Sunnahs of Friday (Jummah) - How to Maximise the Best Day

Friday (Jumu'ah) is the best day of the week. This guide lists the practices that are authentically reported for it, from ghusl to the Jumu'ah prayer, with sources, so that you can plan your Friday around what is established.

The prayer of Jumu'ah is obligatory for men (Quran 62:9). The reported sunnahs include ghusl, using the miswak, wearing your best clothes, going early, listening silently to the khutbah, reciting Surah Al-Kahf, and sending blessings on the Prophet ﷺ.

The Prophet ﷺ said the best day on which the sun rises is Friday: on it Adam was created, on it he was admitted into Paradise and on it he was expelled from it (Sahih Muslim). The Quran addresses the day directly: "O you who have believed, when the call is made for the prayer on the day of Jumu'ah, then proceed to the remembrance of Allah and leave trade" (Quran 62:9).

1. Ghusl. The Prophet ﷺ said that bathing on Friday is incumbent on every adult (Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim). The majority of scholars take this as a strongly emphasised sunnah, while some consider it wajib.
2. Miswak, perfume and clean clothes. Mentioned in reports alongside ghusl, with the best clothes you have.
3. Going early. The Prophet ﷺ described those who come in the first hour as like offering a camel, then a cow, then a ram, and so on, and when the imam sits, the angels attend the khutbah (Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim).
4. Listening silently to the khutbah. The Prophet ﷺ said that if you say "be quiet" to your companion while the imam is speaking, you have spoken idly (Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim).
5. Reciting Surah Al-Kahf. See our article on Al-Kahf for the grading of this report.
6. Increasing salawat on the Prophet ﷺ. Recorded in Sunan Abi Dawud and graded sahih by al-Albani.
7. The Fajr recitation. The Prophet ﷺ recited As-Sajdah and Al-Insan in Friday Fajr (Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim).

The Prophet ﷺ mentioned that on Friday there is an hour in which a Muslim praying and asking Allah for good will be granted it (Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim). Scholars differ on when it is: between the imam sitting and the end of the prayer, or in the last hour of the day after Asr, and others. Because the hour is not specified, many Muslims make dua throughout the day.

The Jumu'ah prayer replaces Dhuhr and consists of two fard rak'ahs after two khutbahs. Hanafi practice includes four sunnah before and four after, followed by two more sunnah, and other schools differ. Check the time on our prayer times page.

Jumu'ah is obligatory on adult, resident men. Women, travellers, the sick and children are not required to attend, and women who attend may pray it, while women who pray at home pray Dhuhr.

• Buying and selling after the call to prayer, per Quran 62:9.
• Stepping over people's necks to reach the front.
• Speaking during the khutbah.
• Singling out Friday night for qiyam, or Friday day for fasting alone. The Prophet ﷺ discouraged both (Sahih Muslim).