Jumuah Mubarak: The Day of Mercy, Forgiveness, and Blessings

Saying of the author of Bahār-e-Sharī’at

Ṣadr-ush-Sharī’ah Maulānā Muhammad Amjad ‘Alī A’ẓamī عَلَيْهِ رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ الْقَوِى has stated, ‘There are two very strong statements concerning the instant in which supplication is fulfilled (on Friday):

1.      From the moment when the Imām sits for the sermon to the end of the Ṣalāh.

2.      The last instant of Friday.’

(Bahār-e-Sharī’at, vol. 1, pp. 754)

Which is the moment of acceptance?

The renowned commentator of the Holy Quran Ḥakīm-ul-Ummat Muftī Aḥmad Yār Khān Na’īmī عَلَيْهِ رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ الْحَنَّان has stated, ‘At night there comes a moment during which supplication is answered but Friday is the only day which has such a moment during the daytime. However, it is not known for sure as to which moment it actually is. The strong likelihood is that it is either between two sermons or a short while before Maghrib.'

Commenting on another Ḥadīš, the reverent Muftī has said that there are forty different opinions of scholars regarding this moment, out of which two are the most likely; as per one opinion, it is between two sermons while, according to the other, it is at the time of sunset.

(Mirāt-ul-Manājīḥ, vol. 2, pp. 319-320)

A parable

Sayyidatunā Fāṭima-tuz-Zahrā رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالَى عَنْهَا used to sit in her Ḥujraḥ (small room) a short while prior to sunset and would ask Fiḍḍah رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالَى عَنْهَا, her maid, to stand outside; as the sun begins to set, Fiḍḍah رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالَى عَنْهَا would inform her about it and Sayyidah would raise her blessed hands for supplication.

(ibid, p. 320)

It is better to ask a concise supplication at that moment; for instance the following Qurānic supplication:

رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ

Our Rab! Give us good in the world and good in the Hereafter, and save us from the torment of fire!

[Kanz-ul-Īmān (Translation of Quran)]

(Part 2, Sūrah Al-Baqarah, verse 201) (Mirāt-ul-Manājīḥ, vol. 2, pp. 325)

One can recite Ṣalāt-‘Alan-Nabī as well with the intention of supplication as Ṣalāt-‘Alan-Nabī is itself a magnificent supplication. It is preferable to supplicate between both sermons by heart without raising hands and without uttering anything verbally.

14 Million & 400 thousands released from Hell every Friday

The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالَى عَلَيْهِ وَاَلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ said, ‘There are 24 hours in day and night of Friday, there is not a single such hour in which Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ does not release six hundred thousand (such sinners) from Hell for whom Hell had become due.’

(Musnad Abī Ya’lā, vol. 3, pp. 291, 235 Ḥadīš 3421, 3471)

Security from grave torment

The Beloved and Blessed Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالَى عَلَيْهِ وَاَلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ has said, ‘The one who dies during the day or night of Friday, he will be saved from the torment of the grave and will be resurrected on the Day of Judgement with the seal of martyrs.’

(Ḥilyat-ul-Auliyā, vol. 3, pp. 181, Ḥadīš 3629)

Sins between two Fridays forgiven

Sayyidunā Salmān Fārsī رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالَى عَنْهُ has narrated that the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالَى عَلَيْهِ وَاَلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ said, ‘The one who takes bath on Friday, attains the purity (sanctification) that was possible for him, applies oil and lawful perfume available at home, heads (towards the Masjid) to offer Ṣalāh, does not cause separation between two people, i.e. does not sit between two people by intrusion, offers the Ṣalāh ordained for him and stays silent during the Imām’s sermon, his sins committed between this Friday and the previous one will be forgiven.’

(Ṣaḥīḥ Bukhārī, vol. 1, pp. 306, Ḥadīš 883)

Reward of 200 years’ worship

Sayyidunā Ṣiddīq Akbar and Sayyidunā ‘Imrān Bin Ḥaṣīn رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالَى عَنْهُمَا have narrated that the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالَى عَلَيْهِ وَاَلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ said, ‘The one taking bath on Friday, his sins and misdeeds are removed; when he proceeds (to offer Ṣalāh) 20 virtuous deeds are written for his every step.’

(Al-Mu’jam-ul-Kabīr, vol. 18, pp. 139, Ḥadīš 292)

According to another narration, the reward of 20 years’ virtuous deeds is written for his every step. When he finishes the Ṣalāh, he is given the reward of 200 years’ worship.

(Al-Mu’jam-ul-Awsaṭ, vol. 2, pp. 314, Ḥadīš 3397)

صَلُّوا عَلَى الْحَبِيبِ    صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالَى عَلَى مُحَمَّد

Deeds presented to deceased parents every Friday

The Beloved and Blessed Rasūl صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالَى عَلَيْهِ وَاَلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ has said, ‘(Your) Deeds are presented before Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ every Monday and Thursday whereas they are presented to the Prophets عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلَام and parents every Friday. Pleased by (your) virtuous deeds, the beauty and brilliance of their faces enhance. Therefore, fear Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and do not grieve your deceased ones by committing sins.’

(Nawādir-ul-Uṣūl lil-Ḥakīm Tirmiżī, vol. 2, pp. 260)

Five particular rituals for Friday

Sayyidunā Abū Sa’īd رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالَى عَنْهُ has narrated that the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالَى عَلَيْهِ وَاَلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ said, ‘The one who performs five deeds in a day, Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ will write (his name) amongst the dwellers of Heaven: (The deeds are as follows):

1.      Visiting a sick person.

2.      Attending a funeral Ṣalāh.

3.      Fasting

4.      Offering the Ṣalāt-ul-Jumu’ah.

5.      Freeing a slave.

(Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Ḥibbān, vol. 4, pp. 191, Ḥadīš 2760)

Heaven becomes due

Sayyidunā Abū Umāmah رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالَى عَنْهُ has narrated that the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالَى عَلَيْهِ وَاَلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ said, ‘The one who offers Ṣalāt-ul-Jumu’ah, fasts (on the same day), visits a sick person, participates in a funeral and attends a Nikah (marriage) ceremony, Heaven will become due for him.’

(Al-Mu’jam-ul-Kabīr, vol. 8, pp. 97, Ḥadīš 7484)

Avoid fasting on Friday alone

It is Makrūḥ Tanzīhī to fast specifically on Friday or Saturday alone. However, if Friday or Saturday falls on any sacred date such as 15th Sha’bān or 27th Rajab etc., there is no harm in fasting on these days. The Noble Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالَى عَلَيْهِ وَاَلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ said, ‘Friday is Eid for you. Do not fast on this day unless you add another fast on its preceding or succeeding day.’

(Attarghīb Wattarḥīb, vol. 2, pp. 81, Ḥadīš 11)

Reward of 10,000 years’ fasts

A’lā Ḥaḍrat Imām Aḥmad Razā Khān عَلَيْهِ رَحْمَةُ الرَّحْمٰن has said, ‘It is narrated that the fast of Friday together with that of Thursday or Saturday is equivalent to 10,000 years’ fasts.’

(referenced), vol. 10, pp. 653) (Fatāwā Razawiyyah