Productive Jumuah Activities

It’s Jumuah! The most blessed day of the week! So how do we make the most of it?

Depending whether Friday is a day off for you or not, we’ve covered below some key activities to make most of your Jumuah which you can judge how best to fit in your life insha’Allah.

The important thing to remember is that this day is truly special and you should give it due consideration.

THE TIMING OF JUMUAH

Many people forget that Jumuah starts from the Maghreb of Thursday, i.e. the night before and ends with maghreb of Jumuah. So as soon as the maghreb for Thursday hits, remember it’s Jumuah and you should try and fill up your hours with sending blessings upon the Prophet (Peace and blessings be upon him), recitation of Quran, Tahajjud and extra remembrance of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala).

THE MORNING HOURS

During the early hours of Friday, we recommend you to follow the ProductiveMuslim Morning Routine, with the only difference being that for the reading Quran part, you’ll be reading Surat Al-Kahf as advised by the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) (Find out why we’ve been asked to read Surat Al-Kahf every Friday with this ProductiveMuslim presentation

PREPARATION FOR SALAH

Plan your preparation for Salatul-Jumuah early on; and my message here is for our brothers who are obligated to attend Jumuah prayer. Your preparation for Jumuah shouldn’t be a simple quick shower and dashing to the Masjid but it should be as you’re going to meet the King of kings (which you are!). So start early, prepare early and really get into the mood of Jumuah. Here are a few things I recommend you to do:

1. Get super clean –

Remember that day you had that big event and you spent hours in the bathroom cleaning every part of your body and putting every sort of perfume on? That’s exactly how you should prepare for Jumuah! Take a good clean shower, make sure you perform the Sunan Al-Fitra from cutting nails, removing hair from armpits and removing pubic hair, putting loads of perfume, etc. Make sure your Jumuah thobe or clothes are neat, clean and pressed and not something you wore 2 days ago and is stained or crumpled! Also, take special care of oral hygiene: spend the recommended 4 minutes brushing your teeth, use alcohol-free mouthwash, miswak/siwak… basically, get squeaky clean!

Narrated Abu Sa’id Al-Khudr: I testify that Allah’s Messenger (Peace and blessings be upon him) said, ‘The taking of bath on Friday is compulsary for every Muslim who has attained the age of puberty and also cleaning of teeth with Siwak and using perfume, if available’. [Translation of Sahih Bukhari]

2. Go to the masjid early –

No, I don’t mean 10 minutes before the Khateeb enters the masjid, but really early – like a couple of hours and try to go there walking instead if the masjid isn’t too far. Try to be the first one there and remember this hadeeth:

Narrated Abu Hurairah: Allah’s Messenger (Peace and blessings be upon him) said,‘When it is Jumuah, the Angels stand at the gate of the masjid and keep on writing the names of the persons coming to the masjid in succession according to their arrivals. The example of the one who enters the masjid in the earliest hour is that of one offering a camel (in sacrifice); the one coming next is like one offering a cow; and then a ram; and then a chicken; and then an egg respectively. When the Imam comes out (for Jumuah sermon) they (i.e. Angels) fold their papers and listen to the sermon. [Translation of Sahih Al-Bukhari]”

The above two points about being clean and going early are combined beautifully in this hadeeth:

Narrated Salman Al-Farisi: Allah’s Messenger (Peace and blessings be upon him) said,‘Anyone who takes a bath and cleanses himself as much as he can and puts oil or scents himself; and then proceeds for the Salat and does not separate two persons sitting together in Mosque for the Salaat-ul-Jumuah and offer salat as much as is written for him and remains quite when the Imam delivers the Khutba, all his sins in-between the present and the last Friday will be forgiven’. [Translation of Sahih Al-Bukhari]

3. Don’t forget your prayer and rememberance

Fill up your time at the masjid with prayer and abundance of remembrance, especially sending salutations upon the Prophet (Peace and blessings be upon him).

Narrated Aus bin Aus: The Messenger of Allah (Peace and blessings be upon him) said,”Among the best of your days is Friday; so supplicate Allah more often for me in it, for your supplications will be displayed to me.” He was asked: “O Messenger of Allah! How will our blessings be displayed to you when your decayed body will have mixed with the earth?” He (Peace and blessings be upon him) replied, “Allah has prohibited the earth from consuming the bodies of the Prophets.” [Abu Dawud]

THE KHUTBA AND AFTER KHUTBA

When the imam arrives at the pulpit, listen attentively; don’t fidget, get distracted, or worse, talk! It’s amazing how many people forget the warning of our Prophet (Peace and blessings be upon him) in this hadeeth:

Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:“If you say to your companion when the imam is preaching on Friday, ‘Be quiet and listen,’ you have engaged in idle talk.” [Bukhari and Muslim]

After the khutba & prayer are finished, armed with a pen and paper, try to summarize the main key points of the Imam’s speech for that Friday and either share it with your friends on Facebook or via e-mail or simply take it home and share it with your family and children so that they benefit as well. It’s sad to see so many of our mothers and sisters not having basic knowledge of Islam, and it would be beneficial for husbands/brothers/fathers to share the weekly lessons they learn every Friday.

WORKING AFTER JUMUAH

This might sound weird to some of you, especially those of you who have days off on Jumuah, but remember the ayaat of Quran that talk about Jumuah:

”O you who have believed, when [the adhan] is called for the prayer on the day of Jumu’ah [Friday], then proceed to the remembrance of Allah and leave trade. That is better for you, if you only knew. And when the prayer has been concluded, disperse within the land and seek from the bounty of Allah , and remember Allah often that you may succeed.” [62:9-10]

I won’t say that it’s a religious requirement for you to work after Jumuah, but somehow that verse sounds encouraging in terms of doing something productive after Jumuah and engaging in some kind of work so that you can seek the bounty of Allah. So even if you’re free on Jumuah, try to spend a couple of hours after Jumuah in a productive pursuit insha’Allah.

DU’A, DU’A, DU’A

Finally, a very valuable thing to do during Friday hours is du’a! Try not to waste the day or night of Jumuah in trivialities, postpone any engagements around Jumuah to after the day of Friday and spend any ‘free time’ making du’a. You don’t know when you’ll hit the hour in which prayers will be answered, and your du’a will be answered!(Here is a link to an authentic explanation to this)

I hope I’ve covered everything that you can do to make the most of your Friday. As I said in the beginning, Jumuah needs preparation and planning so you can make the most of it. So whether you have a day off on Jumuah, half a day, or it will be a normal working day for you, make extra preparation for Jumuah to make the most of it insha’Allah.