Bismihi Ta`ala
Friday and Friday prayer is symbolic for muslims.
The beloved prophet SAW said:’’Certainly Friday is the best day and it is the day that Allah considers most important. In fact, Friday is more important to Allah than Eid-ul-Adhaa or Eid-ul-fitr…there is an hour therein whereby any permissible supplication is accepted and on this day will come Qiyaamah(The end of the world). There are no graded faristas, no earth, no sky, no wind, no mountain and no sea but they all fear from Friday(due that Qiyaamah will come on that day). (Ibn Majah)
عَنْ أَبِي لُبَابَةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْمُنْذِرِ قَالَ
قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِنَّ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ سَيِّدُ الْأَيَّامِ وَأَعْظَمُهَا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ وَهُوَ أَعْظَمُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ مِنْ يَوْمِ الْأَضْحَى وَيَوْمِ الْفِطْرِ فِيهِ خَمْسُ خِلَالٍ خَلَقَ اللَّهُ فِيهِ آدَمَ وَأَهْبَطَ اللَّهُ فِيهِ آدَمَ إِلَى الْأَرْضِ وَفِيهِ تَوَفَّى اللَّهُ آدَمَ وَفِيهِ سَاعَةٌ لَا يَسْأَلُ اللَّهَ فِيهَا الْعَبْدُ شَيْئًا إِلَّا أَعْطَاهُ مَا لَمْ يَسْأَلْ حَرَامًا وَفِيهِ تَقُومُ السَّاعَةُ مَا مِنْ مَلَكٍ مُقَرَّبٍ وَلَا سَمَاءٍ وَلَا أَرْضٍ وَلَا رِيَاحٍ وَلَا جِبَالٍ وَلَا بَحْرٍ إِلَّا وَهُنَّ يُشْفِقْنَ مِنْ يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ
ابن ماجة
The virtues of Friday starts with its eve night. The beloved prophet SAW used to read this du`a at Thursday maghrib:
هذه ليلة غراء و يوم أزهر Hazahi lailatun Gharra wa yaumun azhara. (Jami` Suyuti) ‘‘This night is bright and its day is even more shining.’’
Lots of douroud and salutations on the beloved prophet SAW are recommended as from Thursday maghrib(Abu Dawood). Sahabas used to visit their close friend on Thursday night.
Although it is disliked to choose Thurday night for ibaadah, but know that lots of duas of prophets were accepted at Tahajjud on Friday morning. So try to wake up for Tahajjud daily and especially try for it on Friday morning.
Because Friday is a day better than Eids, one should not choose Friday particularly for nafil fasting. But one may do so if he accompanies Thursday or Saturday fasting.(Bukhari)
One who happens to die between Thurday maghrib until Friday end of Assr, then he will be saved from the punishment of the grave.(Tirmizi)
Allama Shami r.a. mentions that all dead are saved from punishment of grave on Friday, irrespective muslim or non muslims. But for non muslim, the punishment restarts after Friday, while the muslims are relieved. The fire of hell is not fuelled during Friday.
It is also mentioned that it is recommended to visit graveyard on Fridays.(Shami)
Read Surah Kahaf, surah Sajdah, surah Hud and lots of Duruds.
And know that the virtue of Friday will continue forever. Even in Paradise, Allah Ta`ala will choose Thursday night to show Himself to the people of Jannah.
The best day is Friday and Allah Ta`ala prescribed Jum`ah salaah on men. This imposition on non traveller to gather in the masjid for Jum`ah is so important that the beloved prophet SAW warned to that one who neglect 3 Jum`ahs without valid reason as his heart be sealed.(Abu Dawood) This would be a handicap for his spiritual progress.
Since Jum`ah is a gathering day, then Shariah prevented haraam intermingling and mixing. That is why Jum`ah is not prescribed for women.(Abu Dawood;Bukhari) .Read in another article.
*DUE TO MIXING ON FRIDAY, MEN ARE RECOMMENDED TO APLLY ITR(PERFUME) AND ALSO RECOMMENDED TO PERFUME THE MASJID BEFORE JUM`AH SALAAH.*
*The prophet (saw) instructed that masjid be kept clean and that they be perfumed every Friday. (Tirmizi, Ibn Majah)* *Hazrat Umar bin Al Khattab (ra) used to arrange for the masjid to be perfumed every Friday. (Ibn Abi Shaibah). Abdullah Al Mujammir used to perfume the masjid every Friday with Bukhoor. Bukhoor is mainly of Ouds wood and also other types of wood which burn to produce a perfumed smoke. The masjid may also be perfumed with the fragrance of Itar or even Musk or Zaafraan. (Sharhe Mishkaat- Qari)*
Men will gather to listen to the bayaan and Khutbah. Hazrat Abu Hureirah r.a. used to give bayaan of hadiths before Khutbah.(Mustadrak Hakim)
Before Jum`ah salaah, the sunnah prescribes preparations: Bath, best cloth, perfume, oil, miswaak and go early for masjid, walking. Sunnah Muakkadah are 4 rakaats before Khutbah and 4 after Jum`ah salaah. But before standing up for 4 rakaats after Jum`ah salaah, it is recommended to talk to your muslim brother or else come out.(Muslim)
أَنَّ نَافِعَ بْنَ جُبَيْرٍ أَرْسَلَهُ إِلَى السَّائِبِ ابْنِ أُخْتِ نَمِرٍ يَسْأَلُهُ عَنْ شَيْءٍ رَآهُ مِنْهُ مُعَاوِيَةُ فِي الصَّلَاةِ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ صَلَّيْتُ مَعَهُ الْجُمُعَةَ فِي الْمَقْصُورَةِ فَلَمَّا سَلَّمَ الْإِمَامُ قُمْتُ فِي مَقَامِي فَصَلَّيْتُ فَلَمَّا دَخَلَ أَرْسَلَ إِلَيَّ فَقَالَ لَا تَعُدْ لِمَا فَعَلْتَ إِذَا صَلَّيْتَ الْجُمُعَةَ فَلَا تَصِلْهَا بِصَلَاةٍ حَتَّى تَكَلَّمَ أَوْ تَخْرُجَ
مسلم
It is reported that Hazrat Mu`awiyah r.a. told Sa-ib that the beloved prophet SAW would stop us from starting salaah after Jum`ah before we talk to someone or we go out.’’(Muslim)
But since today if we go out of masjid, we would neglect the 4 sunnah muakkadah, then at least give hand and make salaam to your fellow brother first and then stand up for your 4 sunnah Muakkadah. This sunnah has paled out. In fact Jum`ah gathering aim to bring closer the muslim brotherhood and unity. This meeting and talking right after Jum`ah is a brief talk and there should not be noise in the masjid nor should it be practiced for other salaahs.
Perfume the masjid today Friday and meet your fellow brother right after the du`as after Jum`ah salaah.