By Amna Umar
More often than not, we get so caught up in the humdrum of everyday activities and deadlines, and perhaps, we get a little too lost in the excitement of the upcoming weekend that we tend to overlook the blessedness of Friday itself!
Friday, or Jumuah, is Allah’s favorite day of the week, concentrated with endless virtue and blessings. According to the Islamic Calendar, the day of Jumuah starts right after Maghrib on Thursday and concludes with the Maghrib prayer on Friday, hence Muslims are advised to commence their worship the night prior to Friday.
The significance of Jumuah becomes highly apparent in the following words by our beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH):
The best day during which the sun have risen is Friday. It is the Day Adam was created. It’s the day when Adam entered paradise and also when he was taken out from it. It is also the day on which the Day of Judgment takes place. (Sahih Muslim)
So how can you make the most of this blessed day? Here are a few tips to make your Jumuah meaningful:
1- WASH UP PROPERLY
As Friday is no ordinary day, one must take extra care when it comes to cleanliness and preparation for it. On this day, every Muslim should take a bath, trim his/her nails, brush his/her teeth, wear clean and freshly pressed clothes, along with a dash of nice perfume (non-alcoholic). All this is ideally to be practiced before the Jumuah prayer in terms of the significance.
The Prophet (PBUH) is reported to have said:
Anyone of you attending the Friday (prayers) should take a bath. (Sahih Bukhari 2133)
2- LISTEN TO THE SERMON AND OFFER FRIDAY PRAYERS IN CONGREGATION
It is urged that all male individuals should finish up the worldly affairs a bit early on Friday and take some time off so that they can reach the Masjid well before time.
The Jumuah Khutbah (Friday sermon) is the Sunnah and essential for all to hear. It’s importance is illustrated in the following hadith by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH):
On every Friday the angels take their stand at every gate of the mosque to write the names of the people chronologically (i.e. according to the time of their arrival for the Friday prayer) and when the Imam sits (on the pulpit) they fold up their scrolls and get ready to listen to the sermon. (Al-Bukhari)
Moreover, every Muslim male is obligated to offer the Friday prayers in congregation. In the Quran, Allah (SWT) says:
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 Jumah:9)
3- MAKE ABUNDANT DU’AS
According to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH):
On Friday, there is a time when no Muslim stands and prays, asking Allah for something, but Allah will grant him it. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
So make dua as much as you can on this day and avail this wonderful chance to get your Duas answered by the Almighty.
4- RECITE SURAH AL-KAHF
This chapter helps one expatiate from sins, gain blessings of Allah Almighty and prepare one’s self for the end of days. Hence, every Muslim individual must try getting into the habit of reciting chapter Al-Kahf regularly. Consciously take out time during the day to recite chapter Al-Kahf because according to Prophet’s (PBUH) tradition:
Whoever reads Surah Al-Kahf on Friday, he will be illuminated with light between the two Fridays. (Sunan Al-Kubra 5856)
The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is also reported to have said:
If anyone learns by heart the first ten verses of the Surah Al-Kahf, he will be protected from the Dajjal. (Sahih Muslim)
5- SEND BLESSINGS UPON THE PROPHET (PBUH)
Along with constant remembrance of Allah (SWT), increased blessings should also be sent upon our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) on Friday, for it is stated in the Hadith:
The best of your days is Friday. On that day Adam was created; on that day he died; on that day the Trumpet will be blown; and on that day all of creation will swoon. So send a great deal of blessings upon me, for your blessings will be shown to me. (Abu Dawud)
Why Is Friday So Special For Muslims?
Follow these tips and make that extra effort on every Jumuah. Look forward to Jumuah, be prepared for it in advance and go that extra mile to drape the cape of Allah’s blessings and rewards.
May Allah (SWT) bestow all our fellow Muslims with the motivation to practice all this continuously!
Source: Islamic Finder.org
(From Discovering Islam archive)
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Soothing Prayer: Time For Myself
10 November, 2023
Cartoons are blaring on the TV, the phone is ringing off the hook, my youngest is screaming in anger because her elder sister took away her toy, and the teapot full of milky tea that I just put on to simmer has already boiled over to coat my stove in a tan, sticky mess!
Prayer in Islam – A Special Connection with God
This is a typical morning in my home, and the madness continues throughout the day.
And then I hear it out in the distance, Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar!
The Adhan (call for Prayer) fills the air as it increases in strength to fully envelope me.
I breathe a sigh of relief. Performing Prayer five times a day is usually the only time I can find peace in during my hectic day. It is a time for me to slow down, gather my thoughts, and seek the audience of God.
Soothing Salat
The Prayer is the only part of the day that is allocated for me. There are five Prayers a day. Since each Prayer takes about 7 minutes to perform, that adds up to over 30 minutes of private time, and I cherish every minute of them!
Prior to the Prayer, it is necessary to perform wudu‘ (ablution), which consists of washing the mouth, nose, face, head, ears, hands, arms, elbows, and feet, in a prescribed way. Just the act of washing with cool water awakens my senses and helps me enter a state of utter refreshment.
My Prayer begins with Allahu Akbar, which means “God is greater.” Just by saying that one phrase, I become so humble because I know that I am standing in front of God in worship. I perform the prayer, and during each prostration, I make dua’ (supplications) for forgiveness and for anything else that is troubling me.
Perhaps I had a disagreement with my husband that morning or I am worried about something or I feel scared. I take it all to God in confidence, and let all of the emotions just pour out.
By the end of my Prayer, I feel as if a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. I have released all the burdens that were weighing down my heart and affecting my mood, which was previously making me snappy with my children.
Some people spend thousands of dollars talking with a psychiatrist in an attempt to cope with life. I turn to God for free and always find solutions to fulfill all my needs!
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
“Prayer is the joy of my eyes” (An-Nasa’i)
You Need Salah (Prayer) to Spiritually Breathe
I concur completely. Prayer is also the joy of my eyes, which brings relief in an otherwise chaotic existence.
My Daily Dose of Worship
The five daily Prayers can be likened to a medicinal prescription, one for the soul. They bring you closer to God through obedience and piety. As a result, the human heart is constantly reminded about what our purpose is in this life.
God says in the Quran what means:
I created the Jinn and humankind only that they might worship Me. (51:56)
Prayer creates a sense of awareness and reflection in the heart of anyone who performs it. Just the act of bowing and prostrating with your face flat on the floor removes all the trappings of this life.
Performing the Prayer helps me to maintain focus on the important things in life: Worshiping God and caring for my family. It also makes me realize the innumerable blessings that have occurred in my life and be thankful for them.
Impact of Salah
I can say truly that the Prayer has changed my life. I reverted to Islam more than 11 years ago. Looking back, I can see the change that I have undergone just as a caterpillar does before shedding its cocoon and spreading its beautiful new wings to reveal the beautiful colors of a new soul.
I used to have quite a bad temper. I would never lash out at anyone, but preferred to quietly stew and burn. And I kept everything bottled up inside and let it eat away at me. As a result, my self-esteem was very low. I let others walk all over me and never knew how to stand up for myself.
After reverting to Islam, I slowly began to learn how to perform the Prayer. It was not easy, but it was a goal I was determined to achieve.
Bit by bit, I began to master the Prayer and as I did, I found a renewed confidence in myself that I had never known before. The more I prayed, the better I felt. The more I opened my heart to God, the more anger and mistrust were gone. It was not simply a spiritual act; it felt like I was being cleansed, not just of my sins, but also of all the negativity that had bogged me down for so many years.
The Islamic Prayer means absolutely everything to me. I am able to connect with my Creator five times each and every day. It is a one-on-one connection without a mediator — just me standing to pray in awe, reverence, and thankfulness, bowing in humility and prostrating in adoration.
The Prayer humbles me, in that I am more sensitive to the fragility of life and the plight of the ever-degrading human condition, and I am able to focus on what is important in life without being dazzled by its glitter.
(From Discovering Islam’s archive.)
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