your dates and you will In Sha Allah get the reward of their fasting.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) once visited Sa’d Bin Ubadah who presented bread and olive oil to him. The Prophet (peace be upon him) ate it and said, “The observers of fast have broken their fast with you (this is the literal translation, but the meaning is: ‘May Allah reward you for providing a fasting people with food to break their fast.’); the pious people have eaten your food and the angels invoked blessings on you.” (Abu Dawood)

Sheikh Muhammad Bin Saleh Al-Uthaymeen said, “Those who have the ability should strive to feed those who are fasting (when it’s time to break the fast) either in the mosques or at other places. This is since whoever feeds a fasting person, will receive the same reward as the one who is fasting. So if a person feeds his brothers who are fasting, he will receive the same reward as them. Therefore, those whom Allah has granted wealth should take advantage of this opportunity to obtain a great reward.” (Su’alan Fis-Siyaam)

Easy Actions For Which Rewards Are Multiplied

Primary reference: “Al-Amal al-Mudaaafah” (Dar al-Watan, Riyadh)
By Sulaymaan ibn Saalih al-Kharaashi

“So whoever hopes for the Meeting with his Lord, let him work righteousness and associate none as a partner in the worship of his Lord.” [18:110]

How great will be the regret of those who waste this opportunity?

1. Preserving the ties of kinship: ” Whoever wishes that his provision be increased and his age lengthened, let him maintain the ties of kinship.” [al-Bukhari and Muslim]

2. Performing many prayers in the two noble Harams (in Makkah and Madinah): “Prayer in this masjid of mine is superior to a thousand prayers elsewhere, except for Masjid al-Haram, and prayer in Masjid al-Haram is superior to one hundred thousand prayers elsewhere.” [Ahmad and ibn Majah]

3. Performing prayers in congregation. “Prayer in congregation is superior to praying individually twenty-seven times.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

4. Praying `Isha and Fajr in the congregation: “He who prays Isha’ in Jama’ah [congregation] is as if he has prayed for half the night. As to him who (also) prays Fajr in congregation, it is as if he has prayed all night.” [narrated by Malik and the wording is that of a Muslim who also reported it]

5. Performing voluntary prayers at home. “Superiority of a man’s prayer in his home over his prayer when people see him is like the superiority of an obligatory prayer over a voluntary one.” [al-Bayhaqi, classed as Saheeh by al-Albani]

“The most superior prayer of a person is in his home, except for obligatory prayers.” [al-Bukhari and Muslim]

6. Observing some manners of the day of Jumu`ah. “Whoever ghassala (washes his head, and it is said: has intercourse with his wife so that it be a means to lower the gaze from the haram that day) on the day of Jumuah, then comes in the earliest time and before the first khutbah, walks and doesn’t ride, stays near the Imam, listens and does not speak – for each step [he makes] he has actions of one year, the reward of fasting and standing in prayer in it.” [Ahl as-Sunan]

7. Salat ul-Ishraq. “Whoever prays al-ghadaa (i.e. al fajr) in congregation, then sits remembering Allah until sunrise, then prays two units of prayer, has a complete reward of Hajj and Umrah [The Prophet, sallallahualayhi wa sallam, repeated ‘complete’ three times for emphasizing].” [at-Tirmidhi, classed as Saheeh by al-Albani]