The Book of Jumu'ah (Friday Prayer)

Sunan an-Nasa'i - Hadith 1371

Textual Analysis

The noble hadith establishes the obligatory nature of Jumu'ah prayer using the term "faridah" (obligation), which in Islamic jurisprudence indicates a required act whose abandonment constitutes sin.

The specification "everyone who has reached the age of puberty" excludes children who have not attained maturity, as they are not yet legally responsible (mukallaf).

Legal Ruling

This hadith forms the primary evidence for the collective obligation (farḍ al-kifāyah) of Friday prayer upon Muslim men who are resident, free from legitimate excuses.

Scholars have excluded women, travelers, slaves, and those with valid impediments (illness, fear, extreme weather) from this obligation while maintaining its necessity for adult, sane, resident Muslim men.

Spiritual Significance

Jumu'ah serves as a weekly spiritual renewal, a communal gathering that strengthens brotherhood, and an opportunity for seeking knowledge through the khutbah.

The Prophet emphasized its importance by warning against neglect, stating that those who abandon three consecutive Jumu'ah prayers without valid reason risk having their hearts sealed.