Seize the merits of Friday by reciting Quran, remembering God and performing good deeds, the sermon will tell mosque-goers on what is described as the most important day for Muslims.
"The best day on which the sun rises is Friday," Prophet Mohammed said. He urged Muslims to occupy their time by praying, seeking knowledge, reciting Quran and to remember Allah (Dhikr).
One of the most rewarded acts to perform on Friday is asking God to confer blessings on the Prophet. He said, "Invoke plenty of blessings upon me on Fridays for everyone who invokes a blessing on me will receive ten blessings from Allah."
On Fridays, Muslims should recite verses from the Quran early in the morning.
The sermon will say there is nothing better than reciting Quran at the dawn for God says, "indeed, the recitation of dawn is ever witnessed." (Al-Israa: 78).
Reading Surat Al Kahf on Friday is particularly advised because it contains many great meanings and has several gracious benefits. The Prophet said, "Whoever recites Surat al Kahf on a Friday will have a light that will shine from him from one Friday to the next."
Fajr prayer in congregation is also among the best of deeds to begin the day with but its virtues and rewards are superior on Friday.
This was reiterated by Prophet Mohammed when he said, "indeed, the best of prayers in the sight of Allah is the Fajr prayer on Friday in congregation."
Dhikr is another righteous act recommended after offering the Fajr prayer in congregation as well as recitation of the holy Quran.
Muslims should make preparations for observing the Friday prayer by bathing, wearing perfume and putting on the best of their clothes so as to be clean, purified, and presentable.
The Prophet said "whoever takes a bath on Friday, purifies himself as much as he can, then uses his (hair) oil or perfumes himself with the scent of his house, then proceeds (for the Jumuaa prayer) and does not separate two persons sitting together (in the mosque), then prays as much as (Allah has) written for him and then remains silent while the Imam is delivering the Khutba, his sins in-between the present and the last Friday would be forgiven.”
Friday prayer has a great significance in Islam and walking to the mosque is greatly rewarded. It was narrated that the Prophet said, "On Friday... and goes early, arriving early, gets close and listens and is silent, there will be for him in every step he takes the reward of a year of fasting and standing (for night prayer)."
Friday is like a weekly Eid for Muslims who are urged to seize the opportunity to attain its virtues by observing its prayer in congregation, listening to the Imam's sermon attentively, arriving early to the mosque and attaining its rewards.
It is also an opportunity to interact with neighbours, friends and relatives. When Muslims returns back home after Friday prayer, they should sit with their families and advise them about what Allah has taught him.
