Jumu'ah is the Arabic term for the Friday congregational prayer. It takes the place of the Dhuhr prayer for those who attend, such that they no longer have to pray dhuhr, and pray the jumu'ah prayer instead.
The command to perform the jumu'ah prayer comes from Allah in the Qur'an:
"O you who have believed, when the prayer is announced on the day of Jumu'ah [Friday], then proceed to the remembrance of Allah and leave trade. That is better for you, if you only knew." [The Qur'an: al-Jumu'ah 62:9]
The prayer can be attended by any Muslim, male or female (subject to facilities being available at the local mosque), but it is only an obligation for Muslim men who are resident in their town or city. Travellers, those who live in isolated rural areas (such as those who live in the desert or the countryside, away from towns and cities), and Muslim women are not required to attend.
Tāriq ibn Shihāb (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
"Jumu'ah is a duty that is required of every Muslim in congregation, except four: a slave, a woman, a child or one who is sick." [Abū Dāwood: 1067]
The jumu'ah consists of two parts:
If a person misses the jumu'ah for whatever reason, they must prayer dhuhr instead, as the shortened jumu'ah prayer is only acceptable when performed along with the jumu'ah congregation.
There are many virtues, etiquettes and benefits of jumu'ah, some of which are mentioned below:
The Messenger of Allah (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon himmay the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
"The best day the sun rises over is Friday; on it Allah created Adam. On it, he was made to enter Paradise, on it he was expelled from it, and the Last Hour will take place on no other day than Friday.” [an-Nasā'ī: 1373]
The Prophet (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
"Any Muslim who dies during the day or night of Friday will be protected by Allah from the trial of the grave." [at-Tirmidhī: 1074]
'Abdullāh ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
"When one of you intends to come for the Friday prayer, he should take a bath." [al-Bukhārī: 877, Muslim: 844]
There are no optional sunnah prayers to be performed before Jumu'ah; however, when you enter the mosque you should pray two rak'ah before sitting down as a greeting to the mosque, this is mentioned in the following narration of Abū Qatādah al-Aslamī that Allah's Messenger (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
"If anyone of you enters a mosque, he should pray two rak'ah before sitting." [al-Bukhārī: 444]
After Jumu’ah, there is a regular Sunnah prayer, the minimum of which is two rak’ah, and the maximum is four. This is because the Prophet (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
"Whoever among you prays after Jumu’ah, let him pray four (rak'ah)." [Muslim: 881]
Ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) described how the Prophet (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) performed the voluntary prayers, he said:
"He would not perform any prayer in the mosque after the Friday prayer, until he had returned to his house. He would then perform two rak'ah there." [Muslim: 882]
There are many benefits that the day of Jumu'ah contains, some of which are mentioned below:
Your supplications are answered
The Prophet Muhammad (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon himmay the peace and blessings of Allah be upon himmay the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
"On (the day of) Jumu'ah, there is an hour during which Allah gives to a Muslim servant standing in prayer whatever he asks for." [al-Bukhārī: 935]
Jaabir ibn 'Abdullaah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet Muhammad (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
“Friday is comprised of twelve hours. There is one in which a Muslim who asks Allah for something will have it granted to him. Seek it in the last hour after 'Aṣr.” [Abū Dāwood: 1048, an-Nasā'ī: 1389]
Your sins are forgiven
Abū Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
"The five daily prayers, and from one Jumu’ah to the next, are an expiation for whatever sins come in between, so long as one does not commit any major sins." [Muslim: 233]
It was narrated from Abū Hurayrah that the Prophet (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
"Whoever does ghusl then comes to Jumu’ah, and prays as much as Allah decrees for him, then listens attentively until the khutbah is over, then prays with [the imām], will be forgiven for (his sins) between that and the next Jumu’ah, and three days extra." [Muslim: 857]
You attain an immense reward
Abū Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
"Whoever does ghusl on Friday, like the ghusl [he would do] after intercourse, then goes to the prayer in the first hour (i.e., the earliest possible time), it is as if he sacrificed a camel. Whoever goes in the second hour, it is as if he sacrificed a cow; whoever goes in the third hour, it is as if he sacrificed a horned ram; whoever goes in the fourth hour, it is as if he sacrificed a hen; and whoever goes in the fifth hour it is as if he offered an egg. When the imām comes out, the angels come to listen to the khutbah." [al-Bukhārī: ???; Muslim: 850]
It was narrated from Aws ibn Aws al-Thaqafī that the Messenger of Allah (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
"Whoever does ghusl on Friday, and causes [his wife to do] ghusl, and sets out and is keen to get there early, and comes close to the imam and listens and keeps quiet, for every step he takes he will have the reward of fasting and praying qiyām for one year.” [at-Tirmidhī: 496]
Jābir ibn 'Abdullāh (may Allah be plesed with him) said that the Messenger of Allah (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
"Whoever abandons Friday (prayer) three times, for no necessary reason, Allah will place a seal over his heart." [Ibn Mājah: 1125]