Friday Prohibitions in Light of Authentic Hadiths
Written by: Abu Abdur Rahman Shabbir bin Noor (Hafizahullah)
The Shariah has forbidden the believers from engaging in several acts specifically on the day of Jumuʿah. Below is a detailed explanation supported by authentic Hadiths:
The Prophet ﷺ forbade fasting exclusively on Fridays, unless accompanied by Thursday or Saturday.
Sahih Muslim (1143):
“I asked Jabir ibn Abdullah رضي الله عنه while he was circumambulating the Ka‘bah, ‘Did the Prophet ﷺ prohibit fasting on Friday?’ He replied, ‘Yes, by the Lord of this House!’”
Sahih al-Bukhari (1884) and Sahih Muslim (1144):
“None of you should fast on Friday unless he fasts a day before or after it.”
Sahih Muslim (1144):
“Do not single out Friday for fasting among other days unless it coincides with a fast one already observes.”
Sahih al-Bukhari (1885):
“The Prophet ﷺ asked Juwayriyyah رضي الله عنها, who was fasting on a Friday, ‘Did you fast yesterday?’ She replied, ‘No.’ He said, ‘Do you intend to fast tomorrow?’ She said, ‘No.’ He said, ‘Then break your fast.’”
Sahih Muslim (1144):
“Do not single out Friday night for Qiyam (night prayer) over other nights.”
Surah al-Jumuʿah (62:9):
“O you who believe! When the call is made for prayer on Friday, hasten to the remembrance of Allah and leave off trade.”
Delaying or neglecting Jumuʿah for worldly concerns can result in spiritual ruin.
Sunan Ibn Majah (1127):
“Beware lest anyone of you ends up with a flock of sheep at a distance of a mile or two and misses Jumuʿah repeatedly until a seal is set upon his heart.”
(Also found in Musnad Ahmad 5/434 and Musnad Abi Ya‘la 4/140, Hadith graded Hasan collectively by Shaykh al-Albani)
Musnad Ahmad (4/190), Abu Dawud (1118):
“Sit down, you have harmed others!”
Abu Dawud (347):
“Whoever engages in idle talk or steps over people’s necks, his Jumuʿah becomes merely a Dhuhr prayer.”
(Graded Hasan by Shaykh al-Albani)
Sahih al-Bukhari (90):
“Whoever does not push between two people, performs what is written for him, and listens attentively to the sermon, will have his sins forgiven until the next Jumuʿah.”
Sahih Muslim (2177):
“Do not make someone get up from his place to sit there. Rather, make room.”
Sahih Muslim (2178):
“Let no one on Friday make his brother stand up from his seat so he can sit there.”
Abdullah ibn ‘Umar رضي الله عنهما never accepted a seat if someone gave it up for him. (Sahih Muslim)
Abu Dawud (1079):
“The Prophet ﷺ forbade sitting in study circles in the mosque before Jumuʿah.”
(Also in Sunan al-Nasa’i — chains graded Hasan)
Abu Dawud (1113), Ibn Khuzaymah (1813):
“Three types of people attend Jumuʿah: one who engages in idle talk — that is all he gets; one who makes du‘ā’ — Allah may or may not accept it; and one who listens silently — his sins are forgiven until the next Jumuʿah plus three extra days.”
Sahih al-Bukhari (892), Sahih Muslim (851):
“Even telling someone ‘Be quiet’ during the khutbah is considered idle and voids reward.”
Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah (1807):
Abu Dhar رضي الله عنه asked Ubayy ibn Ka‘b about a verse during the khutbah. Ubayy gave no answer and later explained, ‘You received nothing but distraction from your prayer.’ The Prophet ﷺ confirmed Ubayy’s response: “He spoke the truth.”
(Graded Sahih by Shaykh al-Albani)
Tirmidhi (514), Abu Dawud (1110):
“The Prophet ﷺ forbade sitting with knees upright and cloth tied around the back while the imam is delivering the sermon on Friday.”
(Graded Hasan)
Sahih Muslim, Tirmidhi, Nasa’i:
“Whoever eats garlic, onions, or leek should not come to our mosques, for the angels are bothered by what bothers the sons of Adam.”
By analogy, this applies even more strictly to modern harmful and foul substances like cigarettes, naswar, etc. A major body of scholars considers cigarettes ḥarām. Those emitting odor should brush, use siwak or toothpaste, or perform prayer at home if necessary.
We seek Allah’s refuge from heedlessness and pray for steadfastness upon the straight path. May we honor the sanctity of Jumuʿah as commanded.
Summary of Jumuʿah Prohibitions
Fasting only on Friday
Special devotion Friday night
Trade after second Adhan
Stepping over people’s necks
Forcing between two people
Taking someone’s place
Study circles before prayer
Speaking or distracting during khutbah
Sitting cross-legged with cloth tied
Attending with foul odor
Final Advice: Observe Jumuʿah with reverence, silence, cleanliness, and full attention, so it becomes a source of forgiveness and reward, not punishment or loss.
Written by: Abu Abdur Rahman Shabbir bin Noor (Hafizahullah)
The Shariah has forbidden the believers from engaging in several acts specifically on the day of Jumuʿah. Below is a detailed explanation supported by authentic Hadiths:
❖ ① Fasting Only on Friday Is Prohibited
The Prophet ﷺ forbade fasting exclusively on Fridays, unless accompanied by Thursday or Saturday.
Sahih Muslim (1143):“I asked Jabir ibn Abdullah رضي الله عنه while he was circumambulating the Ka‘bah, ‘Did the Prophet ﷺ prohibit fasting on Friday?’ He replied, ‘Yes, by the Lord of this House!’”
Sahih al-Bukhari (1884) and Sahih Muslim (1144):“None of you should fast on Friday unless he fasts a day before or after it.”
Sahih Muslim (1144):“Do not single out Friday for fasting among other days unless it coincides with a fast one already observes.”
Sahih al-Bukhari (1885):“The Prophet ﷺ asked Juwayriyyah رضي الله عنها, who was fasting on a Friday, ‘Did you fast yesterday?’ She replied, ‘No.’ He said, ‘Do you intend to fast tomorrow?’ She said, ‘No.’ He said, ‘Then break your fast.’”
❖ ② Devoting Friday Night to Special Worship
Sahih Muslim (1144):“Do not single out Friday night for Qiyam (night prayer) over other nights.”
❖ ③ Engaging in Trade After the Second Adhan
Surah al-Jumuʿah (62:9):“O you who believe! When the call is made for prayer on Friday, hasten to the remembrance of Allah and leave off trade.”
Delaying or neglecting Jumuʿah for worldly concerns can result in spiritual ruin.
Sunan Ibn Majah (1127):“Beware lest anyone of you ends up with a flock of sheep at a distance of a mile or two and misses Jumuʿah repeatedly until a seal is set upon his heart.”
(Also found in Musnad Ahmad 5/434 and Musnad Abi Ya‘la 4/140, Hadith graded Hasan collectively by Shaykh al-Albani)
❖ ④ Stepping Over People's Necks
Musnad Ahmad (4/190), Abu Dawud (1118):“Sit down, you have harmed others!”
Abu Dawud (347):“Whoever engages in idle talk or steps over people’s necks, his Jumuʿah becomes merely a Dhuhr prayer.”
(Graded Hasan by Shaykh al-Albani)
❖ ⑤ Forcing Between Two People to Make Space
Sahih al-Bukhari (90):“Whoever does not push between two people, performs what is written for him, and listens attentively to the sermon, will have his sins forgiven until the next Jumuʿah.”
❖ ⑥ Forcing Someone Out of Their Spot
Sahih Muslim (2177):“Do not make someone get up from his place to sit there. Rather, make room.”
Sahih Muslim (2178):“Let no one on Friday make his brother stand up from his seat so he can sit there.”
Abdullah ibn ‘Umar رضي الله عنهما never accepted a seat if someone gave it up for him. (Sahih Muslim)❖ ⑦ Sitting in Study Circles Before the Jumuʿah Prayer
Abu Dawud (1079):“The Prophet ﷺ forbade sitting in study circles in the mosque before Jumuʿah.”
(Also in Sunan al-Nasa’i — chains graded Hasan)
❖ ⑧ Speaking, Playing, or Distracting During the Sermon
Abu Dawud (1113), Ibn Khuzaymah (1813):“Three types of people attend Jumuʿah: one who engages in idle talk — that is all he gets; one who makes du‘ā’ — Allah may or may not accept it; and one who listens silently — his sins are forgiven until the next Jumuʿah plus three extra days.”
Sahih al-Bukhari (892), Sahih Muslim (851):“Even telling someone ‘Be quiet’ during the khutbah is considered idle and voids reward.”
Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah (1807):Abu Dhar رضي الله عنه asked Ubayy ibn Ka‘b about a verse during the khutbah. Ubayy gave no answer and later explained, ‘You received nothing but distraction from your prayer.’ The Prophet ﷺ confirmed Ubayy’s response: “He spoke the truth.”
(Graded Sahih by Shaykh al-Albani)
❖ ⑨ Tying Garment While Sitting Cross-Legged During Khutbah
Tirmidhi (514), Abu Dawud (1110):“The Prophet ﷺ forbade sitting with knees upright and cloth tied around the back while the imam is delivering the sermon on Friday.”
(Graded Hasan)
❖ ⑩ Coming to the Masjid After Consuming Offensive Odors
Sahih Muslim, Tirmidhi, Nasa’i:“Whoever eats garlic, onions, or leek should not come to our mosques, for the angels are bothered by what bothers the sons of Adam.”
By analogy, this applies even more strictly to modern harmful and foul substances like cigarettes, naswar, etc. A major body of scholars considers cigarettes ḥarām. Those emitting odor should brush, use siwak or toothpaste, or perform prayer at home if necessary.❖ Conclusion: Seeking Protection and Guidance
We seek Allah’s refuge from heedlessness and pray for steadfastness upon the straight path. May we honor the sanctity of Jumuʿah as commanded.
Summary of Jumuʿah Prohibitions Fasting only on Friday Special devotion Friday night Trade after second Adhan Stepping over people’s necks Forcing between two people Taking someone’s place Study circles before prayer Speaking or distracting during khutbah Sitting cross-legged with cloth tied Attending with foul odor Final Advice: Observe Jumuʿah with reverence, silence, cleanliness, and full attention, so it becomes a source of forgiveness and reward, not punishment or loss.