Friday

Friday is a festival for Muslims.
Abu Dawud narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“Two ‘Eids have coincided on this day of yours; whoever wishes, it suffices him in place of Jumu‘ah, but we will still perform it.”
(Authentic hadith – Sahih Abi Dawud, Al-Albani, no. 948).

Friday is the best day of the week
Muslim narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet ﷺ said:
“The best day on which the sun has risen is Friday; on it Adam was created, on it he was admitted into Paradise, and on it he was expelled from it, and the Hour will not be established except on Friday.”
(Sahih Muslim, Book of Jumu‘ah, Hadith 18).

Friday expiates sins
Muslim narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet ﷺ said:
“Whoever performs ghusl, then comes to Jumu‘ah, prays what is decreed for him, listens attentively until the khutbah ends, then prays with the imam, will be forgiven for what is between that Friday and the next, plus three extra days.”
(Sahih Muslim, Hadith 857).

The virtue of prayers and Friday
Muslim narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“The five daily prayers, from Friday to Friday, and from Ramadan to Ramadan are expiations for what is between them, so long as major sins are avoided.”
(Sahih Muslim, Book of Purification, Hadith 16).

The angels record those attending Friday prayer
Muslim narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“When it is Friday, angels stand at every door of the mosque recording people in order of arrival. When the imam sits, they fold their records and come to listen to the remembrance. The one who comes early is like one who offers a camel, then a cow, then a ram, then a chicken, then an egg.”
(Sahih Muslim, Hadith 85).

Friday contains an hour when supplications are answered
Al-Tabarani narrated from Anas ibn Malik that the Prophet ﷺ said that Jibril brought Friday to him like a white mirror with a black spot in the middle and said:
“This is Friday; your Lord presents it to you as a festival for you and your nation. In it is an hour during which no servant asks Allah for good except that He grants it, or seeks refuge from evil except that He protects him from something greater.”
(Authentic – Sahih At-Targhib, Al-Albani, Hadith 691).

Seeking the hour of response
Abu Dawud narrated from Jabir ibn ‘Abdullah that the Prophet ﷺ said:
“Friday has twelve hours; there is no Muslim who asks Allah for something except that He gives it to him, so seek it in the last hour after ‘Asr.”
(Authentic – Sahih Abi Dawud, Al-Albani, Hadith 926).

On Friday, Islam was perfected
Allah تعالى says:
“Today I have perfected your religion for you, completed My favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion.” (Al-Ma’idah: 3)
This occurred on a Friday evening on the Day of ‘Arafah during the Farewell Pilgrimage in the 10th year after Hijrah.

Ghusl and wearing the best clothes
Al-Bukhari narrated from Salman Al-Farisi that the Prophet ﷺ said:
“No man performs ghusl on Friday, purifies himself as much as he can, applies oil or perfume from his house, then goes out without separating two people, prays what is prescribed for him, then listens attentively when the imam speaks—except that he will be forgiven for what is between that Friday and the next.”
(Sahih Al-Bukhari, Hadith 883).

The Virtue of Ghusl and Wudu (Ablution)
Al-Tirmidhi narrated from Samurah ibn Jundub that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“Whoever performs wudu on Friday, it is good; but whoever performs ghusl, then ghusl is better.”
(Authentic hadith – Sahih al-Tirmidhi, Al-Albani, Hadith 411).

Ruling on the Friday Ghusl

• Ibn Qudamah said: Ghusl on Friday is not obligatory according to the majority of scholars.
• Al-Tirmidhi said: This is the practice among the people of knowledge, from the companions of the Prophet ﷺ and those after them. It is the view of Al-Awza‘i, Al-Thawri, Malik, Al-Shafi‘i, Ibn al-Mundhir, and أصحاب الرأي, and it is even said to be a consensus.

Scholarly Consensus on Ghusl

• Ibn ‘Abd al-Barr said: The scholars of Islam, past and present, have agreed that Friday ghusl is not obligatory.
  (Al-Mughni by Ibn Qudamah, vol. 3, pp. 224–227).

Time for Performing Ghusl on Friday
The time for Friday ghusl begins after the Fajr adhan. Whoever performs ghusl after Fajr, it suffices him; whoever does so before Fajr, it does not suffice. If one performs ghusl and then breaks wudu, the ghusl remains valid, and only wudu is required afterward.
(Al-Mughni, vol. 3, p. 227).

Going Early to the Mosque
Al-Bukhari and Muslim narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“Whoever performs ghusl on Friday like the ghusl of janabah, then goes early, it is as if he has offered a camel in sacrifice. Whoever goes in the second hour, it is as if he has offered a cow; in the third hour, a ram; in the fourth hour, a chicken; and in the fifth hour, an egg. When the imam comes out, the angels attend to listen to the remembrance.”
(Al-Bukhari 881, Muslim 85).

Reciting Surah Al-Kahf
Al-Hakim narrated from Abu Sa‘id al-Khudri that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“Whoever recites Surah Al-Kahf on Friday will have a light that shines for him between the two Fridays.”
(Authentic – Sahih al-Targhib, Al-Albani, vol. 1, Hadith 736).

Abundant Supplication and Sending Blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ
Muslim narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said regarding Friday:
“There is an hour during which no Muslim servant, while praying, asks Allah for something except that He grants it to him.”
(Sahih Muslim, Hadith 852).

Sending Blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ
Abu Dawud narrated from Aws ibn Aws that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“Among your best days is Friday; on it Adam was created, on it he died, on it will be the blowing (of the trumpet), and on it the shock. So increase sending blessings upon me on it, for your blessings are presented to me.”
They said: “O Messenger of Allah, how will our blessings be presented to you when your body has decayed?”
He said: “Indeed, Allah has forbidden the earth from consuming the bodies of the Prophets.”
(Authentic – Sahih Abi Dawud, Al-Albani, Hadith 925).

Reciting Surah As-Sajdah and Surah Al-Insan in Fajr Prayer
It is from the Sunnah to recite Surah As-Sajdah completely in the first rak‘ah of Fajr on Friday, and Surah Al-Insan completely in the second rak‘ah.

The Prophet’s Practice in Fajr
Muslim narrated from Ibn ‘Abbas:
“The Prophet ﷺ used to recite in the Fajr prayer on Friday: ‘Alif Lam Mim. The revelation of the Book (Surah As-Sajdah)’ and ‘Has there not come upon man a period of time… (Surah Al-Insan).’ And he used to recite in the Friday prayer Surah Al-Jumu‘ah and Surah Al-Munafiqun.”
(Sahih Muslim, Hadith 879).

A Note on Recitation

• An important point: What many people do—reciting only parts of Surah As-Sajdah and parts of Surah Al-Insan—is an innovation contrary to the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ.

Advice of Ibn Taymiyyah
Ibn Taymiyyah said: One should not consistently adhere to this practice (reciting these two surahs in Fajr every Friday) in such a way that ignorant people think it is obligatory; rather, it should sometimes be ترك to clarify that it is not obligatory.
(Zad al-Ma‘ad by Ibn al-Qayyim, vol. 1, p. 44).

Fasting on Friday
It is disliked to fast Friday alone unless it coincides with a habitual fast, such as someone who fasts every other day, or if it coincides with a day like ‘Arafah. This is supported by hadiths encouraging fasting on such days.
(Fath al-Bari, vol. 4, p. 275).

Prohibition of Singling Out Friday for Fasting
Al-Bukhari and Muslim narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet ﷺ said:
“None of you should fast on Friday unless he fasts a day before it or a day after it.”
(Al-Bukhari 1985, Muslim 1144).

Specifying Friday
Muslim narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet ﷺ said:
“Do not single out the night of Friday for قيام among the nights, nor single out Friday for fasting among the days, unless it coincides with a fast that one of you usually observes.”
(Sahih Muslim, Book of Fasting, Hadith 148).

Hadith of Juwayriyah on Fasting
Al-Bukhari narrated from Abu Ayyub from Juwayriyah bint al-Harith رضي الله عنها:
“The Prophet ﷺ entered upon her on a Friday while she was fasting. He said: ‘Did you fast yesterday?’ She said: No. He said: ‘Do you intend to fast tomorrow?’ She said: No. He said: ‘Then break your fast.’”
(Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 1986).

Dislike of Singling Out Friday

• Al-Nawawi said: These hadiths clearly indicate the view of the majority of scholars that it is disliked to single out Friday for fasting unless it coincides with a habitual fast, or is joined with a day before or after.
  (Sharh Sahih Muslim by al-Nawawi, vol. 4, p. 274).

Exceptions to the Dislike

• Ibn Qudamah said: It is disliked to single out Friday for fasting unless it coincides with a regular fast, such as fasting every other day, or fasting at the beginning, middle, or end of the month.
  (Al-Mughni, vol. 4, pp. 426–427).

Opinion of the Majority of Scholars

• Ibn Hajar al-‘Asqalani said: The majority of scholars hold that the prohibition indicates discouragement (not strict prohibition).
  (Fath al-Bari, vol. 4, p. 276).

Wisdom Behind the Prohibition of Fasting on Friday
Al-Nawawi said: The wisdom behind discouraging fasting on Friday is that it is a day of supplication, remembrance, and worship—such as ghusl, going early to prayer, waiting for it, listening to the khutbah, and increasing remembrance afterward. Allah says:
“When the prayer is concluded, disperse through the land and seek the bounty of Allah, and remember Allah often.” (Al-Jumu‘ah: 10).

Thus, breaking the fast is recommended so that one may be more energetic and engaged in these acts of worship without fatigue or boredom. This is similar to the pilgrim on the Day of ‘Arafah, for whom it is Sunnah not to fast for this same reason.
(Sharh Sahih Muslim by al-Nawawi, vol. 4, p. 274).

And all praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds.