The Importance of Jumuah Salaah

When the world went into lockdown, one of the biggest sacrifices for Muslims was the masjid, particularly the performance of Jumuah Salaah. In some countries, the public were advised to perform the Zuhr salaah at home in place of Jumuah, in other countries, the advice was to make small Jamaats of Jumuah if possible.

Now that many restrictions have been lifted, with regulations and protocol in mind, we should try to perform the Jumuah Salaah in the Masjid again. The literal meaning of Jummah (Friday) is congregation. Hence, one of the main features of the Jumuah Salaah is Muslims coming together to pray.

The importance of Friday (Jummah) can be understood by the fact that there is a complete Surah in the Holy Quran named after the day of Jummah. Allah Almighty says in the Holy Quran in these words:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا نُودِيَ لِلصَّلَاةِ مِنْ يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ فَاسْعَوْا إِلَىٰ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَذَرُوا الْبَيْعَ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ
“O you who believe! When the call is proclaimed for Jummah (Friday prayer), come fast to the remembrance of Allah and leave your businesses. This is better for you, if only you know”(Quran, 62: 9).

We understand from the above verse that we should not show any sort of listlessness. Rather, at the time of Jumuah, we should heed immediately and attend the Friday prayer, regardless of how busy we may be. Even if it is the peak business hour, whereby neglecting the business affairs and trade can result in a loss for a businessman, we should leave it and should attend the Friday prayers.

A question might come to mind that why isn’t this same command of leaving our businesses given for all Salaahs, since all the other Salaahs in the week are also Fardh.

According to some scholars, the command to close businesses for Jumuah shows the importance of everyone performing Jumuah together. If absolutely necessary, other Salaah can be performed in smaller Jamaats in different locations. However, Jumuah should be a Salaah where everyone reads together.

We should ponder over the above point, especially since many of us might have become comfortable performing Jumuah in a small Jamaat during lockdown. Now that restrictions are being lifted, we should be returning to the Masjid for Jumuah Salaah.