The Book on the Day of Friday

Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.

Abu Hurayrah reported that the Prophet said: "The best day on which the sun rises is Friday. On it Adam was created, on it he was admitted to Paradise, on it he was sent out from it, and the Hour will occur only on Friday." Reports on this topic are also narrated from Abu Lubabah, Salman, Abu Dharr, Sad ibn Ubadah, and Aws ibn Aws. Abu Isa said: The hadith of Abu Hurayrah is hasan sahih.

Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.

Anas ibn Malik reported that the Prophet said: "Seek the hoped-for hour on Friday after the afternoon prayer until the sun sets." Abu Isa said: This hadith is gharib through this chain, and it has also been transmitted from Anas through another chain. Muhammad ibn Abi Humayd is considered weak; some scholars considered his memory weak. He is also called Hammad ibn Abi Humayd, and is said to be Abu Ibrahim al-Ansari. He is rejected in hadith. Some scholars among the Companions and others considered the hoped-for hour to be after the afternoon prayer until sunset. Ahmad and Ishaq held this view. Ahmad said that most hadiths about the hour when supplication is answered place it after the afternoon prayer, though it is also hoped for after the sun passes its zenith.

Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.

Amr ibn Awf al-Muzani reported that the Prophet said: "On Friday there is an hour in which, if a servant asks Allah for anything, Allah grants it to him." They asked: Messenger of Allah, which hour is it? He replied: "From when the prayer is established until it is finished." Reports on this topic are also narrated from Abu Musa, Abu Dharr, Salman, Abdullah ibn Salam, Abu Lubabah, Sad ibn Ubadah, and Abu Umamah. Abu Isa said: The hadith of Amr ibn Awf is hasan gharib.

Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.

Abu Hurayrah reported that the Messenger of Allah said: "The best day on which the sun rises is Friday. Adam was created on it, admitted to Paradise on it, and sent down from it on it. It contains an hour in which no Muslim worshipper asks Allah for anything without Him granting it." Abu Hurayrah said: I met Abdullah ibn Salam and told him this hadith. He said: I know which hour it is. I said: Tell me, and do not withhold it from me. He said: It is after the afternoon prayer until sunset. I said: How can it be after the afternoon prayer when the Messenger of Allah said, "No Muslim worshipper will coincide with it while praying," and prayer is not performed at that time? Abdullah ibn Salam said: Did the Messenger of Allah not say, "Whoever sits in a place waiting for the prayer is in prayer"? I replied: Yes. He said: That is the meaning. Abu Isa said: The hadith includes a long story. He said: This hadith is hasan sahih. The meaning of "Tell me, and do not withhold it from me" is: do not be stingy with it; stinginess means miserliness, and a person described as dhanīn is one who is suspected.

Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.

Ibn Umar reported that he heard the Prophet say: "Whoever comes to Friday prayer should perform ghusl." Reports on this topic are also narrated from Umar, Abu Said, Jabir, al-Bara, Aishah, and Abu al-Darda. Abu Isa said: The hadith of Ibn Umar is hasan sahih.

Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.

This hadith has also been transmitted from al-Zuhri, from Abdullah ibn Abdullah ibn Umar, from his father, from the Prophet. Qutaybah narrated this to us: al-Layth ibn Sad narrated to us, from Ibn Shihab, from Abdullah ibn Abdullah ibn Umar, from his father, that the Prophet said the same. Muhammad said: Both the hadith of al-Zuhri from Salim, from his father, and the hadith of Abdullah ibn Abdullah from his father are sound. Some companions of al-Zuhri narrated from al-Zuhri, who said: The family of Abdullah ibn Umar narrated to me from Abdullah ibn Umar. Abu Isa said: It is also reported from Ibn Umar, from Umar, from the Prophet concerning ghusl on Friday, and it is a hasan sahih hadith.

Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.

Abu Isa said: It is also reported from Ibn Umar, from Umar, from the Prophet concerning ghusl on Friday, and it is a hasan sahih hadith. Yunus and Mamar narrated it from al-Zuhri, from Salim, from his father: While Umar ibn al-Khattab was delivering the Friday sermon, a man from among the Companions of the Prophet entered. Umar asked him, "What time is this?" He replied, "I only heard the call and did no more than perform ablution." Umar said: Ablution too, when you know that the Messenger of Allah commanded ghusl. Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn Aban narrated this to us: Abd al-Razzaq narrated to us, from Mamar, from al-Zuhri.

Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.

Abdullah ibn Abd al-Rahman narrated to us: Abu Salih Abdullah ibn Salih narrated to us: al-Layth narrated to us, from Yunus, from al-Zuhri, with this hadith. Malik also transmitted this hadith from al-Zuhri, from Salim, who said: While Umar ibn al-Khattab was delivering the Friday sermon. He then mentioned this hadith. Abu Isa said: I asked Muhammad about this, and he said: The sound version is the hadith of al-Zuhri, from Salim, from his father. Muhammad said: It has also been transmitted from Malik, from al-Zuhri, from Salim, from his father, with similar wording.

Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.

We were told by Mahmud ibn Ghaylan, from Waki, from Sufyan and Abu Janab Yahya ibn Abi Hayya, from Abdullah ibn Isa, from Yahya ibn al-Harith, from Abu al-Ashath al-Sanani, from Aws ibn Aws, who said: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Whoever performs a full ritual bath on Friday, gives someone a bath, goes early and arrives early, draws near, listens, and remains quiet, will receive for every step he takes the reward of a year of fasting and standing in prayer.” Mahmud said: Waki explained, “He bathes himself and bathes his wife.” It is also related from Abdullah ibn al-Mubarak that he explained the wording in this hadith as, “Whoever washes and performs a ritual bath,” meaning that he washes his head and performs a ritual bath. Reports on this subject are also related from Abu Bakr, Imran ibn Husayn, Salman, Abu Dharr, Abu Said, Ibn Umar, and Abu Ayyub. Abu Isa said: The hadith of Aws ibn Aws is hasan. Abu al-Ashath al-Sanani was named Sharahil ibn Adah. Abu Janab was Yahya ibn Habib al-Qassab al-Kufi.

Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.

Abu Musa Muhammad ibn al-Muthanna told us: Said ibn Sufyan al-Jahdari told us, from Shubah, from Qatadah, from al-Hasan, from Samurah ibn Jundub, who said: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Whoever performs ablution on Friday has done well, and that is commendable; but performing a ritual bath is better.” Reports on this subject are also related from Abu Hurayrah, Aishah, and Anas. Abu Isa said: The hadith of Samurah is hasan. Some companions of Qatadah transmitted it from Qatadah, from al-Hasan, from Samurah ibn Jundub; others transmitted it from Qatadah, from al-Hasan, from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, as a mursal report. The scholars among the Companions and those who came after them acted upon this: they preferred performing a ritual bath on Friday, while considering ablution sufficient in place of the Friday bath. Al-Shafii said: What indicates that the command of the Prophet to perform a ritual bath on Friday was a recommendation rather than an obligation is the report of Umar, when he said to Uthman, “And you have performed ablution too, even though you know that the Messenger of Allah commanded a ritual bath on Friday.” Had they known that his command was obligatory rather than recommended, Umar would not have let Uthman proceed without telling him to go back and bathe; nor would this have escaped Uthman despite his knowledge. Rather, this report indicates that the Friday bath is virtuous but not obligatory.

Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.

Hannad told us: Abu Muawiyah told us, from al-Amash, from Abu Salih, from Abu Hurayrah, who said: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Whoever performs ablution properly, then comes to Friday prayer, draws near, listens, and remains quiet, will be forgiven for what is between that Friday and the next, plus three additional days. Whoever touches pebbles has engaged in idle distraction.” Abu Isa said: This hadith is hasan sahih.

Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.

Ishaq ibn Musa al-Ansari told us: Maan told us: Malik told us, from Sumayy, from Abu Salih, from Abu Hurayrah, that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Whoever performs a ritual bath on Friday like the bath for major ritual impurity, then goes early, it is as though he offered a camel in sacrifice. Whoever goes in the second hour, it is as though he offered a cow; whoever goes in the third hour, it is as though he offered a horned ram; whoever goes in the fourth hour, it is as though he offered a chicken; and whoever goes in the fifth hour, it is as though he offered an egg. When the imam comes out, the angels attend and listen to the remembrance.” Reports on this subject are also related from Abdullah ibn Amr and Samurah. Abu Isa said: The hadith of Abu Hurayrah is hasan sahih.

Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.

Ali ibn Khashram told us: Isa ibn Yunus informed us, from Muhammad ibn Amr, from Ubaydah ibn Sufyan, from Abu al-Jad, meaning al-Damri, who—as Muhammad ibn Amr claimed—was a Companion. He said: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Whoever misses Friday prayer three times out of negligence toward it, Allah will seal his heart.” Reports on this subject are also related from Ibn Umar, Ibn Abbas, and Samurah. Abu Isa said: The hadith of Abu al-Jad is hasan. He said: I asked Muhammad about the name of Abu al-Jad al-Damri, but he did not know it. He said that he knew no other report from him from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, apart from this hadith. Abu Isa said: We know this hadith only through the report of Muhammad ibn Amr.

Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.

Abd ibn Humayd and Muhammad ibn Madduwayh told us, both saying: al-Fadl ibn Dukayn told us: Israil told us, from Thuwair, from a man of the people of Quba, from his father, who was one of the Companions of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. He said: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, commanded us to attend Friday prayer from Quba. A report to this effect is also narrated from Abu Hurayrah from the Prophet, but it is not sound. Abu Isa said: We know this hadith only through this route, and nothing sound on this subject from the Prophet is established. It is also narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet said: “Friday prayer is incumbent upon the one whom the night brings home to his family.” This hadith has a weak chain; it is only narrated through Muarik ibn Abbad, from Abdullah ibn Said al-Maqburi. Yahya ibn Said al-Qattan considered Abdullah ibn Said al-Maqburi weak in hadith. Scholars differed over who is obligated to attend Friday prayer. Some said it is obligatory upon the one whom nightfall finds at home. Others said it is obligatory only upon the one who hears the call to prayer; this is the view of al-Shafii, Ahmad, and Ishaq.

Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.

I heard Ahmad ibn al-Hasan say: We were with Ahmad ibn Hanbal, and they discussed who is obligated to attend Friday prayer. Ahmad did not mention anything about it from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. Ahmad ibn al-Hasan said: I asked Ahmad ibn Hanbal, “Is there a report about it from Abu Hurayrah, from the Prophet?” Ahmad said, “From the Prophet?” I said, “Yes.” Ahmad ibn al-Hasan said: Hajjaj ibn Nusair told us: Muarik ibn Abbad told us, from Abdullah ibn Said al-Maqburi, from his father, from Abu Hurayrah, from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, who said: “Friday prayer is incumbent upon the one whom the night brings home to his family.” He said: Ahmad ibn Hanbal became angry with me and said, “Ask your Lord to forgive you; ask your Lord to forgive you.” Abu Isa said: Ahmad ibn Hanbal did this because he did not consider this report to be anything, and he judged it weak because of the state of its chain.

Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.

Ahmad ibn Mani told us: Surayj ibn al-Numan told us: Fulayh ibn Sulayman told us, from Uthman ibn Abd al-Rahman al-Taymi, from Anas ibn Malik, that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, used to pray the Friday prayer when the sun began to decline.

Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.

Yahya ibn Musa told us: Abu Dawud al-Tayalisi told us: Fulayh ibn Sulayman told us, from Uthman ibn Abd al-Rahman al-Taymi, from Anas, from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, with a report similar to it. Reports on this subject are also related from Salamah ibn al-Akwa, Jabir, and al-Zubayr ibn al-Awwam. Abu Isa said: The hadith of Anas is hasan sahih. This is the view agreed upon by most scholars: the time for Friday prayer begins when the sun passes its zenith, like the time for the noon prayer. This is the view of al-Shafii, Ahmad, and Ishaq. Some held that Friday prayer is also valid if performed before the sun passes its zenith. Ahmad said that whoever performs it before the zenith need not repeat it.

Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.

Abu Hafs Amr ibn Ali al-Fallas al-Sayrafi told us: Uthman ibn Umar and Yahya ibn Kathir Abu Ghassan al-Anbari told us, both saying: Muadh ibn al-Ala told us, from Nafi, from Ibn Umar, that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, used to deliver sermons while leaning against a tree trunk. When the Prophet had a pulpit made, the trunk moaned until he came to it and embraced it, whereupon it became quiet. Reports on this subject are also related from Anas, Jabir, Sahl ibn Sad, Ubayy ibn Kab, Ibn Abbas, and Umm Salamah. Abu Isa said: The hadith of Ibn Umar is hasan gharib sahih. Muadh ibn al-Ala was from Basra and was the brother of Abu Amr ibn al-Ala.

Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.

Humayd ibn Masadah al-Basri told us: Khalid ibn al-Harith told us: Ubaydullah ibn Umar told us, from Nafi, from Ibn Umar, that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, would deliver the Friday sermon, then sit, then stand and deliver another sermon, just as you do today. Reports on this subject are also related from Ibn Abbas, Jabir ibn Abdullah, and Jabir ibn Samurah. Abu Isa said: The hadith of Ibn Umar is hasan sahih. Scholars considered it appropriate to separate the two sermons by sitting.

Unreviewed translation. All hadiths in this collection are available in five languages. Titles and introductions may remain in Arabic.

Qutaybah and Hannad told us, both saying: Abu al-Ahwas told us, from Simak ibn Harb, from Jabir ibn Samurah, who said: I used to pray with the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and his prayer and sermon were moderate in length. Reports on this subject are also related from Ammar ibn Yasir and Ibn Abi Awfa. Abu Isa said: The hadith of Jabir ibn Samurah is hasan sahih.