Why Friday is the Best Day of the Week?

Reported by Imam Muslim, Abo-Dawod, Al-Nesaii, and Al-Termithi, that Prophet Mohammad (P.B.U.H.) had said, "The best day during which the sun have risen is Friday. It is the Day Adam was created. It is 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."

The Jum’ah prayer is on Friday

A great emphasis has been put on the obligation for the Prayer. Furthermore this prayer is the best congregational Whoever is heedless of this prayer, Allah will place a seal over his heart.

Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) narrated that the messenger of Allaah said,”

لَيَنْتَهِيَنَّ أَقْوَامٌ عَنْ وَدْعِهِمْ الْجُمُعَاتِ أَوْ ‏ ‏لَيَخْتِمَنَّ ‏ ‏اللَّهُ عَلَى قُلُوبِهِمْ ثُمَّ لَيَكُونُنَّ مِنْ الْغَافِلِينَ

Advise the people to avoid missing the Jum’ah (Friday) prayer, because if they neglect it Allah will place a seal over their hearts .Then they will be among the heedless.”

Collected by Muslim in his Saheeh (2039)

Extra point of benefit 

Shaykh Abdullah bin Baz said,” To take a different road home from the one you go to Jum’ah (Friday) prayer is sunnah as well. The hadeeth which deals with practicing this action for ‘Eid carries the same meaning for Jum’ah and Hajj. Refer to Al-Hullul Ibreezeeyah min Ta’leeqahtul Bazeeyah ‘Ala Saheeh Al-Bukhari. There is an hour during Friday when supplications are answered.

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the messenger of Allaah(peace and blessings be upon him),

فِي الْجُمُعَةِ سَاعَةٌ لاَ يُوَافِقُهَا عَبْدٌ مُسْلِمٌ قَائِمٌ ‏ ‏يُصَلِّي فَسَأَلَ اللَّهَ خَيْرًا إِلَّا أَعْطَاهُ

There is an hour on Friday when the servant stands, prays and asks Allah for something it is given to him ”

Collected by Bukari in his Saheeh (5294)

Ibn Al-Qayyim(may Allaah have mercy upon him) mentioned that there is a difference of opinion about when this particular hour is. The most acceptable of opinions are two: 1) This hour is from when the khateeb sits until he prays. 2) This hour is after Asr. And the 2nd point of view is the most superior.[ Zad Al-Ma’ad 1/389-390]

Giving charity on Friday is the best day of the week to do so

Ibn Al-Qayyim said, “Giving charity on Friday with regard to the rest of the week is the best day to do so. This is similar to the superiority of giving charity during Ramadhan with regard to the rest of the months[(may Allaah be pleased with him) said,”

... والصَّدَقَةُ فِيهِ أَعْظَمُ مِنَ الصَّدَقَةِ فِي سَائِرِ الأَيَامِ 

“Giving Sadaqah on Friday is better than giving it on any other day of the week”

Collected by Abdur Razzak in his Musanaf(5558). This narration’s isnad is Saheeh.

Friday is the weekly ‘Eid

Ibn ‘Abbaas(may Allaah be pleased with him)conveyed that Allah’s messenger(peace and blessings be upon him) said,

إِنَّ هَذَا يَوْمُ عِيدٍ جَعَلَهُ اللَّهُ لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ فَمَنْ جَاءَ إِلَى الْجُمُعَةِ فَلْيَغْتَسِلْ...

“Verily today is an ‘Eid which Allah has decreed for the Muslims. So whoever comes for the Prayer must perform a ghusl (full bath/shower)…”

Collected by Ibn Majah in his sunnan (1152)and At-Tabarani in Awsot(142).Graded as being Hasan through other narrations that support it i.e hasan lee Ghayreehee. by Al-Abani in Saheeh At-Targeeb wat Tarheeb 707

The servants’ past sins are forgiven on Friday

Salman Al-Faarasee(

may Allaah be pleased with him) narrated that the messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said,”

لاَ يَغْتَسِلُ رَجُلٌ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ وَيَتَطَهَّرُ مَا اسْتَطَاعَ مِنْ طُهْرٍ وَيَدَّهِنُ مِنْ دُهْنِهِ أَوْ يَمَسُّ مِنْ طِيبِ بَيْتِهِ ثُمَّ يَخْرُجُ فَلَا يُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ اثْنَيْنِ ثُمَّ ‏ ‏يُصَلِّي مَا كُتِبَ لَهُ ثُمَّ يُنْصِتُ إِذَا تَكَلَّمَ الْإِمَامُ إِلَّا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ الْجُمُعَةِ الْأُخْرَى) [البخاري].

"Whoever takes a bath on Friday, purifies himself as much as he can, then uses his (hair) oil or perfumes himself with the scent of his house, then proceeds (for the Jumu’ah prayer) and does not separate two people sitting together (in the masjid), then prays as much as (Allah has) written for him and remains silent while the Imam is delivering the Khutba, his sins in-between the present and the last Friday would be forgiven.” 

Collected by Bukhari in his Saheeh (843)

Dying during Friday, whether day or night is a sign of a good departure from this world and he/she will be safeguarded against the trials in the grave. Ibn ‘Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) said, the messenger of Allaah(peace and blessings) said,”

مَا مِنْ مُسْلِمٍ يَمُوتُ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ أَوْ لَيْلَةَ الْجُمُعَةِ إِلَّا وَقَاهُ اللَّهُ فِتْنَةَ الْقَبْرِ

Any Muslim who dies on Friday Allah will protect him from the trials of the grave”

Collected by At-Tirmithi in his Sunnan(1095) and Ahmed in his Musnad(14/268)

Graded as being Hasan by Al-Albani in his checking for Sunnah At-Tirmithi# 1074

Translated by: Abu Aaliyah Abdullah Ibn Dwight Lamont Battle, Qatar

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Tahajjud Prayer: Description & Merits

Allah Most High said, “Establish worship at the going down of the sun until the dark of the night, and (the recital of) the Qur an at dawn. Lo! (the recital of) the Quran at dawn is ever witnessed. And some part of the night awake for its recital, as voluntary worship for you. It may be that your Lord will raise you to a praised estate.” (surah Al-Isra, 17: 78-79)

And He says,

“Their sides eschew their beds,” (surah As-Sajdah, 32:16)

And the Almighty says,

“The part of the night they spent asleep was small.” (51:17)

Prophetic Narrations Relating to Prayer at Night

Abu Hurayra (Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him, his family, and companions) said, “The best prayer after the obligatory prayers is the night prayer.” [Muslim]

Abu Hurayra (Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him, his family, and companions) was asked, “What prayer is most virtuous, after the obligatory prayers?”  He said, “Prayer in the depths of the night.” [Muslim, Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Nasa i, Ibn Majah]

Abd Allah ibn Salam (Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him, his family, and companions) said, “O people! Spread the salams, feed others, maintain family ties, and pray at night when others sleep and you will enter Heaven safely.” [Tirmidhi, Hakim]

Abu Umama al-Bahili (Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him, his family, and companions) said, “Hold fast to night prayer, for it was the way of the righteous before you, a way of drawing closer to your Lord, an expiation for wrong deeds, and a shield from sin.” [Tirmidhi, and others] In some narrations, there is an addition, “And it repels sickness from the body.”

Ibn Mas`ud (Allah be pleased with him) said, “The virtues of night prayer over day prayer is like the virtue of secret charity over open charity.” [Tabarani] The scholars explain that this refers to voluntary prayers.

The Definition of ‘Night Prayer’ & Tahajjud

‘Night prayer’ is any prayer performed after Isha time. The time for performing the night vigil (tahajjud) prayer ends when Isha time ends and Fajr time enters. Therefore, any voluntary prayers performed after Fajr time has entered does not count for the night vigil prayers.

Imam Saffarini, the Hanbali faqih and sufi, explained in his Sharh Mandhumat al-Adaab:

“Night prayer is superior to day prayer because:

It is more concealed and closer to sincerity. The righteous early Muslims (salaf) used to strive hard to hide their secrets [f: meaning the actions between them and Allah]. Hasan [al-Basri] said, ‘It used to be that a person would have guests staying over and he would pray at night without his guests knowing.’

And because night prayer is harder on the lower self, because night is a time of rest from the tire of day, so leaving sleep despite the lower self being desirous of it is a tremendous struggle (mujahada). Some have said, ‘The best of works are those the lower self is forced to perform.’

And because recitation in night prayer is closer to contemplation, because things that busy the heart are mostly absent at night, so the heart is attention and is with the tongue in understanding, as Allah Most High said, “o! The night vigil is (a time) when impression is more keen and speech more certain. Lo! You have by day a chain of business. So remember the name of your Lord and devote yourself with a complete devotion.’  (73: 6-7) It is because of this that we have been commanded to recite the Qur an in night prayer in a steady recital (tartil).

And it is because of this that night prayer is a shield from sin

And because night vigil time is the best of times for voluntary worship and prayer, and the closest a servant is to his Lord.

And because it is a time when the doors of the sky are opened, supplications answered, and the needs of those who ask fulfilled.

Allah has praised those who wake up at night for His remembrance, supplication, and to seek forgiveness and entreat Him, saying, ‘They forsake their beds to cry unto their Lord in fear and hope, and spend of what We have bestowed on them. No soul knows what is kept hid from them of joy, as a reward for what they used to do.’ (32: 16-17)

And He said, ‘Those who pray for pardon in the watches of the night.’ (3: 17)

And, ‘[The (faithful) servants of the Merciful are they who walk upon the earth modestly, and when the foolish one address them answer: Peace; And who spend the night before their Lord, prostrate and standing '  (25: 63-64)

Allah most negated similitude between those who pray at night and those who do not: 'Is the one who worships devoutly in the watches of the night, prostrate and standing, fearful of the Hereafter and hoping for the mercy of his Lord, (to be accounted equal with a disbeliever)? Say: are those who know equal with those who know know? But only people of understanding will pay heed.'" (39: 9)

[Saffarini, Ghidha al-Albab Sharh Mandhumat al-Adaab]

Details Regarding the Tahajjud Prayer

There is scholarly consensus (ijma`) that among the best of virtuous acts is the night vigil prayer.

The scholars derived the following from the Qur an and prophetic hadiths:

1.  The place of the intention is the heart, and has two aspects:

• To intend what you are doing (such as praying tahajjud);

• To intend why you are doing this (such as  for the sake of Allah).

Minimally, it is enough for all sunna and nafl prayers to simply intend to pray, though it is best to specify that you are performing the particular sunna prayer you are intending (such as tahajjud or duha).

2. The minimal night vigil prayer is 2 rakats. [Hindiyya, quoting Fath al-Qadir]

3. Its optimal recommended amount is 8 rakats, because this was the general practice of the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him, his family, and companions). [Hindiyya, quoting Fath al-Qadir]

4. Lengthier recitation is superior to a larger number of rakats prayed. [Haskafi, Durr al-Mukhtar; Ibn `Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar]

5. If one divides the night in thirds, then the final middle third is most virtuous. [Haskafi, Durr al-Mukhtar]

6. If one divides the night in half, then the second half is more virtuous. [ibid.]

7. It is preferable to divide the night in six portions, one should sleep in the first three portions, worship and perform the Tahajjud prayer in the fourth and fifth, then go to sleep in the sixth, as this is the salah of Dawud (peace be upon him). [Umdat al-Fiqh]

8. Voluntary (nafl) prayer at night is more virtuous than voluntary prayer during the day. However, the full reward mentioned in the Qur anic verses and Prophetic hadiths refers to worship that was preceded by sleep. This is also understood from the very linguistic meaning of tahajjud, which is to struggle rid oneself of sleep. [Ibn Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar, quoting Ibn Amir Haajj s Halba]

9. Ibn Nujaym and Haskafi both affirmed that night prayer is recommended. [Bahr al-Ra iq; Durr al-Mukhtar; chosen in al-Fatawa al-Hindiyya] Kamal ibn al-Humam, the brilliant mujtahid who was the greatest Hanafi faqih of the latter half of Islamic history, however, wavered between it being recommended or a confirmed sunna. This is because while the spoken hadiths indicate recommendation, the continued practice of the Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) would seem to indicate it being a confirmed sunna. This was also chosen by Ibn al-Humam’s student, Ibn Amir Haaj in his Halba. [Ibn Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar]

10. It is disliked to leave the night vigil prayer for one who has made it their habit, unless there is an excuse, because the Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) said to Ibn Umar (Allah be pleased with him), “O Abd Allah! Do not be like so-and-so. He used to pray at night and then left it.” [Bukhari and Muslim] Therefore, one should take on an amount of works one can sustain, for the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him, his family, and companions) said, “The most beloved of actions to Allah are the most constant, even if little.” [ibid] [Ibn Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar, from Ibn Amir Haajj's Halba]

11. It is recommended to start the night vigil with two short rakats, because of the hadith of Abu Hurayra that the Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “It you get up for night prayer, start with two short rakats.” [Muslim, Ahmad, Abu Dawud]

12. Supplications in the depths of the night are answered, as the hadiths have mentioned.

Ibn Mas`ud (Allah be pleased with him) was asked, “I cannot pray at night.”  He said, “Your sins have prevented you.”

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