This article is excerpted from the book "Namaz-e-Mustafa ﷺ" by Abu Hamzah Abdul Khaliq Siddiqi.
For Muslims, Jumu‘ah is a day of Eid on which they glorify and praise Allah, leaving behind worldly activities to gather in the mosques—the houses of Allah—to perform one of the obligatory acts: the Jumu‘ah prayer. During the Friday sermon, scholars and preachers address the congregation, providing a weekly lesson that refreshes the hearts, instills love and obedience towards Allah and His Messenger ﷺ.
Allah the Exalted said:
﴿ياَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا نُودِيَ لِلصَّلوةِ مِنْ يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ فَاسْعَوْا إِلى ذِكْرِ اللهِ وَذَرُوا الْبَيْعَ ذَلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ فَإِذَا قُضِيَتِ الصَّلوةُ فَانْتَشِرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَابْتَغُوا مِنْ فَضْلِ اللهِ وَاذْكُرُوا اللهَ كَثِيرًا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ﴾
﴿Al-Jumu‘ah: 9–10﴾
The Jumu‘ah prayer is obligatory upon every adult, sane, free, and resident Muslim male. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ consistently performed it and sternly warned against abandoning it.
He ﷺ said:
“Let people cease from abandoning Jumu‘ah, otherwise Allah will seal their hearts and they will become among the heedless.”
Saheeh Muslim, Book of Jumu‘ah, Chapter: Warning Against Abandoning Jumu‘ah, Hadith No. 865
In another Hadith, the beloved Prophet ﷺ stated:
“Whoever neglects three Jumu‘ahs out of laziness, Allah seals his heart.”
Abu Dawood: 1052, Tirmidhi: 499, Ibn Hibban: 3 – Ibn Hibban classified it as Saheeh.
① Jumu‘ah consists of two Rak‘ahs performed in congregation under the leadership of the Imam.
② For Jumu‘ah to be valid, it must be offered in congregation where Muslims gather, and the Imam delivers a sermon with exhortation.
③ Talking during the Khutbah is forbidden.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“If you tell your companion to be quiet while the Imam is delivering the sermon, you have engaged in idle talk.”
Saheeh Bukhari: 934, Saheeh Muslim: 851
④ After Jumu‘ah, one should offer two or four Sunnah Rak‘ahs.
Saheeh Muslim: 881, 882 – Saheeh Bukhari: 937
⑤ One may offer as many voluntary prayers before the Imam arrives for Jumu‘ah.
Saheeh Muslim: 857
➊ Sending abundant Salawat (blessings) upon the Prophet ﷺ
Abu Dawood: 1531, Musnad Ahmad: 8/4, Hakim: 1/278, Ibn Majah: 1085 – Declared Saheeh by Ibn Khuzaymah, Hakim, and Albani.
➋ Recitation of Surah Al-Kahf
Mustadrak Hakim: 2/368, Al-Sunan al-Kubra of Bayhaqi: 3/249 – Classified as Saheeh by Hakim and Albani.
➌ Making abundant Du‘as in hope of coinciding with the Hour of Acceptance
Saheeh Bukhari: 935, Saheeh Muslim: 852, Musnad Ahmad: 2/230
✦ Importance and Virtue of Jumu‘ah Prayer
Islam strongly encourages unity and collectiveness, promoting love, brotherhood, and mutual acquaintance while disliking division and disunity. Every path that leads to communal harmony has been endorsed and encouraged in Islam.For Muslims, Jumu‘ah is a day of Eid on which they glorify and praise Allah, leaving behind worldly activities to gather in the mosques—the houses of Allah—to perform one of the obligatory acts: the Jumu‘ah prayer. During the Friday sermon, scholars and preachers address the congregation, providing a weekly lesson that refreshes the hearts, instills love and obedience towards Allah and His Messenger ﷺ.
Allah the Exalted said:
﴿ياَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا نُودِيَ لِلصَّلوةِ مِنْ يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ فَاسْعَوْا إِلى ذِكْرِ اللهِ وَذَرُوا الْبَيْعَ ذَلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ فَإِذَا قُضِيَتِ الصَّلوةُ فَانْتَشِرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَابْتَغُوا مِنْ فَضْلِ اللهِ وَاذْكُرُوا اللهَ كَثِيرًا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ﴾
﴿Al-Jumu‘ah: 9–10﴾
Warning Against Neglecting Jumu‘ah
The Jumu‘ah prayer is obligatory upon every adult, sane, free, and resident Muslim male. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ consistently performed it and sternly warned against abandoning it.He ﷺ said:
“Let people cease from abandoning Jumu‘ah, otherwise Allah will seal their hearts and they will become among the heedless.”
Saheeh Muslim, Book of Jumu‘ah, Chapter: Warning Against Abandoning Jumu‘ah, Hadith No. 865
In another Hadith, the beloved Prophet ﷺ stated:
“Whoever neglects three Jumu‘ahs out of laziness, Allah seals his heart.”
Abu Dawood: 1052, Tirmidhi: 499, Ibn Hibban: 3 – Ibn Hibban classified it as Saheeh.
Rulings and Issues Related to Jumu‘ah Prayer
① Jumu‘ah consists of two Rak‘ahs performed in congregation under the leadership of the Imam.② For Jumu‘ah to be valid, it must be offered in congregation where Muslims gather, and the Imam delivers a sermon with exhortation.
③ Talking during the Khutbah is forbidden.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“If you tell your companion to be quiet while the Imam is delivering the sermon, you have engaged in idle talk.”
Saheeh Bukhari: 934, Saheeh Muslim: 851
④ After Jumu‘ah, one should offer two or four Sunnah Rak‘ahs.
Saheeh Muslim: 881, 882 – Saheeh Bukhari: 937
⑤ One may offer as many voluntary prayers before the Imam arrives for Jumu‘ah.
Saheeh Muslim: 857
Recommended Adhkar and Supplications on Jumu‘ah
➊ Sending abundant Salawat (blessings) upon the Prophet ﷺAbu Dawood: 1531, Musnad Ahmad: 8/4, Hakim: 1/278, Ibn Majah: 1085 – Declared Saheeh by Ibn Khuzaymah, Hakim, and Albani.
➋ Recitation of Surah Al-Kahf
Mustadrak Hakim: 2/368, Al-Sunan al-Kubra of Bayhaqi: 3/249 – Classified as Saheeh by Hakim and Albani.
➌ Making abundant Du‘as in hope of coinciding with the Hour of Acceptance
Saheeh Bukhari: 935, Saheeh Muslim: 852, Musnad Ahmad: 2/230
