What is Desirable before the Ṣalāt al-Jumuʿah (Friday congregational prayer)

Ṣalāt al-Jumuʿah ( صَلَاة ٱلْجُمُعَة, ), the Friday prayer or Congregational prayer  is the obligatory prayer for all Muslims around the world to be offered in the masjid (mosque). Its importance has been amply highlighted in the Surah 62 Al Jumuʿah:

يٰۤاَيُّهَا الَّذِيۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡۤا اِذَا نُوۡدِىَ لِلصَّلٰوةِ مِنۡ يَّوۡمِ الۡجُمُعَةِ فَاسۡعَوۡا اِلٰى ذِكۡرِ اللّٰهِ وَذَرُوا الۡبَيۡعَ​ ؕ ذٰ لِكُمۡ خَيۡرٌ لَّـكُمۡ اِنۡ كُنۡتُمۡ تَعۡلَمُوۡنَ‏ 

( 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.

This verse was revealed at a time when salat had been made obligatory, yet people preferred to carryon with their trade for the considered a few pennies more than the prayer itself. The people being negligent in that on hearing the call to the Prayer they would not hasten to it but would remain occupied in their worldly activities and trade and business transactions. Therefore, Allah sent down this verse to make the people realize and appreciate the importance of the call and the Prayer and to exhort them to hasten to perform it as a duty.

* Read exegesis of Al Jumu'ah  (already posted)

Now here are few things that one must keep in mind:

• The Jumu'ah prayer does not take more than one hour at best, that is taking a bath, wearing appropriate clothes, apply some perfume, and got to the masjid, listen to the Khutba of the prayer leader, offer the prayer in congregation and go home or attend to his business. 
• This means the entire day before the prayer and after the prayer is free for him to continue with his daily chores. This is unlike the Jews sacred day where they restrict them for worship for the entire day and do not do any worldly chores. Thus Muslims should not have an excuse to spare one hour out of the day time for attending the obligation of offering Jumu'ah prayer in congregation in a masjid.
• Now what about the time before the Jumu'ah prayer? Although, nothing specific has been spelt out but a hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ lays immense stress on certain "desirables" before the Jumu'ah prayer. And these desirables commence from the dawn break till the termination of the Jumu'ah prayer in congregation.

And what are these desirables? 

Please listen to the lecture by eminent Muslim scholar Dr Israr Ahmed (may Allah be pleased with him) elaborating the desired things on the Day of Jumuʿah:

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the video above are that of the concerned scholar . We have shared these view as added information in better understanding of Islam. The reader may or may not agree with the view owing to their own perception. If any one differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

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Posted in: Friday Prayer,Scholars' Viewpoint