The Role of Jummah in the Muslim Tradition

By Imam Ali Siddiqui

 

Jummah Mubarak

 

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِذَا نُودِىَ لِلصَّلَوٰةِ مِن يَوْمِ ٱلْجُمُعَةِ فَٱسْعَوْا۟ إِلَىٰ ذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ وَذَرُوا۟ ٱلْبَيْعَ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌۭ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ ٩

"O believers! When the call to prayer is made on Friday, then rush to the remembrance of Allah and leave off ˹all your˺ business. That is best for you, if only you knew." The Quran 62:9

 

Jummah is the first day of the week.

Prophet Muhammad (saw) told us, "Allah guided Muslims to Fridays. The days would follow in their natural order on the Day of Resurrection, so Muslims would be first on that day." Hadith, Book of Muslim

 

Jummah, known as Friday, is one of the most significant days for Muslims. It is the also the day when the Day of Judgement will take place. 

 

Jummah جمعہ means congregation, gathering of the community. It is the special day when Muslims gather in Masjids to perform congregational prayers and listen to Khutbah, a sermon, given by  Khalifah خلیفہ, the leader the Muslim. Nowadays by an Imam chosen by the community.

 

Jummah is obligatory, wajib واجب for every adult Muslim men and women, who are not traveling and are not sick. Younger Muslims are also encouraged to attend, but it is not mandatory for them. The Friday prayer replaces Zuhr prayer and it is obligatory and missing it without a valid excuse is a sin.

 

Jummah in Islam has historic significance, too. It is the day Allah created Hazrat Adam (as). It is also the day when Allah expelled him from Jannah after Shaitan شیطان misguided his wife and him to eat the fruit forbidden by Allah.

 

On the Day of Jummah, Prophet Muhammad (saw) along with his friend, Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddique (ra) arrived in Madinah when Allah commanded him to leave Makkah. 

 

The first Battle between Muslims and Kuffar, Battle of Badr, a significant event in Islamic history, also took place on a Jummah جمعہ, Friday. 

 

This explains the spiritual importance of Jummah جمعہ in Islam. Please join the community every Friday for Salaatul Jummah and do not rush out the Masjid without meeting with some Muslims. It strengthens our community.

 

A note for the working people to talk with your manager and let them know how important is Jummah for you. Tell them you will take longer Lunch Break on Fridays for your Congregational Prayer, just as the Jewish community celebrates it on Saturdays, and Christians on Sundays. Tell them also that you will make it up by staying late to catch up with work. You will find them very accommodating.

 

PS. I am humbled that I have been chosen many times by the community across the country including England, Pakistan, and Germany to deliver Khutbahtul Jummah. Alhamdulillah الحمدلللہ

 

Ali Siddiqui is an imam, activist, researcher, and lecturer based out of Irvine, CA. He is the former director of the Washington, DC-based Muslim Institute – Interfaith Studies & Understanding. He has authored hundreds of original articles on Islam, and is the author of “The Prophet’s Mosque,” among other pamphlets.