(FRIDAY PRAYER (Salat AL-Jumuᶦa

FRIDAY PRAYER (Salat AL-Jumuᶦa)

It is a different, not shortened prayer. You must perform one prayer unit, at least, to make it valid.

If you missed the second prayer unit, and came after the leader had raised from bowing down, your Friday prayer would not be valid and you should perform the noon prayer (four prayer units) instead of it.

Its provision:

It is an individual duty on every male Muslim.

Its legitimacy:

It has been made obligatory in Makkah in the Night Journey of Prophet Muhammad from Makkah to Jerusalem and his Ascent to the Seventh Heaven, along with the five prayers, but the Prophet has performed it only after migration. 
He did so because one of its validity conditions is that being in public and in a group, and circumstances in Makkah did not allow that. 
The Prophet performed the first Friday prayer at the entry of AL-Madinah among the members of Salim ibn ᶦAouf tribe, after several days of his arrival in AL Madinah.

God says ﴾O you who have believed, when [AL Adhan] is called for the prayer on the day of Jumuᶦah [Friday], then proceed to the remembrance of Allah and leave trade. That is better for you, if you only knew﴿Chapter of Friday. Verse NO 9

●Ibn Masᶦud reported: The Prophet said about people who are absent from Friday prayer: “I was about to command a person to lead people in prayer, and then burn those who absent themselves from Friday prayer in their houses.” [Muslim].

Conditions of its obligation

Islam, adulthood, mindfulness, maleness, residence, and healthy body.

Conditions of its validity

1) Number of praying persons must be forty resident males.

2) It must be performed at noon.

If one of the two previous conditions was not met, it would be performed, instead, as a noon prayer (four units). It must not be performed by following the radio or T.V.

Its obligations and pillars

1- Two speeches before prayer. The leader stands during them, if possible, and sits between them.

2- Two prayer units.

*The first speech must include praising God, saying “Pray and peace be upon His Messenger.”, recommendation of God fear and reciting some of the Holy Qurᶦan.

*The second speech must include what previously mentioned in the first speech, in addition to invocation for believers.

*An orator must be male, and if he is exhausted after delivering the two speeches, another person can lead people in the prayer.

●Ibn ᶦUmar said that the Messenger of Allah used to deliver two speeches on Friday and sit down between them. [AL-Bukhari and Muslim].

Sunnah practices on Friday (Sunan AL Jumuᶦah)

❶Bathing and applying perfume before going to the mosque. Also, trimming the nails, hair cutting, and wearing white clothes.

●It was narrated from Ibn AL-Sabbaq (May Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah said on a Friday, “Muslims! Allah has made this day a festival day, so take a bath and it will not harm whoever has perfume to apply some of it, and use a tooth-stick.” [Ibn-Majah].

❷Going early to the mosque.

●It was narrated from Abi-Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah said, “Whoever takes a bath on Friday, like the bath which is obligatory after sexual discharge and then 
goes (to the mosque), he is like one who offers a she-camel as a sacrifice to seek the pleasure of Allah, whoever comes in the second hour is like one offers a cow, whoever comes in the third hour is like one offers a ram with horns, whoever comes in the fourth hour is like one who offers a hen, and whoever comes in the fifth hour is like one who offers an egg. 
And when the prayer leader comes out (ascends the pulpit), the angels (who write the names of those who come to the mosque before the coming of the leader) close (their record) in order to listen to the speech.” [Muslim].

❸Listening carefully to the speech.

●It was narrated from Abi-Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah said: “When you tell your companion (on Friday) to be silent while the leader is delivering the speech, you are guilty of idle talk.” [Muslim].

❹The leader should shorten his speech and prolong the prayer.

●ᶦAmmar ibn Yasir (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah saying: “Prolonging prayer and shortening the speech indicate the religious knowledge of the person.  Make your prayer long and your speech short.” [Muslim].

❺Friday voluntary prayer (Sunnat AL Jumuᶦah) is after the obligatory Friday prayer, and it is four prayer units.

●It was narrated from Abi-Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah said: “When anyone among you performs prayer after the Friday prayer, he should pray four prayer units.” [Muslim]. 

❻Frequent invocation, alms, and saying prayers for the Prophet, as Friday is one of the great days.

●It was narrated from Abi-Hurairah that the Prophet (P.P.B.U.H) said, “The best day on which the sun has risen is Friday, on it Adam was created, on it he was made to enter Paradise, on it he was expelled from it. And the Hour will occur on no day other than Friday.” [Muslim].

●Abu- Hurairah reported: The Messenger of Allah said while talking about the merits of Friday, “There is an hour (opportune time) on Friday and if a Muslim gets it while praying and asks something from Allah, then Allah will definitely meet his demand.” And he (the Prophet) pointed with hand to indicate that this period of time is very short.

●It was narrated from Aus ibn Aus (May Allah be pleased with them) that the Prophet said, “Among the best of your days is Friday. So, on that day pray (invoke many blessings) for me, for such prayers are displayed to me.” [Abu-Daoud].

❼It is not permissible to perform optional night prayer on the night preceding Friday, or fast on Friday, as it is considered a festival.

●It was narrated from Abi-Hurairah that the Prophet (P.P.B.U.H) said, “Do not choose the night preceding Friday among all other nights for performing optional night prayer (Tahajjud), and do not choose Friday among all other days for fasting, unless it coincides with the days one regularly fasts.” [The Two Scholars].

●Abu- Hurairah narrated that: The Messenger of Allah said, “None of you should fast on Friday unless he fasts before it, or he fasts after it.”

Excuses which allow absence from Friday prayer

Extreme hot or cold weather, illness, and fear for honor and body. 

Prayer shortening and combination

TRAVELLER’S PRAYER SHORTENING

Prayer shortening has been legislated in the fourth Islamic Year. 
It is a new addition to facilitation of Islam in acts of worship. Abu-Hanifah sees it is an emphasized Sunnah, and AL Shafii sees that it is better for those who have travelled more than three days. 
It is permissible to, indeed duty on, the traveller to shorten four unit-prayers (noon, afternoon, and night prayers) to two prayer units.

God says ﴾And when you travel throughout the land, there is no blame upon you for shortening the prayer﴿Chapter of Women.

●ᶦAᶦishah reported: Allah enjoined the prayer when He enjoined it, it was two units only (in every prayer) both when in residence or on journey. Then, the prayers offered on journey remained the same, but (the units of) the prayers for non-travellers were increased. [AL Bukhari].

●ᶦUmar ibn AL-Khattab (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (P.P.B.U.H) said: “It is an act of charity that Allah has bestowed upon you, so accept charity.” [Muslim].

●Anas ibn Malik reported: The Prophet resided in Makkah and its surroundings for ten  days, and he shortened his prayers in all these days.

Conditions of prayer shortening:

1) Travel is not for disobedience. NO prayer shortening for the one who has travelled to kill, rub others, or to participate in amusement events.

2) Travel distance must be 81 km according to Abu-Hanifah School, or 89 km according to Imam Shafii School.

3) Travel direction must be specified. But the one, who is wandering aimlessly, does not shorten his prayer.

Prayer shortening provisions:

❶If a Muslim travelled, and when he arrived he decided to reside there, he would not be allowed to shorten his prayer.

❷If his residence period in the country (to which he had travelled) exceeded fifteen days, he would not shorten his prayer (according to Abu- Hanifah School). According to Malik School, if he intended to stay four days in the country to which he had travelled (the day of entering this country is not included in them), he would be considered a resident there and would not shorten his prayer.

❸If he missed a prayer in his country, he would not shorten it, but he would perform it in full.

❹If he prayed, during his travel, behind a resident leader (Imam), he would do it in full.

❺A Muslim is considered a traveller as soon as he passes the end of his country borders or the gateway, and his travel ends as soon as he enters his country borders.

❻If a sailor travelled in a ship with his family and money in it, he would be allowed to shorten his prayer (according to Imam Shafii, Malik, and Abu-Hanifah Schools). But  Ahmad ibn Hanbal sees that this sailor is not allowed to shorten his prayer.

❼If he travelled to fulfill a need and could not determine time period required for it, he would be allowed to shorten his prayer (according to Imam Malik School).

=========================================

COMBINATION of TWO PRAYERS

Its legitimacy: 

It has been legislated in Tabuk Holy Battle, in the ninth year of Hijrah. Allah commanded it to relieve His servants.

Causes of prayers combination in the four schools:

[1] Shafii: He has allowed combination of two prayers when conditions of prayer shortening are met.  It will be advanced combination only.

[2] Imam Malik: He has allowed combination of two prayers in case of road travel for any distance, even if a person is not travelling to perform pilgrimage. For example: Severe illness, rain and mud, and presence of a pilgrim at Arafat or Muzdalifah.

[3] Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal: He allowed combination in case of travelling to perform pilgrimage, provided that the distance travelled is equal to that required to shorten prayer. And in case of severe illness, blindness, extreme cold, and wild wind.

[4] Abu-Hanifah: He allowed combination to a pilgrim only at Arafat (advanced combination), and at Muzdalifah (delayed combination), on the basis of the following tradition:

●Abdullah ibn Masᶦud reported: By Him besides Whom there is no god but He, the Apostle of Allah has never performed a prayer out of its proper time, except two prayers: he combined noon and afternoon prayers at Arafat (advanced combination), and combined  sunset and night prayers (delayed combination) at Muzdalifah. 

[AL-Bukhari and Muslim].

Types of prayers combination

A traveller can both shorten and combine two prayers (noon and afternoon prayers), (sunset and night prayers).

Note: No amendment in this, i.e., you cannot combine noon and sunset prayers, afternoon and night prayers, etc.

۞You perform the noon prayer on time and follow it with the afternoon prayer (advanced combination), or you perform the noon prayer after the call to the afternoon prayer and follow it with performing the afternoon prayer (delayed combination). This occurs 

according to your travel conditions.

۞Also you can combine sunset and night prayers before or after the call to the night prayer.

Prayer combination provisions

1) In travel, you are not obliged to perform Friday prayer; instead, you perform noon  prayer.

2) Prayer combination conditions: are the same as those of prayer shortening, in addition  to:

a)) Performing the two prayers in order.       

b)) There is no long separation between the two prayers.

3) The intention text will be, for example, “I have intended to pray the two prayer units of the obligatory noon prayer combined and shortened.”

4) It is permissible to the resident to combine two prayers (advanced combination only),  and that occurs in case of heavy rain.

●Ibn ᶦAbbas reported: The Prophet (P.P.B.U.H) performed the noon and afternoon prayers together, and the sunset and the night prayers together without being in a state of fear or in a state of journey. [Muslim].

●Ibn ᶦUmar reported: I saw Allah’s Apostle, whenever he was in a hurry during the journey, delaying the sunset prayer, performing it in three prayer units, and performing prayer end greeting. After waiting for a short while, he would pronounce the second call (AL-Iqamah) to the night prayer, offer two prayer units, and perform prayer end greeting. 

[AL-Bukhari].

  

Prayer (Salah)

(PRAYER (Salah

It is words and deeds which begin with (Takbeer) which means saying “Allah is the Greatest (Allaahu Akbar)”, and end with prayer-end greeting (Tasleem).

The five prayers have been made obligatory in Makkah in the Night Journey of Prophet Muhammad from Makkah to Jerusalem and his Ascent to the Seventh Heaven, when he reached to the Lote Tree of the farthest limit (Sidrat AL-Muntaha). 

God says ﴾Certainly the believers have succeeded(1)They who are during their prayer humble﴿(2) And says ﴾And they who carefully maintain their prayers﴿ And says ﴾And enjoin prayer up on your family [and people] and be steadfast therein﴿.

●It was narrated from Anas ibn Malik that the Prophet (P.P.B.U.H) said, “Allah enjoined fifty prayers upon my nation (Ummah), and I had been going back to Him and asking Him for reduction till He made them five prayers every day and night.” [The Two Scholars].

Upon Whom Prayer is Obligatory?

It is obligatory on the rational adult Muslim (male or female). However, the command of performing it begins at an early age, so that the Muslim accustoms to it from his childhood.

It is the responsibility of parents in this stage of their child’s life till he becomes an adult at the age of eleven or thirteen, then their charge will be providing advice, and applying “Carrot and Stick” approach.

●It was narrated from Amr ibn Shuᶦaib (May Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet said: “Command your children to perform prayer when they are seven years old, and beat them for (not performing) it when they are ten, and do not let (boys and girls) sleep together.” [Abu-Daoud].

Prayer is The Most Important Pillar of Islam:

Many Prophetic and Sacred traditions are provided in priority and importance of the five prayers, and in warning against leaving or neglecting them. They were one of the Prophet’s priorities. When it was time to pray, the Prophet used to say, “O Bilal, give us comfort by it.” He also said, “My comfort has been provided in prayer.” And if he had a distress, he used to pray and talk intimately to Allah. The Prophet’s last words (recommendation), before his death, were: “Prayer and those your right hands possess (slaves)... Prayer and those your right hands possess." 

      𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇𓈇

Why are the Five Prayers the Most Important Pillar of Islam

❶They are the only pillar that the Prophet has received from God directly from above seven heavens without inspiration: 
That occurred in the Night Journey of Prophet Muhammad from Makkah to Jerusalem and his Ascent to the Seventh Heaven, and Muslims committed to performing them in Makkah, in spite of severity of conditions. 
But, obligatory charity, fasting, and pilgrimage have been made obligatory after migration to AL-Madinah, by the trustworthy of inspiration “Gabriel”.

❷They are personal physical worship:
No one can deputize for a Muslim in performing them, and no ransom is accepted instead of them.

●It was narrated from Anas ibn Malik that the Messenger of Allah said, “Whoever forgets a prayer or sleeps and misses it, let him pray it when he remembers it. There is no expiation for it, except this.” [Muslim].

❸They make a Muslim meet his God five times daily, while fasting makes him meet  God for one month per year. 
Obligatory charity and pilgrimage are performed by the one who is capable of them.

❹A rational adult Muslim is not exempted from them at all, as long as he is alive.
They are lapsed only in the case of a menstruating woman and in confinement. 
In case of illness, a Muslim (a man or a woman) prays the patient’s prayer. 
In case of travel, a Muslim can shorten prayers and combine between them.
In case of war, he prays fear prayer.

●Imran ibn Husain reported: “I had piles, so I asked the Prophet about the prayer. He said, ‘Pray while standing and if you cannot, pray while sitting and if you cannot do even that, then pray lying on your side.’” [AL-Bukhari].

●Ibn Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: “Allah has enjoined the prayer on the tongue of your Prophet (P.P.B.U.H): two prayer units (rakᶦatain) for the traveller, four prayer units (rakᶦaat) for the resident, and one prayer unit (rakᶦah) in danger.” [Muslim].

❺They include the five Islam pillars:
 They involve testification, which includes the two testimonies. 
Their performance represents the charity of the day that human lives. 
Also, they include fasting; a Muslim refrains from eating and drinking during their performance. 
Finally, in prayer, a Muslim is heading to Kaᶦbah as other Muslims do when they perform pilgrimage.

❻They are the only pillar that has many forms and types.
 For example:

The five obligated prayers, Friday prayer which is performed in a particular way and under special conditions, regular Sunnah prayers which follow each obligatory prayer, occasions prayers as: the two festivals prayers, funeral prayer, or rain-invoking prayer……etc, and emphasized Sunnah practices (Sunan Muᶦakkadah) like optional   night prayer, forenoon prayer…..etc.

❼They are the only pillar that if a Muslim is lazy in performing it or he forgets it, he will be in the group of hypocrites.
God says ﴾Indeed, the hypocrites [think to] deceive Allah, but He is deceiving them. And when they stand for prayer, they stand lazily﴿ Chapter of Women.
  
And He says ﴾They have disbelieved in Allah and His Messenger and that they come not to prayer except while they are lazy and that they do not spend    except while they are unwilling﴿ Chapter of Repentance.

He also says ﴾So woe to those who pray(4)[But] who are heedless of their prayer﴿(5) Chapter of Neighborly Needs [Surat AL-Maaoon].

❽They are the pillar that if a Muslim leaves it, he will be an unbeliever:

●It was narrated from Buraidah (May Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (P.P.B.U.H) said, “The covenant that differentiates us from them (the unbelievers) is our performance of prayer. Whoever leaves it becomes an unbeliever.” [AL-Tirmidhi].

●Jabir (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (P.P.B.U.H) said: “Between a man and polytheism and disbelief is the abandonment of prayer.” [Muslim].

❾They are the first deed for which a servant of Allah is held accountable on the Day of Judgment.

●It was narrated from Abi-Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah (P.P.B.U.H) said, “The first of man’s deeds for which he will be called to account on the Day of Judgment will be prayer. 
If it is found to be perfect, he will be safe and successful; if it is incomplete, he will    be unfortunate and a loser. 
If any shortcoming is found in the obligatory prayer, the Lord (Almighty and Sublime) says: ‘Look and see if you can find any voluntary prayers with which to complete what is lacking from his obligatory prayers.’ Then, the rest of his actions will be treated in the same manner.”   [AL-Tirmidhi].

❿They are the key way leading to Paradise.

●It was narrated from Ibadah ibn AL-Samit that the Prophet said: “Allah (The Almighty and Sublime) has written five prayers for mankind and whoever does them and    does not neglect any of them out of disregard towards them, will have a promise   from Allah that He will admit him to Paradise.” [Abu-Daoud, AL-Nasaᶦi, and Ibn Majah].

●Uthman ibn Affan (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah (P.P.B.U.H) saying, “When the time for a prescribed prayer comes, if any  Muslim performs its ablution and its acts of humbleness and bowing well, it will be an expiation for his past sins, so long as he has not committed a major sin, and this applies for ever.” [Muslim].

\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

The Provision of The Abandonment of Prayer

a) If a Muslim abandons prayer denying its obligation and not confessing it, he will be an unbeliever. Prayer is one of the five Islam pillars, so the one who abandons it is      considered an apostate, i.e., he is killed, not washed, not shrouded, not prayed over him, and not buried in Muslim graveyards.

b) If he abandons it due to laziness, but he confesses its obligation, he will be invited to repentance. If he does not perform prayer again, he will be killed and considered a  hypocrite. But he will be dealt as a Muslim, i.e., he will be washed, shrouded, prayed over him and buried in Muslim graveyards.

Read also
Prayer times
Prayer validity conditions, pillars, and Sunan
Things in which a man differs from a woman in prayer
Prostration of forgetfulness
Some notes about prayer
Prayer shortening and combination
Group prayer
Friday prayer (Salat Al-Jumuaa)
Sunnah and Voluntary prayers