Mishkat al-Masabih

Ibn Mas'ud reported the Prophet as saying to people who stayed away from the Friday prayer, “I have thought about commanding a man to lead the people in prayer, then burning their houses over men who stayed away from the Friday prayer." Muslim transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Abbas reported the Prophet as saying, “If anyone neglects the Friday prayer except in case of necessity, he will be inscribed as a hypocrite in a book which will not be obliterated or changed.” Some versions have “three times."* *Meaning that the Prophet said these words three times. Shafi‘i transmitted it.

Jabir reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Prayer in congregation on Friday is a duty laid on those who believe in God and the last day, except for an invalid, a traveller, a woman, a boy, an insane person, or a slave. If anyone neglects it through sport or trade, God will have nothing to do with him. God is the Independent and Praiseworthy One." Daraqutni transmitted it.

Salman reported God’s Messenger as saying, “If any man bathes on Friday, purifies himself as much as he can with ablution, anoints himself with oil, or puts on a touch of perfume which he has in his house, then goes out and, without squeezing between two men, prays what is prescribed for him, then remains silent when the imam speaks, his sins between that time and the next Friday will be forgiven him.” Bukhari transmitted it.

Abu Huraira reported God's Messenger as saying, “If anyone bathes, then comes to the Friday prayer and prays what is fixed for him, then keeps silent till finishes his sermon, then prays along with him, his sins between that time and the next Friday will be forgiven him, and three days more.” Muslim transmitted it.

He reported God’s Messenger as saying, “If anyone performs ablution, doing it well, then comes to the Friday prayer, listens and keeps silent, his sins between that time and the next Friday will be forgiven him, with three days extra; but he who touches pebbles has caused an interruption (lagha).”* * This refers to little stones which one removes while engaged in salat. While Bukhari, al-'amal fis salat, 8, gives a tradition which allows smoothing the ground once only, this tradition treats the matter as unsuitable. Regarding this tradition Lisan al-'Arab, 22:118, says that lagha means ‘he has spoken', or ‘deviated from what is right,‘ or ‘has been frustrated', adding that the first is the basic meaning. The idea is evidently that the one who makes a sound by removing small stones during the prayer has hindered someone from hearing. Cf. Qur'an, 41:26. Muslim transmitted it.

He reported God's Messenger as saying, “When Friday comes the angels stand at the door of the mosque recording the people in the order of their arrival. Those who go out in the midday heat1 are treated like him who offers a sacrificial animal, 2 next like one who offers a cow, next a sheep, next a hen, next an egg. Then when the imam comes out they fold up their sheets and listen to the mention of God." 1. The word muhajjir which is used here may mean either one who goes out in the midday heat, or one who goes early. 2. The word is badana, meaning either a she-camel or a cow which is sacrificed. Here it most probably means a she-camel, as other animals are mentioned immediately afterwards. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

He reported God's Messenger as saying, “When you tell your companion on Friday to be silent while the imam is preaching, you are guilty of idle talk." (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Jabir reported God’s Messenger as saying, “None of you must make his brother get up on Friday, then move to his place and sit in it, but should ask those present to make room." Muslim transmitted it.

Abu Sa'id and Abu Huraira reported God’s Messenger as saying, “If anyone bathes on a Friday, puts on his best clothes, applies a touch of perfume if he has any, then goes to the congregational prayer and takes care not to step over people, then prays what God has prescribed for him, then keeps silent from the time his imam comes out till he finishes his prayer, it will atone for his sins during the previous week." Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Aus b. Aus reported God's Messenger as saying, “If anyone washes and bathes on Friday, goes out early* walking, not riding, goes near to the imam and listens without interrupting, he will have the reward of a year’s fasting and praying for every step he takes." *The text has bakkara wa 'btakara. Both words mean the same thing and are presumably both used to emphasise the idea of going out early. Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Nasa’i and Ibn Majah transmitted it.

‘Abdallah b. Salam reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Even if one has other garments he need wear nothing for Friday but the two garments he wears every day.” Ibn Majah transmitted it, and Malik transmitted it from Yahya b. Sa'id.

Samura b. Jundub reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Be present at the mention of God and go near the imam; for if anyone always keeps far away the result will be that he will be put in a back place in paradise, supposing he enters it." Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Sahl b. Mu'adh b. Anas al-Juhani told that his father reported God’s Messenger as saying, "If anyone steps over people on Friday he will be made a bridge to jahannam." Tirmidhi transmitted it and said this is a gharib tradition.

Mu`adh b. Anas said that the Prophet forbade sitting on Friday with a cloth tied round the back and legs while the imam is preaching. Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Umar reported God’s Messenger as saying, “When any of you dozes on Friday he should change his place.” Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Nafi‘ told that he heard Ibn ‘Umar say God’s Messenger forbade anyone to make another get up and then sit in his place. When asked whether this applied to the Friday prayer, Nafi' said that it applied both to the Friday prayer and to other occasions. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

‘Abdallah b. ‘Amr reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Three types attend Friday prayer; one is present in a frivolous way and that is all he gets from it; another comes with a supplication, he being a man who makes supplication to God who may grant or refuse his request as He wishes; another is present silently and quietly without stepping over a Muslim or annoying anyone, and that is an atonement for his sins till the next Friday and three days more, the reason being that God says, ‘He who does a good deed will have ten times as much’”(Al-Qur’an; 6:160). Abu Dawud transmitted it.

Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s Messenger as saying, “If anyone speaks on Friday while the imam is preaching, he is like an ass which carries books, (cf. Al-Qur'an; 62:5) and he who tells him to be quiet is not credited with the Friday prayer.” Ahmad transmitted it.

‘Ubaid b. as-Sabbaq told in mursal form that God’s Messenger said one Friday, “Company of Muslims, this is a day which God has appointed as a festival, so bathe, and if anyone has perfume it does him no harm to apply some of it; and you should use the toothstick.” Malik transmitted it. Ibn Majah transmitted it from him, and it is in fully connected form from Ibn ‘Abbas.