The Excellence of Friday and its Night

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع يَقُولُ‌ مَا طَلَعَتِ الشَّمْسُ بِيَوْمٍ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ.

‘The sun does not shine on anything (other days) more excellent than Friday.”’

إِذَا كَانَ يَوْمُ الْجُمُعَةِ نَزَلَ الْمَلَائِكَةُ الْمُقَرَّبُونَ مَعَهُمْ قَرَاطِيسُ مِنْ فِضَّةٍ وَ أَقْلَامٌ مِنْ ذَهَبٍ فَيَجْلِسُونَ عَلَى أَبْوَابِ الْمَسْجِدِ عَلَى كَرَاسِيَّ مِنْ نُورٍ فَيَكْتُبُونَ النَّاسَ عَلَى مَنَازِلِهِمُ الْأَوَّلَ وَ الثَّانِيَ حَتَّى يَخْرُجَ الْإِمَامُ فَإِذَا خَرَجَ الْإِمَامُ طَوَوْا صُحُفَهُمْ وَ لَا يَهْبِطُونَ فِي شَيْ‌ءٍ مِنَ الْأَيَّامِ إِلَّا فِي يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ يَعْن

“Abu Ja’far (a.s.), has said, ‘On Fridays, prominent angels come down with paper of silver and pens of gold and sit on the doors of Masjids on chairs of light and write people according to their grades such as first, second . . . until the Imam (prayer leader) comes out. When he comes out they (angels) roll up their pa

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص يَسْتَحِبُّ إِذَا دَخَلَ وَ إِذَا خَرَجَ فِي الشِّتَاءِ أَنْ يَكُونَ ذَلِكَ فِي لَيْلَةِ الْجُمُعَةِ وَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنَّ اللَّهَ اخْتَارَ مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْ‌ءٍ شَيْئاً فَاخْتَارَ مِنَ الْأَيَّامِ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ.

‘The Messenger of Allah loved it, when traveling or coming home in winter, to be on Friday nights.’ Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has also said, ‘Allah has chosen something from everything. From days He has chosen Friday.’”

السَّاعَةُ الَّتِي يُسْتَجَابُ فِيهَا الدُّعَاءُ- يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ مَا بَيْنَ فَرَاغِ الْإِمَامِ مِنَ الْخُطْبَةِ إِلَى أَنْ يَسْتَوِيَ النَّاسُ فِي الصُّفُوفِ وَ سَاعَةٌ أُخْرَى مِنْ آخِرِ النَّهَارِ إِلَى غُرُوبِ الشَّمْسِ.

‘The hour of Friday wherein prayers are answered is the time when the prayer leader completes the sermons, until people get ready in rows for Salah (prayer). The other hour is the time at the end of the day to sunset.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ إِنَّ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ سَيِّدُ الْأَيَّامِ يُضَاعِفُ اللَّهَ فِيهِ الْحَسَنَاتِ وَ يَمْحُو فِيهِ السَّيِّئَاتِ وَ يَرْفَعُ فِيهِ الدَّرَجَاتِ وَ يَسْتَجِيبُ فِيهِ الدَّعَوَاتِ وَ يَكْشِفُ فِيهِ الْكُرُبَاتِ وَ يَقْضِي فِيهِ الْحَوَائِجَ الْعِظَامَ وَ هُوَ يَوْمُ الْمَزِيدِ لِلَّهِ فِيهِ عُتَقَاءُ وَ طُلَقَاءُ مِنَ النَّارِ مَا دَعَا بِهِ أَحَدٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ وَ قَدْ عَرَفَ حَقَّهُ وَ حُرْمَ

5. Ali ibn Muhammad has narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from ibn abu Nasr who has said the following: “Abu al-Hassan al-Rida, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said, that the Messenger of Allah has said, ‘Friday is the master of days. On this day Allah increases good deeds and obliterates bad deeds, raises the degrees, answers prayer

إِنَّ لِلْجُمُعَةِ حَقّاً وَ حُرْمَةً فَإِيَّاكَ أَنْ تُضَيِّعَ أَوْ تُقَصِّرَ فِي شَيْ‌ءٍ مِنْ عِبَادَةِ اللَّهِ وَ التَّقَرُّبِ إِلَيْهِ بِالْعَمَلِ الصَّالِحِ وَ تَرْكِ الْمَحَارِمِ كُلِّهَا فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ يُضَاعِفُ فِيهِ الْحَسَنَاتِ وَ يَمْحُو فِيهِ السَّيِّئَاتِ وَ يَرْفَعُ فِيهِ الدَّرَجَاتِ قَالَ وَ ذَكَرَ أَنَّ يَوْمَهُ مِثْلُ لَيْلَتِهِ فَإِنِ اسْتَطَعْتَ أَنْ تُحْيِيَهَا بِالصَّلَاةِ وَ الدُّعَاءِ فَافْعَ

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘For Friday there are rights and respect, you must not fail to observe them or have shortcomings in worshipping Allah or in striving to become nearer to Him through good deeds and through refraining from all prohibited matters. Allah on this day increases good deeds, obliterates bad de

قَالَ لَهُ رَجُلٌ كَيْفَ سُمِّيَتِ الْجُمُعَةُ قَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ جَمَعَ فِيهَا خَلْقَهُ لِوَلَايَةِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ وَصِيِّهِ فِي الْمِيثَاقِ فَسَمَّاهُ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ لِجَمْعِهِ فِيهِ خَلْقَهُ.

The Imam said, ’Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, brought His creatures under the Divine Authority of Muhammad (a.s.), and the Executor of his will during “the divine Covenant session”, and that session was called “al-Jumu‘ah” (the assembly) because of His calling His creatures together.’”

سُئِلَ عَنْ يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ وَ لَيْلَتِهَا فَقَالَ لَيْلَتُهَا غَرَّاءُ وَ يَوْمُهَا يَوْمٌ زَاهِرٌ وَ لَيْسَ عَلَى الْأَرْضِ يَوْمٌ تَغْرُبُ فِيهِ الشَّمْسُ أَكْثَرَ مُعَافًى مِنَ النَّارِ مِنْهُ مَنْ مَاتَ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ عَارِفاً بِحَقِّ أَهْلِ هَذَا الْبَيْتِ كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَهُ بَرَاءَةً مِنَ النَّارِ وَ بَرَاءَةً مِنَ الْعَذَابِ وَ مَنْ مَاتَ لَيْلَةَ الْجُمُعَةِ أُعْتِقَ مِنَ النَّارِ.

“Someone asked abu Ja’far (a.s.), about Friday and its night. The Imam replied, ’Friday night is the finest; its day is brilliant. There is no other day in which sunset takes place with as many rescued from the fire as is on Friday. If one dies on Friday while fully acknowledging the rights of Ahl al-Bayt (people of th

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ فَضَّلَ اللَّهُ الْجُمُعَةَ عَلَى غَيْرِهَا مِنَ الْأَيَّامِ وَ إِنَّ الْجِنَانَ لَتُزَخْرَفُ وَ تُزَيَّنُ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ لِمَنْ أَتَاهَا وَ إِنَّكُمْ تَتَسَابَقُونَ إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ عَلَى قَدْرِ سَبْقِكُمْ إِلَى الْجُمُعَةِ وَ إِنَّ أَبْوَابَ السَّمَاءِ لَتُفَتَّحُ لِصُعُودِ أَعْمَالِ الْعِبَادِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Allah has given excellence to Friday over other days. On Friday, decoration and beautification takes place in paradise for those who attend it (Friday). You race to paradise proportionate to the degree of your attending Friday. On Friday the doors of heavens open for the deeds of serv

قُلْتُ لَهُ قَوْلُ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَ‌ فَاسْعَوْا إِلى‌ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ‌[1] قَالَ اعْمَلُوا وَ عَجِّلُوا فَإِنَّهُ يَوْمٌ مُضَيَّقٌ عَلَى الْمُسْلِمِينَ فِيهِ وَ ثَوَابُ أَعْمَالِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ فِيهِ عَلَى قَدْرِ مَا ضُيِّقَ عَلَيْهِمْ وَ الْحَسَنَةُ وَ السَّيِّئَةُ تُضَاعَفُ فِيهِ قَالَ وَ قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع وَ اللَّهِ لَقَدْ بَلَغَنِي أَنَّ أَصْحَابَ النَّبِيِّ ص كَانُوا يَتَجَهَّزُونَ لِلْجُمُعَةِ يَوْمَ ال

“I asked abu Ja’far (a.s.), about the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Glorious, ‘Hasten to remember Allah. . . .’ (62:9). He replied, ‘It means do good deeds and do it promptly; it is a busy day for the Muslims. The reward for the deeds of the Muslims is proportionate to the degree of its business. Both goo

مَا طَلَعَتِ الشَّمْسُ‌ بِيَوْمٍ أَفْضَلَ مِنْ يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ وَ إِنَّ كَلَامَ الطَّيْرِ فِيهِ إِذَا الْتَقَى بَعْضُهَا بَعْضاً سَلَامٌ سَلَامٌ يَوْمٌ صَالِحٌ.

“Abu Ja’far or abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘There is no other day on which sun shines more excellent than Friday. The words of birds, on meeting each other, on this day are, “Peace, peace. It is a good day.’””

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع السَّاعَةُ الَّتِي فِي يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ الَّتِي لَا يَدْعُو فِيهَا مُؤْمِنٌ إِلَّا اسْتُجِيبَ لَهُ قَالَ نَعَمْ إِذَا خَرَجَ الْإِمَامُ قُلْتُ إِنَّ الْإِمَامَ يُعَجِّلُ وَ يُؤَخِّرُ قَالَ إِذَا زَاغَتِ الشَّمْسُ‌[1].

12. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn abu Nasr from Mu‘awiyah ibn ‘Ammar who has said the following: “I asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about the hour on Friday in which prayer of a believing person is answered. He replied, ‘Yes, it is the time when the Imam comes out.’ I then said, ‘Imam ma

قَالَ لِي أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ يَا عُمَرُ إِنَّهُ إِذَا كَانَ لَيْلَةُ الْجُمُعَةِ نَزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَلَائِكَةٌ بِعَدَدِ الذَّرِّ فِي أَيْدِيهِمْ أَقْلَامُ الذَّهَبِ وَ قَرَاطِيسُ الْفِضَّةِ لَا تَكْتُبُونَ إِلَى لَيْلَةِ السَّبْتِ إِلَّا الصَّلَاةَ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ ص فَأَكْثِرْ مِنْهَا وَ قَالَ يَا عُمَرُ إِنَّ مِنَ السُّنَّةِ أَنْ تُصَلِّيَ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ عَلَى أَهْلِ بَيْتِهِ فِي كُلِّ

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), said to me, ‘O ‘Umar, on Friday nights angels by the number of atoms come to earth with pens of gold and papers of silver in their hands. They write no other thing until Saturday except about Allahumma Salli ‘Ala Muhammad wa ‘Ali Muhammad (O Allah grant Muhammad and his family a compensation wor

قُلْتُ لَهُ بَلَغَنِي أَنَّ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ أَقْصَرُ الْأَيَّامِ قَالَ كَذَلِكَ هُوَ قُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ كَيْفَ ذَاكَ قَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى يَجْمَعُ أَرْوَاحَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ تَحْتَ عَيْنِ الشَّمْسِ فَإِذَا رَكَدَتِ الشَّمْسُ عَذَّبَ اللَّهُ أَرْوَاحَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ بِرُكُودِ الشَّمْسِ سَاعَةً فَإِذَا كَانَ يَوْمُ الْجُمُعَةِ لَا يَكُونُ لِلشَّمْسِ رُكُودٌ رَفَعَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمُ الْعَذَابَ

“I once asked al-Rida’ (a.s.), ‘Is it true, as I have heard that Friday is the shortest day?’

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ لِيَتَزَيَّنْ أَحَدُكُمْ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ يَغْتَسِلُ وَ يَتَطَيَّبُ وَ يُسَرِّحُ لِحْيَتَهُ وَ يَلْبَسُ أَنْظَفَ ثِيَابِهِ وَ لْيَتَهَيَّأْ لِلْجُمُعَةِ وَ لْيَكُنْ عَلَيْهِ فِي ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمِ السَّكِينَةُ وَ الْوَقَارُ وَ لْيُحْسِنْ عِبَادَةَ رَبِّهِ وَ لْيَفْعَلِ الْخَيْرَ مَا اسْتَطَاعَ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ يَطَّلِعُ عَلَى أَهْلِ الْأَرْضِ لِيُضَاعِفَ الْحَسَنَاتِ.

1. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Yunus ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman from Hisham ibn al-Hakam who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ‘Everyone of you should take a shower, apply fragrance, comb your beard, dress up in your best dress and prepare himself for Friday. On t