Short answer: Friday (al-Jumuʿah) is the weekly day of gathering in Islam, not a sabbath. Muslims must leave work for the Friday prayer, then may go back to it: "when the prayer has been concluded, disperse within the land" (62:10). The Prophet ﷺ called Friday the best day the sun rises on. Its sunnahs are a bath, clean clothes and perfume, going early, listening to the khutbah, reading Surah al-Kahf, sending blessings on the Prophet ﷺ and making dua in the last hour before Maghrib.
Do Muslims have a sabbath?
No. The sabbath (al-sabt, Saturday) was a law for the Children of Israel: "The sabbath was only appointed for those who differed over it" (16:124). Islam has no day on which work is forbidden. What it has is a weekly congregational prayer, and the Quran's rule is to stop trade for it and then return:
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِذَا نُودِىَ لِلصَّلَوٰةِ مِن يَوْمِ ٱلْجُمُعَةِ فَٱسْعَوْا۟ إِلَىٰ ذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ وَذَرُوا۟ ٱلْبَيْعَ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌۭ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٩﴾ فَإِذَا قُضِيَتِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةُ فَٱنتَشِرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَٱبْتَغُوا۟ مِن فَضْلِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱذْكُرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ كَثِيرًۭا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ ﴿١٠﴾
Yaaa ayyuhal lazeena aamanoo izaa noodiya lis-Salaati miny yawmil Jumu'ati fas'aw ilaa zikril laahi wa zarul bai'; zaalikum khayrul lakum in kuntum ta'lamoon Fa-izaa qudiyatis Salaatu fantashiroo fil ardi wabtaghoo min fadlil laahi wazkurul laaha kaseeral la'allakum tuflihoon
(9) O you who have believed, when [the adhan] is called for the prayer on the day of Jumu'ah [Friday], then proceed to the remembrance of Allah and leave trade. That is better for you, if you only knew. (10) And when the prayer has been concluded, disperse within the land and seek from the bounty of Allah, and remember Allah often that you may succeed.
Quran 62:9-10 · Sahih International · Read Surah Al-Jumuah
The Quran also answers the idea behind a day of rest. Allah created the heavens and the earth in six days "and there touched Us no weariness" (50:38). Allah does not tire, so there is no day of His rest to imitate.
Why Friday? The Prophet ﷺ said:
"We are the last, but we will be the first on the Day of Resurrection. They were given the Book before us. This was their day that was made obligatory for them, and they differed over it, and Allah guided us to it. So people follow us: the Jews tomorrow and the Christians the day after."
Sahih al-Bukhari 876; Sahih Muslim 855, from Abu Hurayrah
Many Muslim countries made Friday the weekend for convenience, but that is custom, not a ruling. The UAE, for example, moved its official weekend to Saturday and Sunday from January 2022, with Friday a half day for government workers, and fixed the Friday prayer across the country at 1:15 pm.
Why Friday is special
"The best day on which the sun has risen is Friday. On it Adam was created, on it he was admitted to Paradise, on it he was expelled from it, and the Hour will not be established except on Friday."
Sahih Muslim 854, from Abu Hurayrah
- An hour of answered dua. "There is an hour on Friday in which no Muslim stands praying and asks Allah for something good except that He gives it to him" (Sahih al-Bukhari 935; Sahih Muslim 852).
- Sins wiped away. "The five prayers, and Jumuah to Jumuah, are expiation for what is between them, as long as major sins are avoided" (Sahih Muslim 233).
- The reward of going early. Arriving in the first hour is like offering a camel, then a cow, a ram, a hen and an egg. When the imam comes out, the angels close their books and listen (Sahih al-Bukhari 881).
- A step worth a year. Whoever bathes, goes early on foot, sits near the imam and listens without idle talk has, for every step, the reward of a year of fasting and night prayer (Sunan Abi Dawud 345; Jami at-Tirmidhi 496, graded sahih by al-Albani).
One popular virtue is weak: the hadith that a Muslim who dies on Friday is protected from the trial of the grave (Jami at-Tirmidhi 1074). Al-Tirmidhi himself said its chain is not connected. It is fine to hope for it, but it should not be quoted as certain.
The sunnahs of Friday, in order
Our how to pray Jumuah guide walks through the prayer itself step by step. This is the whole day at a glance, with the source and grading of each sunnah.
| When | Sunnah | Source | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fajr | The imam recites Surah as-Sajdah and Surah al-Insan in Fajr | Sahih al-Bukhari 891; Sahih Muslim 880 | Sahih |
| Any time Thursday night or Friday | Read Surah al-Kahf | Al-Hakim and al-Bayhaqi, from Abu Said al-Khudri | Graded sahih by al-Albani; some scholars say it is the words of Abu Said |
| All day | Send many blessings on the Prophet ﷺ | Sunan Abi Dawud 1047 | Sahih |
| Before going | Ghusl (full bath) | Sahih al-Bukhari 877 and 879 | Sahih |
| Before going | Clean or best clothes, miswak, perfume (men) | Sahih al-Bukhari 880 and 883 | Sahih |
| Going | Go early, walk if you can, do not step over people | Sahih al-Bukhari 881; Sunan Abi Dawud 1118 | Sahih |
| On arrival | Pray before the khutbah, at least two rakahs | Sahih Muslim 875 | Sahih |
| Khutbah | Sit close, listen in silence | Sahih al-Bukhari 934 | Sahih |
| Prayer | The imam recites al-A'la and al-Ghashiyah, or al-Jumuah and al-Munafiqun | Sahih Muslim 877 and 878 | Sahih |
| After | Pray sunnah after Jumuah: four rakahs (Hanafi: four, then two) | Sahih Muslim 881 | Sahih |
| Last hour before Maghrib | Make dua | Sunan Abi Dawud 1048 | Sahih |
ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنزَلَ عَلَىٰ عَبْدِهِ ٱلْكِتَٰبَ وَلَمْ يَجْعَل لَّهُۥ عِوَجَا ۜ ﴿١﴾ قَيِّمًۭا لِّيُنذِرَ بَأْسًۭا شَدِيدًۭا مِّن لَّدُنْهُ وَيُبَشِّرَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ أَنَّ لَهُمْ أَجْرًا حَسَنًۭا ﴿٢﴾
Alhamdu lillaahil lazeee anzala 'alaa 'abdihil kitaaba wa lam yaj'al lahoo 'iwajaa Qaiyimal liyunzira baasan shadeedam mil ladunhu wa yubashshiral mu'mineenal lazeena ya'maloonas saalihaati anna lahum ajran hasanaa
(1) [All] praise is [due] to Allah, who has sent down upon His Servant the Book and has not made therein any deviance. (2) [He has made it] straight, to warn of severe punishment from Him and to give good tidings to the believers who do righteous deeds that they will have a good reward
Quran 18:1-2 · Sahih International · Read Surah Al-Kahf
Read the whole surah with transliteration on our Surah al-Kahf page.
When is the hour of acceptance?
The hadith do not fix it precisely, and Ibn Hajar listed more than forty opinions in Fath al-Bari. Two are strongest:
- From when the imam sits on the minbar until the prayer ends. Abu Musa al-Ash'ari reported this from the Prophet ﷺ (Sahih Muslim 853). Some scholars said this part of the report may be Abu Musa's own words.
- The last hour after Asr, before Maghrib. "Seek it in the last hour after Asr" (Sunan Abi Dawud 1048, graded sahih). Many Companions held this view, and many scholars preferred it.
The safest practice is to make dua at both times: quietly in your heart while the imam sits between the two khutbahs, and again in the last hour before Maghrib.
Who must attend, and the rulings of the day
Jumuah is fard on every Muslim man who is adult, sane, free, resident (not travelling), healthy and able to reach it, in a town where it is held. Women, travellers, the sick and those with a valid excuse are excused, and pray Zuhr instead; if they attend, Jumuah counts for them. Ghusl for Friday is sunnah, and in the relied-upon view it is for the prayer, so it should be done before it. Buying and selling becomes makruh tahrimi (sinful) from the first adhan of Jumuah until the prayer is over, though a sale made then is still valid.
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i
- The same conditions, with the requirement of forty attendees. Ghusl is sunnah. A sale after the adhan given in front of the khatib is sinful but valid.
- Maliki
- Ghusl is sunnah and must be joined to going to the masjid. A sale made after the adhan given in front of the khatib is cancelled (fasakh).
- Hanbali
- The same conditions, with forty attendees. Ghusl is sunnah. A sale made after the adhan given in front of the khatib is invalid.
- Other views
- The Zahiri school, and a minority of earlier scholars, held that the Friday ghusl is obligatory, from the hadith "ghusl on Friday is wajib on every adult" (Sahih al-Bukhari 879). The four schools read wajib there as strongly recommended.
What to avoid on Friday
- Missing Jumuah without excuse. "Whoever leaves three Jumuahs out of negligence, Allah seals his heart" (Sunan Abi Dawud 1052, graded hasan sahih).
- Talking during the khutbah, even to say "be quiet" (Sahih al-Bukhari 934).
- Fasting Friday alone. "None of you should fast on Friday unless he fasts a day before it or a day after it" (Sahih al-Bukhari 1985; Sahih Muslim 1144). A fast that falls on Friday for another reason, such as Arafah or a qada day, is fine.
- Singling out Friday night for special night prayer (Sahih Muslim 1144).
- Trading after the adhan until the prayer is over (62:9).
Jumuah at work and school
For many Muslims in the US, the UK and Canada, Jumuah falls in working hours. A few practical points:
- Many masjids hold two or three Jumuahs, so you can choose the one that fits your lunch break.
- Check the time: Jumuah is at the time of Zuhr. Our prayer times pages show Zuhr for your city.
- Ask your employer or school for a long lunch on Fridays. In the US, employers are generally expected to make reasonable religious accommodations.
- If you truly cannot attend for a valid reason, pray Zuhr, four rakahs, instead.
Questions
Is Friday the holy day in Islam?
Yes, it is the best day of the week and the day of the congregational prayer. But it is not a day of rest: Muslims may work before and after the prayer (62:10).
What is the sabbath in Islam?
Islam has no sabbath. The Quran says the sabbath was given to the Children of Israel (16:124). For Muslims, Friday is the weekly day of gathering and prayer.
What should I do on Friday as a sunnah?
Take a bath, wear clean clothes and perfume, go early to the masjid, listen to the khutbah, read Surah al-Kahf, send many blessings on the Prophet ﷺ and make dua in the last hour before Maghrib.
Is it sunnah to read Surah Kahf on Friday?
Yes. The reports that reading it on Friday gives light until the next Friday are graded sahih by al-Albani and others, though some scholars say they are the words of the Companion Abu Said. You can read it from Maghrib on Thursday to Maghrib on Friday.
Do women have to pray Jumuah?
No. Jumuah is not obligatory for women in any of the four schools. A woman may attend and it counts for her, or pray Zuhr at home.
Can I fast on a Friday?
Not as a single fast picked out for Friday. Fast Thursday or Saturday with it. If Friday is Arafah, Ashura or a day you owe, you may fast it.
Sources
- Quran 16:124, 18:1-2, 50:38, 62:9-11. Translation by Sahih International.
- Sahih al-Bukhari 876, 877, 879, 880, 881, 883, 891, 934, 935, 1985. Sahih Muslim 233, 852, 853, 854, 855, 875, 877, 878, 880, 881, 1144.
- Sunan Abi Dawud 345, 1047, 1048, 1052, 1118; Jami at-Tirmidhi 496 and 1074. Gradings as given by al-Tirmidhi or al-Albani.
- Al-Hakim, al-Mustadrak, and al-Bayhaqi, Shu'ab al-Iman, on Surah al-Kahf on Friday; al-Albani, Sahih al-Jami.
- Ibn Hajar, Fath al-Bari, Kitab al-Jumuah, on the hour of acceptance.
- Al-Marghinani, al-Hidayah, Bab al-Jumuah; Ibn Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar. The other madhhabs' positions are summarised from their standard manuals.
- UAE Government announcement of the new working week (December 2021, in effect 1 January 2022).
The rulings on this page are pending review by the scholars on our team.