The Scholars & Rulers (Ulama Wal Umarah)

Introduction

إِنَّمَايَخْشَىاللَّهَمِنْعِبَادِهِالْعُلَمَاءُ…
Those who fear Allah are the ones who have knowledge (i.e. Ulemah)… [Q 35:28]

One of the compulsory types of knowledge upon the Muslims is to respect the Scholars of Islam (Al-Ikraam Al-Ulemah). One of the main references that is cited to understand the great position of an Alim (Scholar) has in Islam is the saying of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (saw) who said, “The Scholars are the inheritors of the Prophets.” [Abu Dawud and Bukhari]. This and other authentic statements tell us clearly that the Ulemah do not inherit prophet hood, they are not infallible, nor can they perform miracles and they do not receive any revelation from the Angel Gibrael (as). Therefore these scholars inherit a series of attributes and characteristics that were common amongst the Messengers of Allah (swt) such as being steadfast on the truth, being at the forefront of the struggles of their times, being accessible to the people, enjoining righteousness and forbidding vice, inviting the people (nations) to Tawheed, educating, culturing and teaching society. They never compromised in their message nor did they ally themselves with any form of tyranny, despot or oppressive system. Rather they sacrificed their lives to promote and make the word of Allah (swt) supreme. A small but much needed article (based upon authentic proofs and books like Warning from The Bad Scholar) has been written to determine the relationship between the Ulemah and the legitimate Umarah (rulers i.e. Caliph).

Severe Warnings

Ibn Abbas (ra) reported that the Prophet (saw) said, “Whoever lives in the desert becomes rough (harsh), whoso follows the game (hunt) becomes careless, and whoso comes to the ruler falls into Fitna.” [Abu Dawood and Tirmidhi]

Abu Hurairah (ra) reported that Muhammad (saw) said, “Whenever a person becomes closer to a ruler he will be further away from Allah.” [Ahmad]

Imam Rafi recorded that Abu Hurairah (ra) reported that Muhammad (saw) said, “One of the most hated creation to Allah is the scholar who keeps visiting the government and the people who work in the streets (i.e. smaller departments).”

Abu Hurairah (ra) reported that Muhammad (saw) said, “The most hated Qarees (Quran Reciters) to Allah are those who visit the rulers.” [Ibn Majah] Abu Hurairah (ra) reported that Muhammad (saw) said, “If you see a scholar mixing with a ruler regularly be aware that this man is a thief.” [Daylami Musnad Firdows]

The question that needs to be entertained is what do we say to those scholars who work for the Tagooth regimes of today, get paid by them and sleep in their palaces. Muhammad (saw) said, “There will be a people from my Ummah who will study the Deen deeply (Quran etc.) and will say lets go and visit the ruler we may get some of the worldly benefit (by visiting them) and we will never make them spoil our Deen (i.e. we wont compromise). They will never be like this, it is like saying, ‘I want to work (cultivate) where there are thorns and the thorns will never prick him’. They will never take anything closer to them except the sins.”

Thawbaan (the servant of Muhammad (saw)) narrated that he said, “Oh Messenger of Allah am I from the family of your household (Ahlul Bayt), Oh Messenger of Allah am I from the family of your household.” Muhammad (saw) never answered him. Thawbaan then said, “Am I one of the sons of your family?” Muhammad (saw) said, “Yes unless you spend your time at the gate of the ruler or you go to the ruler regularly asking from him (I need this or I need that etc.).” [Tabarani]

Imam Mundhiri commented on this particular Hadith and said the gate of the Sunnah here is the gate of the Caliph. Imam Abu Hanifah (rh) said, “If you see a scholar visit the Caliph regularly accuse him in his Deen” and he himself refused to work as a judge for the Caliph of his era, because of this he was punished. This is teaching us that the onus is on the ruler to come and see the scholar and not that the scholar should go running after the ruler. It is recorded on the authority of Abdullah ibn Umar (ra) who said Muhammad (saw) said, “There will be rulers after me whoever believes in their lies and helps them in their injustice (oppression) and visits them regularly he is not one of me and I am not one of them (i.e. he has nothing to do with me and I have nothing to do with him) and he will never come to my fountain on the day of judgement. And the one who never helped them in their own injustice and doesn’t go to their doors he is one of me and I am one of them and he will come to my fountain on the day of judgement.” [Imam Shirazi and Tirmidhi]

Imam Ali (ra) reported that Muhammad (saw) said, “The Fuqa’hah (Islamic Juristic Scholars) are the trustees of the Messengers as long as they did not enter or indulge in the Dunyah (materialistic matters) or follow the ruler if they do so be careful from them.” [Imam Askari]

There is an Islamic principle that the Ulemah need to be free to serve the Deen by answering questions studying and not be preoccupied in an occupation. Umar (ra) said, “Prevent your scholars or satisfy your scholars needs (by providing for them) so that they do not seek a job which will preoccupy them from studying the Deen deeply.” Mu’adh ibn Jabal (ra) reported that Muhammad (saw) said to him, “Whenever a scholar goes to a ruler by his own free will he will be his partner in any form of injustice he did and he will be punished because of that with him in hellfire.” [Hakim and Daylami]

Mu’adh ibn Jabal (ra) reported that Muhammad (saw) said, “Whoever recited the Quran and studied deeply and became a Faqeeh in the Deen and he goes to the door/gate of the ruler in order to get closer to him, to compromise himself on what he sees of the ruler (i.e. doesn’t speak out against his evil) all this to seek the Duniyah (e.g. money, medicine, property etc.) which is in the hands of the rulers either for himself or the people after him he will follow him step by step in hellfire.” [Imam Suyuti]

Muhammad (saw) said, “Towards the end of time (i.e. during the last days) there will be scholars who ask or encourage people to work for the hereafter but they never acted upon this themselves. They will also motivate people to desert the Duniyah and yet they themselves never deserted it and they will forbid people to go to the rulers so not to occupy themselves with worldly affairs like seeking businesses however the same people will visit the rulers (double standards).”

Hassan ibn Ali (ra) narrated that Muhammad (saw) said, “This Ummah (global Muslim community) will always be blessed under the hand of Almighty Allah and His shade unless its Qarees (Scholars) compromise with the rulers.” [Abu Amradaani in his Kitab-ul-Fitan]

Once one Sahabi (companion) came to the Prophet (saw) and touched his beard and said, “Oh Messenger of Allah what makes you sad?” Muhammad (saw) replied, “All of us belong to Allah and all of us will be returned to Allah. Gibrael (as) came and told me about a great Fitnah (trial).” The companion asked, “Where is this Fitnah going to come from?” Muhammad (saw) replied, “From the anger of the good (beautiful) orators of the Quran and the rulers. The rulers will prevent people from getting their rights and the orators will follow the desires of the rulers.” Muhammad (saw) said, “Oh Gibrael what will the people from my Ummah who want to save themselves (from this Fitnah) need to do to?” Gibrael (as) responded by saying, “To keep away from those rulers and keep firm. If they are given what they have a right to take it but if they are not given their due rights then leave it (i.e. don’t chase them for it).”

Abdullah ibn Harith (ra) narrated that the Muhammad (saw) said, “There will be after me rulers who will have a Fitan (big test) outside their doors, it will be like the big herd of camels, and whenever they give anything to anybody they will take an equivalent amount from his Deen.” [Hakim]

Abdullah ibn Umar (ra) narrated that the Muhammad (saw) said, “Be careful from the doors of the rulers and all its departments (smaller offices). The people closest to the doors of the rulers and its government departments are the furthest away from Allah (swt). And the one who favours the rulers over the Deen of Allah in any matter by justifying him and even if he is silent (i.e. consenting to the evil) Allah will make Fitnah in his heart (both) inner and outer and will make him have no Wara’ (i.e. no fear of Allah) and Allah will leave him confused.” [Daylami]

Ibn Abbas (ra) narrated that Muhammad (saw) said, “There will be a people after me from my Ummah who will recite the Quran, study the Deen, Shaytan will come to them and say if you go to the rulers they will make sum of your Duniyah better for you however do not let them pollute your Deen.” Ubaid ibn Umayr (ra) narrated that Muhammad (saw) said, “Whenever a person comes closer to the rulers (governors, Caliph etc.) he will be far from Allah.” This Hadith is stating that you will not be eligible for the Mercy of Allah (swt).

Abu Darda (ra) narrated that Muhammad (saw) said, “Whoever goes to an unjust ruler by his own free will, whether just to go and see him or to have a good relationship with him or to give Salam to him; then the distance he will enter (walk) into the hellfire will be based upon the amount of steps he took to go to see that ruler including the steps that he took to take him back home. Whoever is inclined to the rulers desires or supports him on what he says then whenever Allah’s curse is on that ruler he will get the equivalent amount (of curse). And whenever that ruler is punished in hellfire for anything that so called scholar will get the same punishment.” Abdullah ibn Umar (ra) narrated that Muhammad (saw) said, “Whoever recites the Quran and studies the Deen deeply and goes to the ruler seeking worldly benefit Allah will seal his heart and punish him everyday.”

A man from the tribe called Salim said, “Oh Messenger of Allah advise me.” Muhammad (saw) said, “Be careful from the doors of the rulers.” [Bayhaqi]

Imam Ali (ra) narrated that Muhammad (saw) said, “Be careful from the companionship of the rulers this (companionship) is what will make your Deen disappear (erode away) and be careful from helping him you will never be able realise the consequences and you will never be praised after that.” [Daylami]

Ibn Abbas (ra) narrated that Muhammad (saw) said, “There will be rulers you will know who will condemn you and you will command them to enjoin the good and forbid the evil and those who are silent about them or those who start to incline towards them…” [Tabarani]

Ibn Abi Dharr (ra) narrated that Muhammad (saw) said, “The best of those from my Ummah are those who do not become close to the gates of the rulers.”

All these narrations (there are many other similar narrations) are warning us from rulers who are Muslims who implement the Shari’ah, are Caliphs and Ameers thus being classed as legitimate rulers. Today we are witnessing the Presidents, Prime Ministers, Kings, Queens, Colonels, Chiefs and Sultans who are far away from implementing the Shari’ah. Who are Faasiqs, Zaalims and Kaafirs so the ruling related to these evil rulers is that they must never be obeyed and completely eradicated and replaced.

Qowl us Sahabah

The sayings of the Sahaba are a binding proof (Hujjah) for all of us and we are not allowed to differ with people who have attained citizenship of Paradise. Abdullah ibn Masud (ra) said, “There will be on the doors of the rulers (doors of the state) and its departments a lot of Fitnah. You will never receive anything from their authority except that they will take away something similar from your Deen.” [Bayhaqi]

Abdullah ibn Masud (ra) said, “Whoever wants to protect, respect, honour his Deen he should not go and accompany rulers those whom he will have seclusion with, like the foreign woman (i.e. khalwah (one to one)), those he will compromise with and who follow Hawa (desires).” [Saheeh Sahabi]

Abdullah ibn Masud (ra) said, “A man will enter the ruler (e.g. sit, eat, talk, give him greetings, take a photo with him etc.) with his Deen and he will walk away without his Deen.” [Bukhari’s Tareekh & Saheeh Sahabi]

Once Salamah asked his father to tell him what Muhammad (saw) advised him of and he said, “Look my son if you visit the ruler and you get anything your people will get from you (i.e. its equivalent). Oh my son I fear to sit with them (rulers) in a congregation (gathering) that will take me to hellfire.” Abdullah ibn Masud (ra) said, “Whoever seeks knowledge for four reasons will go to hellfire to challenge the Ulemah and to compromise with the corrupted rulers/people (i.e. find Fatwas for them)…” [Darimi and Saheeh Sahabi]

Abdullah ibn Masud (ra) said, “Knowledge and the people will lead in their own times but they study the Deen for the sake of the people of the Duniyah (i.e. get salaries, positions etc.)” [Ibn Majah and Saheeh Sahabi] Hudaifah (ra) said, “Be careful from any position of Fitn.” Someone asked, “Where is all the Fitn?” Hudaifah (ra) replied, “On the door of the Amir (i.e. ruler), a man will go to the Amir and believe all of his lies and he will say about him what he is not.” [Ibn Abi Sheebah and Saheeh Sahabi]

Imam Hassan ibn Ali (ra) was passing by and saw some of the best Qarees outside the gates of the ruler (Caliph) and he dispraised them.

The Salaf and the Scholar

Hassan Al-Basri found out that some people (which included some scholars) were going to the house of Amru ibn Humayrah. He said, “Oh Qarees did he ask you for advice?” They replied, “No, but maybe we can get some worldly benefit by going there.” Hassan said, “What about if you stay back at home it will be better for you and if he needs you he will come to you. Have Zuhd and the Duniyah will come to you. You violate the sanctity of the scholars (by going there). May Allah violate your sanctity.” Hassan Al-Basri started to supplicate against them. Hassan Al-Basri said, “Do not sit with innovators nor go to the rulers they will confuse (pollute) your Deen.”

Imam Bukhari

It has been widely said that the most authentic book after the Quran is the Sahih of Imam Bukhari. Let us read about how this Imam responded to the ruler of his time. Imam ibnul Munir narrates that one of the rulers of Bukhara said to Imam Bukhari bring to me the books of Jami and Tareekh so I can hear from you your knowledge (i.e. come and teach me the collections of Hadeeth). Imam Bukhari said to the envoy of the ruler, “Tell him I will never humiliate the knowledge or the Deen. I would never go to the door of the Sultan (ruler) and if you are needy for that knowledge then know that nothing will supercede that knowledge. You come to me, you come to the Masjid (mosque), you come to my home (if you want to learn).”

Solution

All the rulers in the Muslim world are Murtads (apostates) of the highest order, they have declared war on Allah (swt) and the Sunnah of Muhammad (saw) from many fronts. They openly declare their wholesale Kufr and do not hesitate to ally with the enemies of Islam to kill and torture Muslims all over the world. However we do have some deviant sects and scholars which promote the concept of tolerating these hypocritical rulers and say we cannot rise against them, we must advise them, we must obey them even if they lash us. These proofs that they use to justify their stance are correct proofs but are being misapplied. The Naseeha (advice) is given to a ruler who follows the laws of Allah (swt) and not one who submits to the whims of the United Nations. You obey the ruler who punishes you as long as he doesn’t disobey the commands of Allah (swt) and not the ruler who asks you to ally with America to bomb Muslims in Iraq. You submit to the ruler who protects the Muslims all over the world and not the ruler who prisons you and sends you to camp x-ray. You follow the commands of the ruler who sends the Muslim armies to liberate one Muslimah and not the ruler who wines and dines whilst our sisters are being raped and abused. These Pharoahs, Nimrods and Hammans were never accepted by the prophets of Allah they were told clearly not to follow Shaytan and rule only by what Allah (swt) has revealed.

Unfortunately the so called scholars of today have remained silent about the injustices that are happening in front of their very eyes. The masses have been numbed by this type of socialisation and commonly say we are not very literate but this scholar knows a lot more than us and he doesn’t call the ruler an apostate and he says they give us so much money, privileges, freedom etc. to talk about Islam so how can you attack them. Indeed the Salaf and the Khalaf used to remind the people that there are two types of people in the Ummah if they are good then the state of the Ummah will be good and if they are bad then the state of the Ummah will be bad. These two types of people are the scholars and the rulers. At this moment in time both types of people mentioned in the Hadith are bad and both need to be dealt according to the Shariah.

To raise the sword against these current apostate rulers is an obligation that has been prescribed by Islam. It is a duty to fight them and remove them and have them executed for betraying the Deen and its followers.

It has been authentically narrated by Junada bin Abi Umaiya who said, “We entered upon Ubada ibn As-Samit while he was sick. We said, “May Allah make you healthy. Will you tell us a Hadith you heard from the Prophet (saw) and by which Allah may make you benefit?” He said, “The Prophet called us and we gave him the pledge of allegiance for Islam and among the conditions on which he took the pledge from us, was that we were to listen and obey (the orders) both at the time when we were active and at the time when we were tired and at our difficult time and at our ease and to be obedient to the ruler and give him his right even if he did not give us our right and not to fight against him unless we noticed him having open kufr for which we would have a proof with us from Allah.” [Bukhari]

Today every apostate ruler in the Muslim world has committed not one open kufr but many open kufrs. From legalising Khamr (alcohol), permitting Riba (usury), promoting Assabiyyah (nationalism) all the way to accepting the international laws and stopping the Jihad Feesabilillah.

Muhammad (saw) said, “The one who strikes the head (i.e. kills) of the Pharoah of his time will get the reward of Ahlul Badr.” The reward of the Muslims of Badr was so great that Allah (swt) said they could do whatever they wanted to in the rest of their life but it would not upset their scale and position on the day of judgement and in the hereafter. They were guaranteed Jannah.

The dogs and donkeys are the names given by Allah (swt) to the scholars of Batil (falsehood) and these animals will be punished and humiliated by Allah (swt) both in this world and the hereafter. And we sincerely ask the Muslims to reject these artificial scholars for dollars.

As for the scholars of Haq (truth) then we find them far away from the gates of the rulers in fact we find them behind bars, hundreds and thousands of them reside in the prisons because they refused to remain silent and accept the Kufr Suraah, Kufr Buwaah and Istihlaal of these Tawagheeth. We pray that Allah (swt) releases all of our Muslim brothers and sisters from captivity.

Conclusion

Whosoever shows enmity to someone devoted to Me, I shall be at war with him. [Hadith Qudsi]

Spreading the Good News of Ramadaan

Abu Hurairah reported that the Messenger of Allaah (saws) said: “Ramadaan has come to you – a blessed month. Allaah has made it obligatory on you to fast in it. During this month, the gates of heaven are open, the gates of the Hellfire are closed and the evil devils are chained. To Allaah belongs a night in it, which is better than a thousand months. Whosoever is prevented from its good, then he has been deprived.” [1]

The hadeeth is a glad tiding to the righteous servants of Allaah, of the coming of the blessed month of Ramadaan. The Prophet (saws) informed his Companions of its coming and it was not just a simple relaying of news. Rather, his intent was to give them the glad tidings of a magnificent time of the year, so that the righteous people who are quick to do deeds can give it its due estimate. This is because the Prophet (saws) explained in it (the hadeeth) what Allaah has prepared for His servants from the ways towards gaining forgiveness and His contentment – and they are many. So whoever has forgiveness escape him during the month of Ramadaan, then he has been deprived with the utmost deprivation.

From the great favors and bounties that Allaah has bestowed upon His servants is that He has prepared for them meritous occasions so that they may be of profit to those who obey Him and a race for those who rush to compete (for good deeds). These meritous occasions are times for fulfilling hopes by exerting in obedience and uplifting flaws and deficiencies through self-rectification and repentance. There is not a single occasion from these virtuous times, except that Allaah has assigned in it works of obedience, by which one may draw close to Him. And Allaah possesses the most beautiful things as gifts, which He bestows upon whomsoever He wills by His Grace and Mercy.

So the one who achieves true happiness is he who takes advantage of these virtuous months, days and hours and draws closer to His Guardian in them, by doing what is prescribed in them from acts of worship.

Thus perhaps he will be showered with one of the many blessings of those occasions and be helped by it, with an assistance that is enough to save him from the Fire and what it contains, such as its blazing heat. [2]

Being able to reach Ramadaan is itself a magnificent bounty that is bestowed on the one who reaches it and rises to its occasion, by standing in prayer during its night and fasting during its day. In it, he returns to his Protector — from disobeying Him to obeying Him, from neglecting Him to remembering Him, from remaining distant from Him to turning towards Him in submissive repentance.

A Muslim must be conscious of this bounty and acknowledge its magnitude. For indeed, many people are prevented from fasting, either because they die before they reach it, or because they are not capable of observing it or because they oppose and turn away from it. Thus, the one who fasts must give praise to his Lord for this bounty and should welcome this month with joy and delight that a magnificent time of the year out of all the occasions for performing obedience is welcomed. He should exert himself deeply in doing good deeds. And he should invoke Allaah to grant him the ability to fast and stand in night prayer, and that He provide him with seriousness, enthusiasm, strength, and energy in that month. And that He awaken him from heedless oversleeping so that he may take advantage of these virtuous times of good.

It is unfortunate to find that many people do not know the value of this virtuous occasion, nor do they consider it to be sacred. So the month of Ramadaan no longer becomes a significant time for obedience, worship, reciting the Qur’aan, giving in charity and making remembrance of Allaah. Rather, to some people, it becomes a signifcant time to diversify their foods and drinks and to prepare different types of meals before the month begins. Some other people do not know Ramadaan except as a month of sleeplessness and constant recurring gatherings, while sleeping by day. This is to the point that some among them sleep past the time of the obligatory prayers, thus not praying them in congregation or in their proper times. Other people do not know Ramadaan except as a signifcant time for conducting worldly affairs, not as a significant time for conducting affairs for the Hereafter. Thus, they work busily in it, buying and selling, and they stay in the market areas, consequently abandoning the masaajid. And when they do pray with the people, they do so in such a hurried manner. This is because they find their pleasure in the market places. This is the extent that the notions and views (of Ramadaan) have been changed.

Some of the Salaf used to say: “Indeed Allaah, the Most High, has made the month of Ramadaan as a competition for His creatures, in which they may race with one another to His pleasure, by obeying Him. Thus, one group comes first and so they prosper and another group comes last and so they fail.” [3]

Also, the individual does not know if this is perhaps the last Ramadaan he will ever see in his life, if he completes it. How many men, women and children have fasted with us the past year, and yet now they lie buried in the depths of the earth, relying on their good deeds. And they expected to fast many more Ramadaans. Likewise, we too shall all follow their path. Therefore, it is upon the Muslim to rejoice at this magnificent occasion for worship. And he should not renounce it, but instead busy himself with what will benefit him and what will cause its effect to remain. For what else is it, except numbered days, which are fasted in succession and which finish rapidly.

May Allaah make us, as well as you, from among those who are foremost in attaining good deeds.

Footnotes:

1. This hadeeth is reported by Ahmad and An-Nasaa’ee. See Ahmad Shaakir’s checking of the Musnad (no. 7148) and Saheeh at-Targheeb wat-Tarheeb of al-Albaanee (1490) as well as Tamaam-ul-Mannah (395)

2. These are the words of Ibn Rajab in Lataa’if-ul-Ma’aarif: pg. 8

3. Lataa’if-ul-Ma’aarif of Ibn Rajab: page 246

………..

Author:’Abdullaah Ibn Saalih Al-Fawzaan
Source:Ahaadeeth As-Siyaam: Ahkaam wa Adaab (pg. 13-15)
Translator:isma’eel alarcon

✦REVIVE A SUNNAH ⇨ “Do Not Be Trapped in the “IF” Thoughts”✦

Abu Huraira (radiyAllaahu ‘anhu) reported that Allah’s Messenger (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) as saying: A strong believer is better and is more lovable to Allah than a weak believer, and there is good in everyone, (but) cherish that which gives you benefit (in the Hereafter) and seek help from Allah and do not lose heart, and if anything (in the form of trouble) comes to you, don’t say:  IF I had not done that, it would not have happened so and so, but say: Allah did that what He had ordained to do and your” IF” opens the (gate) for the Satan.
[Muslim: Book 33 Hadith 6441]

REVIVE A SUNNAH – “WHOEVER HAS WRONGED HIS BROTHER, ASK FOR HIS PARDON (BEFORE HIS DEATH)”

Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that The Prophet [sallallahu alaihi wasallam] said ► “Whoever has wronged his brother, should ask for his pardon (before his death), as (in the Hereafter) there will be neither a Dinar nor a Dirham. (He should secure pardon in this life) before some of his good deeds are taken & paid to his brother, or, if he has done no good deeds, some of the bad deeds of his brother are taken to be loaded on him (in the Hereafter).” [Bukhari: V8 B76 #541]

What is the merit of Friday over other days ? and Why?

Praise be to Allaah.

Friday has many distinguishing features and virtues that Allaah has bestowed upon this day and not others.

It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah and Hudhayfah (may Allaah be pleased with them) said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Allaah led those who came before us away from Friday. The Jews had Saturday, and the Christians had Sunday. Then Allaah brought us and Allaah guided us to Friday. So there is Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and thus they will follow us on the Day of Resurrection. We are the last of the people of this world but we will be the first on the Day of Resurrection, and we will be dealt with before all others.” Narrated by Muslim, 856.

Al-Nawawi said:

Al-Qaadi said:  The apparent meaning is that it was obligatory for them to venerate Friday but this was not stated clearly; the matter was left to their own reasoning… But they did not manage to work it out and Allaah did not guide them to it. It was enjoined clearly upon this ummah, and was not left to their own reasoning, thus they were blessed with it … It was narrated that Moosa enjoined Friday upon them and told them of its virtues, but they disputed with him and argued that Saturday was better, and it was said to him, ‘Let them be.’ Al-Qaadi said: if there had been a clear command, their arguing with him would not have been valid, rather it would have been said to him that they were going against the command. I say: it may be that that was clearly enjoined upon them but they disputed as to whether it was something they had to adhere to or they could change it to another day; they decided to change it to another day and they erred greatly thereby.

It comes as no surprise that Friday was specifically enjoined upon them and they went against that.

Al-Haafiz said: How can it be otherwise when they are the ones who said “We hear and we disobey”?

It was narrated from Aws ibn Aws that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The best of your days is Friday. On that day Adam (peace be upon him) was created; on that day he died; on that day the Trumpet will be blown and on that day all of creation will swoon. So send a great deal of blessings upon me, for your blessings will be shown to me.” They said, “O Messenger of Allaah, how will our blessings upon you be shown to you when you have turned to dust?” He said, “Allaah has forbidden the earth to consume the bodies of the Prophets, peace be upon them.”

Narrated by Abu Dawood, 1047; classed as saheeh by Ibn al-Qayyim in his comments on Sunan Abi Dawood, 4/273; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood, 925.

It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The best day on which the sun rises is Friday. On it Adam was created, on it he was admitted to Paradise and on it he was expelled therefrom.”

Narrated by Muslim, 1410.

This hadeeth includes some of the reasons why Friday is regarded as special.

Al-Nawawi said:

Al-Qaadi ‘Iyaad said: The apparent meaning is that these virtues do not mean that Friday is regarded as special because Adam was expelled on a Friday and the Hour will begin on a Friday. Rather it is meant to explain what momentous events took place and will take place on this day, so that people will make the most of this day to do righteous deeds, so as to attain the mercy of Allaah and ward off His punishment. This is the view of al-Qaadi. Abu Bakr ibn al-‘Arabi said in his book al-Ahwadhi fi Sharh al-Tirmidhi: All of these events are good and add to the virtue of Friday. The expulsion of Adam from Paradise is the reason why his offspring and the Messengers, the Prophets, the righteous and the awliya’ exist. He was not expelled from it as such, but rather it was for a purpose, then he will return to it. With regard to the Hour beginning on a Friday, the reason is so that the reward may be hastened for the Prophets, believers in truth, awliya’ and others, and their honour and high status may be made manifest. This hadeeth points to the virtues of Friday and its high status in relation to the other days.

It was narrated that Abu Lubaabah ibn ‘Abd al-Mundhir said: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Friday is the master of days, and the greatest of them before Allaah. It is greater before Allaah than the day of al-Adha and the day of al-Fitr. It has five characteristics: on this day Allaah created Adam, on it He sent Adam down to the earth, on it Allaah caused Adam to die, on it there is a time when a person does not ask Allaah for anything but He gives it to him, so long as he does not ask for anything haraam, and on it the Hour will begin. There is no angel who is close to Allaah, no heaven, no earth, no wind, no mountain and no sea that does not fear Friday.” Narrated by Ibn Maajah, 1084; classed as hasan by Shaykh al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’, no. 2279

Al-Sanadi said: “They fear Friday” means they fear the onset of the Hour. This indicates that all created beings are aware of the days and they know that the Day of Resurrection will come on a Friday.
The virtues of this day include the following:

1 – On it is Salaat al-Jumu’ah (Friday prayer), which is the best of prayer.

Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“O you who believe (Muslims)! When the call is proclaimed for the Salaah (prayer) on Friday (Jumu‘ah prayer), come to the remembrance of Allaah [Jumu‘ah religious talk (Khutbah) and Salaah (prayer)] and leave off business (and every other thing). That is better for you if you did but know!” [al-Jumu’ah 62:9]

Muslim (233) narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The five daily prayers and from one Jumu’ah to the next is an expiation for whatever sins come in between them, so long as one does not commit a major sin.”

2 – Praying Fajr in congregation on Fridays is the best prayer that the Muslim can pray during the week.

It was narrated that Ibn ‘Umar said: The Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The best prayer before Allaah is Fajr prayer on Friday in congregation.”

Narrated by al-Bayhaqi in Shu’ab al-Eemaan; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’, 1119

One of the special features of Fajr prayer on Friday is that it is Sunnah to recite Soorat al-Sajdah in the first rak’ah and Soorat al-Insaan in the second.

It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to recite in Fajr prayer in Fridays Alif-Laam-Meem Tanzeel (Soorat al-Sajdah) in the first rak’ah and Hal ata ‘ala’l-insaan heenun min al-dahr lam yakun shay’an madhkooran (Soorat al-Insaan) in the second.

Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 851; Muslim, 880.

Al-Haafiz Ibn Hajar said:

It was said that the reason why these two soorahs are recited is because they mention the creation of Adam and what will happen on the Day of Resurrection, because that will come to pass on a Friday.

3 – Whoever dies during the day or night of Friday, Allaah will protect him from the trial of the grave.

It was narrated that ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Amr said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “There is no Muslim who dies during the day of Friday or the night of Friday but Allaah will protect him from the trial of the grave.”

Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 1074; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Ahkaam al-Janaa’iz, p. 49, 50

These are some of the virtues of Friday. We ask Allaah to help us to please Him.
And Allaah knows best.