The Friday prayer

O you who believe! When the call is made for prayer on Friday, hasten to the remembrance of Allah and leave off trade.sura al-Jumu'a 9

And of those who neglect it, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "They should stop neglecting the Fridays, or Allah will seal their hearts and they will be among the heedless" (Muslim 853).

For whom is it obligatory?

For every male Muslim, past puberty, of sound mind and resident. Not obliged: women (they may attend), children, the sick, the traveller — who instead pray dhuhr as four rak'as. Buying, selling and work become unlawful at the call until the end of the prayer.

Conditions of validity

• It must be held within dhuhr's time (consensus).
• It must be preceded by two speeches (khutbas) by the imam, however brief.
• It consists of two rak'as recited aloud, after the khutba.
• It must be accessible to a group (the threshold varies among the schools).
• It is not multiplied in one town without need (a rule applied flexibly today by scholars).

The Friday recommendations

• Ghusl, the siwak, one's best clothes, perfume (for men).
• Coming early: "Whoever washes on Friday... then comes at the first hour has the reward of a camel" (al-Bukhari 881).
• Abundant prayers upon the Prophet and reciting sura al-Kahf.
• Seeking the hour of answered prayer: "on Friday there is an hour when a Muslim asks Allah for nothing but He grants it" (al-Bukhari 935).

One who joins a prayer already begun prays two quick rak'as before sitting (Muslim 874). One who missed the Friday prays dhuhr as four rak'as.