Salatul Jumaah

THE ESSENTIALS!
 Salatal-Jumu’ahis a congregational prayer performed on Friday and which replaces the Dhuhr prayer. It is sometimes referred to as the ‘Friday prayer’. It consists of a sermon (khutba) given by the imam after which he will lead the people in 2 rakahs.

UPON WHOM SALATUL JUMA'AH IS OBLIGATORY
Jumu’a his an obligation upon every free, adult, sane, resident Muslim man who has the ability to attend the salah and does not have a valid excuse to miss it.

Allah says in the interpretation of the meaning:

“O you who believe! When the call is proclaimedto prayer on Friday (the Day of Assembly), hasten earnestly to the Remembranceof Allah, and leave off business (and traffic): That is best for you if they butknew!”
- Surah Al-Juma, 62:9

It can be found from the sunnah, that the Prophet Muhammad (sa) explained that it is not fard for the women to go jummua hand are therefore excluded from the ayat above.

PREREQUISITES!
•Undertaking Ghusl (total bath). The Prophet (peace be upon him)in this regard says:“Ghuslon Friday is necessary (Wajib) upon every adult person” (Reported by Imam Bukhari).

•Putting on the best and cleanest of clothes.

• Perfuming of one self.

MERIT OF FRIDAY 
 Aus ibn Aus reports that the Prophet said: “The most virtuous of your days is Jumu’ah. On that day, Adam was created and on that day he died, (on that day) the horn will be blown and the people will be dumb founded! Increase your prayers upon me as your prayers upon me will be presented to me.” The people said: “O Messenger of Allah, how will our prayers be presented to you when you have passed away?” He said: “Allah has prohibited the earth from eating the bodies of the Prophets.”
- This is related by the five, except for at-Tirmizhi.

 The Messenger of Allah said while talking about the merits of Friday, “There is a time on Fridayat which a Muslim, while he or she is performing prayer and is supplicating,

SUNNAH PRAYERS BEFORE THE JUMAAH

(1) PERFORM  2RAKAATS  SUNNAH PRAYER UPON ENTERING THE MASJID CALLED
Tahiyyat-ul-Masjid, Abu Qatadah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (sa) said, “When anyone of you enters the mosque, he should perform two Rak`ah (of voluntary prayer) before sitting.”
- Bukhari and Muslim
 
Even if you come to Jumu’ah late, and the imam is giving the khutbah still pray those 2 rakaats for the mosque (make them quick). The onlytime you do not read them is if you come really late and the imam has started to read the Jumu’ah- as the fard (obligatory) takes precedence over the sunnah (voluntary).
Straightening the Rows!

Abu Mas`ud reported: The Messenger of Allah (sa) used to gently pat our shoulders when we were standing in rows at the time of Salatand say, “Keep (the rows) straight; do not differ from each other lest yourhearts should suffer from discord. Let those of you who are mature and prudentbe nearer to me, and then those who are next to them.”
- Muslim

HOW TO PERFORM JUMAAH PRAYERS

1-When the Muadhin completes the Adhaan, the Imam climbs the pulpit to deliver the Sermon and the person is required to devote his whole attention and, is forbidden to talk or keep oneself busy with even minor activities inthe course of the sermon. The Prophet (peace be upon him) says in this regard:“He who performs ablution properly and comes to the Jumah prayer and listens to the sermon attentively, will have his sins from the previous Friday plus three more days forgiven and he who occupies himself with pebbles during the sermon has performed badly”
- Reported by Imam Muslim

2- Upon completion of the first part of the sermon, the Imam sits down for a brief pause and then, stands up again for the secondpart of the sermon.

3- After that, he comes down from the pulpit and the MUADHIN makes the second call for the prayer IQAMAH and a two rakaat congregational prayer is accordingly performed whichis the same in all respects to the Faj'r prayer.

SUNNAH PRAYERS AFTER THE JUMAAH 
`Abdullah bin `Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: I performed along with the Prophet (sa) two Rak`ah (Sunnah prayer) after the Jumu’ahprayer.
- Bukhari and Muslim

THE REWARD FOR PERFORMING VOLUNTARY AT HOME
The Prophet sallallahualehiwasallamsaid: “Superiorityof a man’s prayer in his home over his prayer when people see him is like thesuperiority of an obligatory prayer over a voluntary one.”
- al-Bayhaqi, classed as Saheehby al-Albani