Etiquette & Sunnahs of Friday (Jumuah) in the Quran & Sunnah

1. When the call is made on Friday, hasten to the remembrance of Allah and leave business behind.

Allah says:

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِذَا نُودِىَ لِلصَّلَوٰةِ مِن يَوْمِ ٱلْجُمُعَةِ فَٱسْعَوْا۟ إِلَىٰ ذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ وَذَرُوا۟ ٱلْبَيْعَ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ

O you who believe, when the call for Salāh (prayer) is proclaimed on Friday, hasten for the remembrance of Allah, and leave off business. That is much better for you, if you but know. (Surah al-Jumu‘ah 62:9)

Lesson: Trade and work stop for Jumu‘ah; the command is to proceed to Allah’s remembrance, not to drift in late.

2. After the prayer, spread through the land and seek Allah’s bounty — remembering Him much.

Allah says:

فَإِذَا قُضِيَتِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةُ فَٱنتَشِرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَٱبْتَغُوا۟ مِن فَضْلِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱذْكُرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ كَثِيرًا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ

Then once the Salāh is over, disperse in the land, and seek the grace of Allah, and remember Allah abundantly, so that you may be successful. (Surah al-Jumu‘ah 62:10)

Lesson: Friday joins the two worlds: full devotion at prayer time, then earning and activity filled with dhikr.

1. Know the rank of the day: Friday is the best day on which the sun has risen.

On it Adam was created, on it he entered Paradise and on it he was sent down from it — and the Hour will not come except on a Friday.

2. Bathe on Friday — the ghusl of Friday is due from every adult.

The Prophet ﷺ said: “The bath of Friday is obligatory on every person who has reached puberty.”

3. Do the full Friday routine and earn a year’s reward with every step.

Whoever bathes on Friday, goes out early, walks and does not ride, sits near the imam and listens without idle talk — for every step he takes he has the reward of a year: its fasting and its standing in prayer.

4. Use the siwak, and wear perfume if you have it.

The Prophet ﷺ described the Muslim’s Friday: he bathes, purifies himself as much as he can, uses the siwak, puts on perfume if he has any, then goes out — and is rewarded for what was decreed.

5. Go in the first hour if you can — the angels are writing the names.

Whoever leaves in the first hour, it is as if he offered a camel; the second, a cow; the third, a horned ram; the fourth, a hen; the fifth, an egg. When the imam comes out, the angels present themselves and listen to the remembrance.

6. If you enter while the imam is delivering the khutbah, pray two short rak‘ahs before you sit.

His instruction: “When one of you comes on Friday while the imam is delivering the sermon, let him pray two rak‘ahs and make them short.”

7. Do not step over people’s necks to reach a spot.

A man came stepping over the necks of the people while the Prophet ﷺ was delivering the sermon, and he told him: “Sit down — you have annoyed (the people) and you have come late.”

8. Listen to the khutbah in complete silence.

“If you say to your companion ‘be quiet’ on Friday while the imam is delivering the sermon, you have engaged in idle talk.” Even good words are left unsaid during the khutbah.

9. Jumu‘ah expiates the sins until the next Jumu‘ah.

“Whoever performs his wudu, performing it well, then comes to the Friday prayer, draws near, listens and keeps silent — whatever (sins) were between that Friday and the one before it are forgiven for him, and three days besides.”

And keep your hands still while you listen: “Whoever touches the pebbles (fidgeting during the khutbah) has engaged in idle play (laghw).”

10. Never leave three Fridays out of laziness.

Whoever abandons three Jumu‘ahs out of neglect, Allah seals his heart. Friday is not optional for the one who is able.

11. Seek the hidden hour on Friday and fill it with dua.

The Prophet ﷺ mentioned Friday and said: “In it there is an hour in which no Muslim servant stands praying and asks Allah for something except that He grants it to him” — and he indicated with his hand how short it is.

12. Send abundant blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ on Friday.

“Among the best of your days is Friday, so send a great deal of blessings upon me on it, for your blessings are presented to me.”

13. Do not single out Friday for fasting unless you join a day with it.

The Prophet ﷺ said: “None of you should fast on Friday unless he fasts a day before it or a day after it.”