Did you know that Ibn Abbas (RA) reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, "Verily, Allah has made this day of Friday a celebration for the Muslims. Whoever comes to Friday prayer, let him bathe himself, apply perfume if he has it, and use the toothstick." (Sunan Ibn Mājah 1098)

We often tell our non-Muslim friends that we only have two Eids in Islam - let's rethink that! Every single Friday is a little Eid in and of itself: a beautiful opportunity to renew our faith, to celebrate the innumerable blessings that Allah SWT constantly bestows upon us, and to recharge spiritually for the upcoming week that will undoubtedly be full of small and big challenges.

Do you know the recommended acts of worship that we are encouraged to complete on Friday, the day of Jumuah? Read our article below to find out!

1. Attend Friday prayer (obligatory upon men)

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا نُودِيَ لِلصَّلَاةِ مِن يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ فَاسْعَوْا إِلَىٰ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَذَرُوا الْبَيْعَ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ 

"Believers, when the call for Prayer is made on Friday, hasten to the remembrance of Allah and give up all trading. That is better for you, if you only knew." (Surah Al-Jumuah, 62:9)

Abdullah b. Umar and Abu Huraira said that they heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) say on the planks of his pulpit: People must cease to neglect the Friday prayer or Allah will seal their hearts and then they will be among the negligent. (Sahih Muslim 865)

2. Arrive on time

Abu Huraira (RA) reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, "When Friday arrives, angels are over the door of every mosque to record those who arrive one by one. When the Imam sits to begin, they close their scrolls and come to listen to the reminder. The parable of one who comes early is that of one who offers a fine camel, the next like one who offers a cow, the next like one who offers a ram, the next like one who offers a chicken, the next like one who offers an egg." (Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 887, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 850)

3. Take a bath (i.e. ghusl)

Abdullah is reported to have heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: When any one of you intends to come for Jumu'a prayer, he should take a bath. (Sahih Muslim 844a) 

4. Offer two voluntary rak'ahs (units of prayer) before Jumuah prayer

Jabir b. 'Abdullah said that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) delivered the sermon and said: When any one of you comes for the Friday (prayer) and the Imam comes out (from his apartment), (even then) should observe two rak'ahs (of prayer). (Sahih Muslim 875e)

5. Listen to the khutbah

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: He who performed ablution well, then came to Friday prayer, listened (to the sermon), kept silence all (his sins) between that time and the next Friday would be forgiven with three days extra, and he who touched pebbles caused an interruption. (Sahih Muslim 857b)

Keep scrolling for 5 more recommended acts of worship to complete on Friday!

6. Don't tell or signal others to be quiet

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: If you (even) ask your companion to be quiet on Friday while the Imam is delivering the sermon, you have in fact talked irrelevance. (Sahih Muslim 851a)

7. Offer four rak'ahs (units of payer) after the Jumuah prayer

Suhail reported on the authority of Abu Huraira that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: When you observe prayer after (the two obligatory rak'ahs) of Jumu'ah, you should observe four rak'ahs (and 'Amr in his narration has made this addition that Ibn Idris said this on the authority of Suhail): And if you are in a hurry on account of something, you should observe two rak'ahs in the mosque and two when you return (to your house). (Sahih Muslim 881b)

8. Make dua

Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: There is a time on Friday at which no Muslim servant would pray and would ask Allah for a thing (that is good) but He would give it to him. Qutaiba pointed with the help of his hand that it (the time) is short. (Sahih Muslim 852a)

9. Read Surat Al-Kahf

Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: Whoever recites Surat al-Kahf on Friday will have a light between this Friday and the next. (al-Sunan al-Kubrá 5856)

10. Sending Salawaat upon the Prophet

Aws ibn Aws reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, "Verily, the best of your days is Friday. Adam was created on it, on it he died, on it the trumpet will be blown, and on it the shout will be made. Thus, send blessings upon me often, for your blessings are presented to me." (Sunan Abī Dāwūd 1047)

May Allah SWT accept from you and shine His Light upon you, ameen!