Fatwa ID: 03399

Answered by: Alimah Nasima Umm Hamza​

Question

Assalamu Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh,

What are the virtues of reciting Surah Jumu'ah? And are there specifics days and times that one should recite it?

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful 

Answer

In terms of virtues of reciting Surah al-Jumuah, there are no authentic narrations regarding this. Rather, what has been narrated is that the Prophet (PBUH) would recite surah al-Jumuah in the Jumuah prayer itself, and a narration suggesting he also recited it in the Isha prayer too.

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدَةُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ، عَنْ سُفْيَانَ، عَنْ مُخَوَّلِ، بْنِ رَاشِدٍ عَنْ مُسْلِمٍ الْبَطِينِ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يَقْرَأُ فِي صَلاَةِ الْفَجْرِ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ ‏{‏ الم * تَنْزِيلُ‏}‏ السَّجْدَةُ وَ ‏{‏ هَلْ أَتَى عَلَى الإِنْسَانِ حِينٌ مِنَ الدَّهْرِ‏}‏ وَأَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يَقْرَأُ فِي صَلاَةِ الْجُمُعَةِ سُورَةَ الْجُمُعَةِ وَالْمُنَافِقِينَ ‏.‏

Ibn Abbas reported:

The Apostle of Allah (ﷺ) used to recite in the morning prayer on Friday Surah "Alif-Lam-Mim, Tanz'il ul-Sajda" (Surah xxxii.): Surely there came over the man a time" (Surah lxxvii) and he used to recite in Jumu'ah prayer Surahs al-Jumu'a and al-Munafiqin.

(Sahih Muslim, Hadith Number 879)

وَأخرج ابْن حباي وَالْبَيْهَقِيّ فِي سنَنه عَن جَابر بن سَمُرَة قَالَ: كَانَ رَسُول الله صلى الله عَلَيْهِ وَسلم يقْرَأ فِي صَلَاة الْمغرب لَيْلَة الْجُمُعَة {قل يَا أَيهَا الْكَافِرُونَ} و {قل هُوَ الله أحد} وَكَانَ يقْرَأ فِي صَلَاة الْعشَاء الْأَخِيرَة لَيْلَة الْجُمُعَة سُورَة الْجُمُعَة وَالْمُنَافِقِينَ

Jabir ibn Samurah reported that Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) used to read Surah al-Jumuah and Surah al-Munafiqoon in Salutul Isha at the latter part of the night. (Narrated from Ibn Hibban and Bayhaqi)

(Durr al-Manthur Fi tafseer Bil-Ma’thoor, Imam Suyuti, Surah Al-Jumuah)

Regardless of the virtues of reciting this surah, a lot can be learned just by reflecting on the meaning of the surah and lessons contained within it.

Allah (swt) encourages us to contemplate on the Quran, and knowing that the Prophet (pbuh) regularly recited this surah in the Jumuah salah should motivate us to want to learn more about the lessons contained in this surah.

أَفَلَا يَتَدَبَّرُونَ الْقُرْآنَ أَمْ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبٍ أَقْفَالُهَا
 

“Then do they not reflect upon the Qur'an, or are there locks upon [their] hearts?” (47:24) 

Only Allah  Knows Best

Answered by Alimah Nasima Umm Hamza

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham