“SALAT AL-JUMU’AH (FRIDAY PRAYER): MUSLIMS’ WEEKLY GATHERING”
Dear Muslims!
It was another Friday, like today. Our beloved Prophet (saw) finally made it to Madinah after a challenging journey during the Hijrah. The dhuhr time had already arrived when he (saw) arrived at the place called al-Ranuna. The Messenger of Allah (saw) delivered a khutbah to the believers who had gathered there to welcome him (saw) and led the first Friday prayer.
Upon this event, which took place during the Hijrah, the day of Friday was set out as a day of eid, when Muslims come together weekly. Every Friday since that day, we, too, have been experiencing immense happiness and excitement. It is because Friday is an exceptional day for our weekly revival. It is the name of standing before our Lord (SWT) after distancing ourselves from all worldly concerns. It is the time to reaffirm our bond of devotion to Allah (swt) and to pray to Him, knowing that prayers are not rejected on this day.
Dear Believers!
Today, our most important responsibility is to perform the Friday prayer. Allah the Almighty (SWT) states in the verse I have recited at the beginning of my khutbah, “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.”1
Dear Muslims!
It is a serious sin to skip Friday prayer when there is no valid religious reason to do so. The Messenger of Allah (saw) cautions us against this by saying: “Whoever does not establish Friday prayer three times because he does not care about it, Allah sets a seal on his heart.”2
Therefore, let us take advantage of the merits and abundance of divine blessings of Friday, which is the best day on which the sun rises.3 Let us make Friday a chance to remember Allah together, worship Him (swt), and to deepen our brotherly ties.
I would like to conclude this Friday’s khutbah with our beloved Prophet’s (saw) following hadith: “He who performed ablution well, then came to Friday prayer, listened (to the khutbah), all (his sins) between that time and the next Friday would be forgiven.”4
[1] Jumu‘ah, 62/9.
[2] Ibn Majah, Iqamat, 93.
[3] Muslim, Jumu‘ah, 18.
[4] Muslim, Jumu‘ah, 27.
FRIDAY KHUTBA OF TOKYO CAMII “SALAT AL-JUMU‘AH (FRIDAY PRAYER): MUSLIMS’ WEEKLY GATHERING”(PDF)