“All praise is to Allah. We praise him, we seek His help, His forgiveness, and we seek refuge in Allah from the evil within ourselves and of our actions. Whomsoever Allah guides, none can misguide him. Whomsoever Allah leads astray, none can guide him.
I testify there is no God but Allah alone, without any partners, and that Muhammad, ﷺ, is His servant and messenger.”
Welcome to the Friday Khutbah! A weekly series on the AlMaghrib Journal, based on sermons delivered by our esteemed instructors! We hope you find it beneficial!
For many of us living in the West, the day of Jumu’ah is reduced to just another day of the week, with the exception of the Khutbah and the Salah.
Many of us are rushing too and from work, school, and other activities, so much that our minds are not present, and we cannot fully appreciate the blessings of this day.
It’s natural, and all of us need reminders, as Allah ﷻ says, “And remind, for indeed, the reminder benefits the believers” (Quran 51:55).
So, to bring back reverence for this day, here are seven essential etiquettes of Jumu’ah that can transform your Jumu’ah.
1. Recognize Friday as the Best Day of the Week
Friday isn’t just another day, it’s a weekly Eid, a celebration that deserves our enthusiasm. The Prophet ﷺ said in a hadith narrated by Abu Huraira:
“The best day on which the sun rises is Friday. On it Adam was created, on it he was entered into Paradise, on it he was expelled from it, and the Hour will not be established except on Friday.” (Sahih Muslim)
This isn’t merely historical significance; it’s a reminder that every Friday carries the weight of creation’s most pivotal moments.
2. Dress Well and Prepare Properly
The Prophet ﷺ told us:
“No man bathes on Friday, purifies himself as much as he can, applies oil to his hair or perfumes himself, then goes out (to the mosque) without separating two people, prays what is prescribed for him, and remains silent when the Imam speaks, except that his sins will be forgiven between that Friday and the next.”
(Sahih Bukhari)
Before asking yourself, “Do I know this already?” Ask instead: “Did I do this today?” Did you bathe, apply good fragrance, and dress in your finest clothes?
The fragrance of the congregation creates an atmosphere of reverence as beautiful as the architecture itself. Imagine if our entire community embraced this sunnah. What would that do for our collective experience?
While American work culture promotes “Casual Friday,” Allah ﷻ commands: “Take your adornment at every masjid” (Quran 7:31).
The Prophet ﷺ taught us that “Allah loves to see His blessing on His servant” (Tirmidhi). Even in the poorest villages, people save their finest garments for Jumu’ah.
3. Come Early to Maximize Reward
The Prophet ﷺ encouraged us to come as early as possible to the prayer, relaying to us the reward that comes with each our spent in the masjid:
- First hour: Reward of offering a camel
- Second hour: Reward of offering a cow
- Third hour: Reward of offering a sheep
- Fourth hour: Reward of offering a chicken
- Fifth hour: Reward of offering an egg
The angels write the names of those entering before the khutbah begins, then close their scrolls when the imam starts speaking to listen to the remembrance of Allah.
Maybe you’re a student with Friday off, between jobs, or on vacation. This is your opportunity to earn rewards worth thousands of dollars through simple early arrival. Allah ﷻ says: “When you are called to prayer on Friday, then race to the remembrance of Allah” (Quran 62:9).
Don’t embody the quality of the hypocrites, whom Allah describes as coming to prayer lazily. Every week being late to Jumu’ah reveals a concerning pattern.
4. Focus on Prayer, Dhikr, and Quran
When you arrive early, maximize this blessed time. Engage in:
- Voluntary prayers ( Some companions would pray 4, 10, even 17 rak’at while waiting)
- Quran recitation, especially Surah Al-Kahf
- Dhikr (remembrance of Allah)
The Prophet ﷺ said (reported by al-Hakim): “Whoever reads Surah Al-Kahf on Friday will have light between the two Fridays.” Even if you’re stuck in traffic afterward, use that time to recite while waiting to exit the parking lot.
5. Send Abundant Salam Upon the Prophet ﷺ
The Prophet ﷺ instructed us: “The best of your days is Friday, so send abundant salam upon me on Friday, for your salam is presented to me.”
The companions asked, “How is our salam presented to you after you have died?”
He replied: “Allah has forbidden the earth to consume the bodies of the prophets.” (Abu Dawud)
But how much is “abundant”? It depends on your level. Some don’t send salam even once on Friday, and for them, ten might feel like a lot. Others might need to push themselves to 100, 200, or even 1000. It’s a scale that moves according to your capacity, and that capacity will only increase with your effort.
6. Maintain Complete Silence During the Khutbah
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever touches a pebble has committed vain speech.” (Sahih Muslim)
If touching a pebble during the khutbah negates your Jumu’ah reward, what about scrolling through your phone? As someone who delivers khutbahs, I observe people of all ages—young and old—unable to disconnect from their devices. I’ve seen elderly congregants buying and selling stocks during the sermon.
We’ve become a society addicted to our phones. Some might need to leave their devices in the car for those crucial 20 minutes. The khutbah has sanctity that demands our complete attention.
You cannot even correct someone doing something wrong during the khutbah—the only person you may speak to is the khatib himself, and only if absolutely necessary.
7. Take Advantage of the Hour When Dua is Accepted
The Prophet ﷺ taught us that there is an hour on Friday when Allah accepts dua. While scholars differ on the exact timing, many hold it’s the last hour of Friday, after Asr prayer. Don’t let this opportunity pass without making sincere supplication.
May Allah ﷻ allow us to hear these reminders and follow the best of them.
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