Why Friday and Not Any Other Day?

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

ربي اشرح لي صدري و يسر لي أمري واحلل عقدة من لساني يفقه قولي

ربي زدني علما وارزقني فهما

Yawmul Jumah or Friday, is an important day for Muslims. In Middle East countries, this day is considered as a holiday and is part of the weekend. There are several things that present day Muslims do on this auspicious day. But what’s important to us, Muslims, would be, what does Allah (swt) say and what rituals and practices did the Prophet Muhammad (sal) perform on this day.
Before looking at the rituals and practices, let’s ponder on the importance of this day. Friday is also considered a day of eid (festival) – weekly eid for Muslims. But, why is this day special? What makes this day so unique? Why Friday and not any other day?
It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah and Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with them) said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Allah led those who came before us away from Friday. The Jews had Saturday, and the Christians had Sunday. Then Allah brought us and Allah guided us to Friday. So, there is Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and thus they will follow us on the Day of Resurrection. We are the last of the people of this world but we will be the first on the Day of Resurrection, and we will be dealt with before all others.” ¹(Muslim, 856)
It was also narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “The best day on which the sun rises is Friday. On it Adam was created, on it he was admitted to Paradise and on it he was expelled therefrom.” ²(Muslim, 141)
Thus, it is clear that Allah chose for us, the last of people, the Ummah of Rasool (saw), the day of Friday. So, it is clear that Friday is the best day bestowed on the best of all people. We are the best of people because we are the followers of the best man to have ever lived in the phase of this earth – Prophet Muhammad (saw).
We have been given this auspicious day, so what do we, as Muslims, should do?
On Friday, like every other day, we begin our duty to Allah by praying Salathul Fajr. But it’s best to pray it in the Masjid, as it was customary during the time of Prophet Muhammad. It is Sunnah to recite Soorat al-Sajdah in the first rak’ah and Soorat al-Insaan in the second of Salathul Fajr.
It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to recite in Fajr prayer in Fridays Alif-Laam-Meem Tanzeel(Soorat al-Sajdah) in the first rak’ah and Hal ata ‘ala’l-insaan heenun min al-dahr lam yakun shay’an madhkooran (Soorat al-Insaan) in the second. ³(al-Bukhaari, 851; Muslim, 880)
Let’s look at the most important ritual of this day – the Friday Prayer, Salatul Jumu’ah. Allah speaks about this prayer in the Quran. In fact, there is a Surah named after this auspicious day –  Surah Jumu’ah. Allah says “O you who believe (Muslims)! When the call is proclaimed for the Salaah (prayer) on Friday (Jumu‘ah prayer), come to the remembrance of Allah [Jumu‘ah religious talk (Khutbah) and Salaah (prayer)] and leave off business (and every other thing). That is better for you if you did but know!” [al-Jumu’ah 62:9] This shows how important the Friday prayer is. It’s Fard (compulsory) on every Muslim male. They should leave all their duties and rush to the Masjid.
“The purpose behind the Salathul Jum’uah is to provide opportunities to a greater number of Muslims, to attend larger congregations in the mosque in an atmosphere of religious piety. Apart from prayer, the sermon has also been made an integral part of the Jumuah Prayer. Friday is primarily the Day of Assembly.” ⁴(Alee Hasan,13)
One of the Sunnah practices of Rasool (sal) is that he would do Ghusl (Ritual Bath) before going to the Masjid. It is preferable to wear the best of clothes and apply perfume. After all, it is a day of Eid.
After the Salathul Jumu’ah, the Prophet (sal) used to pray few units of prayer at home. Aboo Hurayrah reported the Messenger of Allah said “When any of you prays the Friday noon prayer, he should pray four rak‘ahs after it.” ⁵(Muslim no. 1915)
Another importance of this day, is that, in it there is a specific time where all our duas would be answered. Most scholars say that it is the last hour of the day, which is between Asr and Maghrib of Friday. However only Allah knows the exact time. Alee Hasan (p.22) says that the purpose of hiding this time is, that people should remain engaged in supplication and prayer all day long. If the time is mentioned, people would not have made efforts in seeking it.⁶ The importance of this time is mentioned in the hadith below.
It was narrated that Abu Lubaabah ibn ‘Abd al-Mundhir said: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Friday is the master of days, and the greatest of them before Allah. It is greater before Allah than the day of al-Adha and the day of al-Fitr. It has five characteristics: on this day Allah created Adam, on it He sent Adam down to the earth, on it Allah caused Adam to die, on it there is a time when a person does not ask Allah for anything but He gives it to him, so long as he does not ask for anything haraam, and on it the Hour will begin. There is no angel who is close to Allah, no heaven, no earth, no wind, no mountain and no sea that does not fear Friday.”  ⁷(Ibn Maajah, 1084)
Furthermore, there is a practice of Prophet Muhammad every Fridays, which is the recitation of Surah Kahf. It is mentioned in a Saheeh hadith, “Whoever recites Surat al-Kahf on the day of Friday will have a light for him between this Friday and the next.” ⁸(Sunan Al-Kubra 5856)
Another virtue of this special day is that whoever dies during the day or night of Friday, Allah will protect him from the trial of the grave.
It was narrated that ‘Abd-Allah ibn ‘Amr said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “There is no Muslim who dies during the day of Friday or the night of Friday but Allah will protect him from the trial of the grave.” ⁹ (al-Tirmidhi, 1074)
Therefore, let us all make it a point to follow all the Sunnah practices of Prophet Muhammad on this special day. Let us prioritize these rituals, not our sleep, or business or any other worldly affair. Only these rituals would bring us close to Allah and increase our good deeds. So, when we stand before Allah, the Master of the Day of Judgement, on a Friday, we would be given the glad tidings of Jannah. May Allah make us among those who do more and more righteous deeds and may He make us among those whose souls would be taken Friday, and may He protect us from the trials of the grave. Ameen.