Yunus, Olawale
Indisputably, Jumu’ah Day is the most blessed day of the days in a week. A Day that comes up once a week in which all the believing men and women betake themselves to the mosque to worship and glorify the name of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala- the only Creator of the whole Universe.
The Day is so compulsory that Allah (SWT) compels all devoted Muslims to go to the mosque and do some remembrance of Him. Allah says: “O you who believe! When the call is made for prayer on Friday, then hasten to the remembrance of Allah and leave off trading; that is better for you if you know.” “But when the prayer is ended, then disperse abroad in the land and seek Allah’s grace, and remember Allah much, that you may be successful.” “And when they see merchandise or sports, they break up for it and leave you standing. Say: What is with Allah is better than sport and (better) than merchandise, and Allah is the best of Sustainers.” (Q62 Vs. 9–11)
These verses of Al Qur’an depict that nothing should hold us back from remembrance of Allah on the Day of Jumu’ah, irrespective of whatever we engage in.
Moreover, these indicate how the Day is so sacrosanct in human endeavors, and one should dare not miss the Day. It is a Day Allah bestows on all devoted Muslims. The prophet says as narrated by Abu Huraira: “I heard Allah’s Messenger (p.b.u.h) saying, “We (Muslims) are the last (to come) but (will be) the foremost on the Day of Resurrection though the former nations were given the Holy Scriptures before us. And this was their day (Friday) the celebration of which was made compulsory for them but they differed about it. So Allah gave us the guidance for it (Friday) and all the other people are behind us in this respect: the Jews’ (holy day is) tomorrow (i.e. Saturday) and the Christians’ (is) the day after tomorrow (i.e. Sunday).”Sahih al-Bukhari 876: Book 11 Hadith 1: Grade Sahih.
The saying of the Holy Prophet (SAW) is evidence that we are blessed as Muslims and that no sects or congregations are better than us (Muslims).
To this end, all the Muslim Ummah should go to the masjid to remember Allah (SWT), and we must not forget the etiquette that the Holy Prophet asks us to be doing, which will accelerate our rewards and make us remain steadfast on the path of righteousness. One of the etiquettes is the ritual bath. Prophet Muhammad (SAW) encourages us to do this every Jumu’ah. In one of the Hadiths, he says, as narrated by `Abdullah bin `Umar, that Allah’s Messenger (p.b.u.h.) said, “Anyone of you attending the Friday (prayers should take a bath.”Sahih al-Bukhari 877: Book 11 Hadith 2: Grade Sahih Also, as narrated by Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri, Allah’s Messenger (p.b.u.h.) said, “The taking of a bath on Friday is compulsory for every male Muslim) who has attained the age of puberty.”Sahih al-Bukhari 879: Book 11 Hadith 4: Grade Sahih.
Allah knows the best