The joumoua moubaraka: understanding its meaning and the recommendations related to Friday
In the Muslim religion, Friday is a blessed day, when the faithful gather to perform the common prayer called « joumoua ». In this context, the expression "joumoua moubaraka" means wishing the believers a good Friday. What does this expression mean more precisely? What is the view of the schools of jurisprudence on wishing one another a joumoua moubaraka? How does the Friday prayer take place and what are the recommended sunnan on this day? Let us also read the benefits of Surah al-Kahf (the Cave), especially advised as the reading for Friday.
What does joumoua moubaraka mean?
The Arabic term "joumoua moubaraka" means literally "blessed Friday". It is often used to wish one's loved ones that their day be filled with divine blessings. This expression reflects the importance given to Friday in the Muslim religion, since it is the day chosen by Allah Azza wa Jal to perform the collective Friday prayer.
Friday is said Joumoua in Arabic. It can also be written like this:
- Djoumou3a
- Jumu3a
- Joumou'a
- Djumua
The meaning remains the same. It is the day of the week chosen by Allah for Muslims to gather at the mosque to worship Him in common.
Joumoua: a special day
There are a multitude of Quranic and prophetic proofs that attest to the importance of the day of Friday, and to the obligation for every pubescent man to attend it as well as to the obligation to prepare for it by taking a ritual bath (ghusl). This day is of such importance that an entire chapter of the Quran is devoted to it, of which here is a verse:
O you who have believed! When the call is made to the Salat of the day of Friday, hasten to the remembrance of Allah and leave all trade. That is far better for you, if you only knew! […] Surah Joumoua (62) verse 9
This day was chosen by Allah to include the group service during which every pubescent person attending must not speak during the sermon given by the imam of the mosque. It is a way of preparing for the Day of Resurrection where we will stand, without speaking, before the Lord of the Worlds.
During joumoua, there is a secret hour during which the invocations of the believer are answered, as this hadith attests:
Abu Hurayra, may Allah be pleased with him, said: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: « There is on this day an hour that no Muslim worshipper encounters while being in prayer, without Allah, the Most High, granting him what he asks. » And he made a sign with his hand to show how short this hour is. » Reported by Bukhari
To come to this common prayer, the ritual bath was made obligatory by the prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, urging his community to purify themselves as much as possible in order to be in the best state for this blessed service.
According to Abu Sa'id El khoudry, may Allah be pleased with him: The messenger of Allah, may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said: « The major ablutions for Friday are obligatory for every pubescent person. » Reported by Bukhari
According to Abu Hurayra (may Allah be pleased with him), the Prophet (may the prayer of Allah and His peace be upon him) said: « Whoever performs the ablutions perfectly then goes to the joumou'a then listens and remains silent, he is forgiven what is between this moment and the following Friday and three days more, and whoever touches pebbles has indeed done something futile ». Reported by Muslim
Jurisprudential view on wishing one another joumoua moubaraka
There is no clear consensus among the scholars concerning wishing one another a joumoua moubaraka. Some consider this practice an innovation (bid'a) because it is not mentioned in the founding texts of Islam. Others consider that it is simply a friendly way of recalling the importance of Friday and of encouraging Muslims to perform the recommended acts during this blessed day.
How does the Friday prayer take place?
On Friday, the joumoua prayer replaces the dhuhr prayer (the midday prayer) for adult and pubescent men. It must be performed in a group, under the direction of an imam who delivers a sermon (khutba) before the prayer. Here are the stages of the Friday prayer:
- The imam ascends the pulpit (minbar).
- He delivers the first sermon, beginning by praising Allah and recalling the importance of piety.
- Then, he addresses a specific subject related to the teachings of Islam or to the problems encountered by the community.
- After finishing the first sermon, the imam sits down briefly, then rises to deliver the second sermon, generally shorter than the first.
- At the end of the second sermon, the imam makes invocations for himself, his family, the community and all Muslims.
- Finally, the imam leads the joumoua prayer, which consists of two units of prayer (rak'at) instead of the usual four for the dhuhr prayer.
Recommended sunnan of Friday
The Prophet (may peace and blessings be upon him) encouraged Muslims to perform certain specific actions on Friday. Among these actions, we find:
- Performing one's ritual washing (ghusl) before going to the mosque for the joumoua prayer.
- Wearing one's finest clothes on this special day.
- Perfuming oneself with musk or any halal fragrance (permitted in Islam).
- Attending the khutba (the sermon) and listening attentively to the teachings of the imam.
- Multiplying the invocations and the requests for forgiveness to God.
- Praying upon the Prophet (may peace and blessings be upon him) as much as possible.
Reading Surah al-Kahf (the Cave)
It is also strongly recommended to read Surah al-Kahf (the Cave) during the day of Friday. This surah has 110 verses and relates several stories, including that of the young people who took refuge in a cave to escape persecution. The Prophet (may peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Whoever reads Surah al-Kahf on Friday, a light will illuminate him between the two Fridays" (reported by al-Bayhaqi).
Benefits of Surah al-Kahf
Besides its recommended reading on Friday, Surah al-Kahf has numerous spiritual benefits:
- Protection against the antichrist (al-Dajjal): according to an authentic hadith, whoever memorizes the first ten verses of this surah will be preserved from the temptation of the antichrist.
- Fulfilment of invocations: it is reported that whoever recites this surah with sincerity and humility will see his requests answered by God.
- Purification of the heart: the regular recitation of this surah helps to purify the heart and to distance oneself from sins.
In short, the joumoua moubaraka is a term used to recall the importance of Friday in Islam and to wish a blessed day to one's loved ones. Although there is no clear consensus concerning this practice, it testifies to the spirit of brotherhood and solidarity among believers. On this blessed day, it is recommended to perform various actions such as the joumoua prayer, the reading of Surah al-Kahf and the accomplishment of the sunnan specific to Friday.