Friday congregational prayer

The Friday prayer is an individual obligation on adult male Muslims, in the time of the zuhr prayer on Friday. The day was called 'aruba before Islam; it is related that Ka'b ibn Lu'ayy was the first to gather it and name it jumu'a. ^{1 2}

Ibn 'Abidin counted Friday the best day of the week and a festival day: it contains the hour of response, Adam was created on it and expelled from the Garden on it, and on it the people of Paradise visit their Lord. ²

Jurists agreed the Friday ghusl is legally required of those attending — "whoever comes to jumu'a, let him perform ghusl" — the majority calling it sunna, while a report from Ahmad makes it obligatory on "every adult". Its time begins at the second dawn; the majority held it is for the prayer not the day, so it is not recommended for one not attending, and all agreed a ghusl after the prayer does not count. ^{3 4}

The majority forbade travelling after midday on Friday before performing the prayer for one upon whom it is obligatory; the Hanafis called it prohibitively disliked. Singling out Friday for a fast is disliked for the majority — "let none of you fast Friday unless with a day before or after it" — the dislike lapsing if a day is adjoined. ⁴