Recommended Rites of Friday

Text and Translation

Too many are the recommended rites on Fridays; yet, we will briefly mention the following:

First: In the first unit of the dawn (fajr) Prayer, it is recommended to recite [Surah al-Jumu’ah](A66) (No. 62) and, in the second unit, [Surah al-Tawheed](A116) (No. 112).

Second: Before opening the mouth with any word, it is recommended to say the following supplicatory prayer after the dawn (fajr) Prayer so that all sins committed throughout the week will be forgiven:

اَللّٰهُمَّ مَا قُلْتُ فِيْ جُمُعَتِيْ هٰذِهٖ مِنْ قَوْلٍ

ALLAAHUMMA MAA QULTO FEE JOMO-A’TEE HAAZEHI MIN QAWLIN

O Allah, whatever word I speak in this Friday of mine,

اَوْ حَلَفْتُ فِيْهَا مِنْ حَلْفٍ

AW HALAFTO FEEHAA MIN HALFIN

or whatever oath I take,

اَوْ نَذَرْتُ فِيْهَا مِنْ نَذْرٍ

AW NAZARTO FEEHAA MIN NAZRIN

or whatever vow I make,

فَمَشِيَّتُكَ بَيْنَ يَدَيْ ذٰلِكَ كُلِّهٖ

FA-MASHIYYATOKA BAYNA YADAY ZAALEKA KULLEHI

Your will precedes all of that;

فَمَا شِئْتَ مِنْهُ اَنْ يَّكُوْنَ كَانَ

FAMAA SHEA-TA MINHO ANY YAKOONA KAANA

whatever You will to be shall be,

وَمَا لَمْ تَشَأْ مِنْهُ لَمْ يَكُنِ

WA MAA LAM TASHAA MINHO LAM YAKONIL

and whatever You do not will shall not be.

اللّٰهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِيْ وَتَجَاوَزْ عَنِّيْ

LAAHUMMAGH FIR LEE WA TAJAAWAZ A’NNEE

O Allah, forgive me and overlook my faults.

اَللّٰهُمَّ مَنْ صَلَّيْتَ عَلَيْهِ فَصَلَوَاتِىْ عَلَيْهِ

ALLAAHUMMA MAN SALLAYTA A’LAYHE FA-SALAWAATEE A’LAYHE

O Allah, whomever You bless, may my blessings be upon him,

وَمَنْ لَعَنْتَ فَلَعْنَتِيْ عَلَيْهِ.

WA MAN LA-A’NTA FA-LA’NATEE A’LAYHE.

and whomever You curse, may my curse be upon him.

This act should be done once a month at least.

It has been also narrated that one who, after the accomplishment of the dawn (fajr) Prayer on Fridays, does devotional acts and says supplications and invocations until sunrise will be raised seventy ranks to the Supreme Paradise.

Shaykh al-Tusi has recorded that it is highly recommended to say the following supplicatory prayer after the dawn (fajr) Prayer on Fridays:

اَللّٰهُمَّ اِنِّي تَعَمَّدْتُ اِلَيْكَ بِحَاجَتِىْ

ALLAAHUMMA INNEE TA-A’MMADTO ELAYKA BE-HAAJATEE

O Allah, I have directed myself toward You with my need,

وَاَنْزَلْتُ اِلَيْكَ الْيَوْمَ فَقْرِيْ

WA ANZALTO ELAYKAL YAWMA FAQREE

and today I have brought before You my poverty,

وَفَاقَتِيْ وَمَسْكَنَتِيْ

WA FAAQATEE WA MASKANATEE

my want, and my destitution.

فَاَنَا لِمَغْفِرَتِكَ اَرْجٰى مِنِّىْ لِعَمَلِيْ

FA-ANAA LE-MAGHFERATEKA ARJAA MINNEE LE-A’MALEE

I have more hope in Your forgiveness than I have in my own deeds,

وَلِمَغْفِرَتُكَ وَرَحْمَتُكَ اَوْسَعُ مِنْ ذُنُوْبِيْ

WA LE-MAGHFERATOKA WA RAHMATOKA AWSA-O’ MIN ZONOOBEE

for Your forgiveness and Your mercy are more vast than my sins.

فَتَوَلَّ قَضَاۤءَ كُلِّ حَاجَةٍ لِيْ بِقُدْرَتِكَ عَلَيْهَا

FATAWALLA QAZAAA-A KULLE HAAJATIN LEE BE-QUDRATEKA A’LAYHAA

So, take charge of fulfilling every need of mine through Your power over it,

وَتَيْسِيْرِ ذٰلِكَ عَلَيْكَ وَلِفَقْرِيْ اِلَيْكَ

WA TAYSEERE ZAALEKA A’LAYKA WA LE-FAQREE ELAYKA

for that is easy for You and because of my poverty toward You.

فَاِنِّي لَمْ اُصِبْ خَيْرًا قَطُّ اِلَّا مِنْكَ

FA-INNEE LAM OSIB KHAYRAN QATTO ILLAA MINKA

Indeed, I have never attained any good except from You,

وَلَمْ يَصْرِفْ عَنِّيْ سُوۤءًا قَطُّ اَحَدٌ سِوَاكَ

WA LAM YASRIF A’NNEE SOOO-AN QATTO AHADUN SEWAAKA

and no one has ever averted any evil from me except You.

وَلَسْتُ اَرْجُوۤ لِاٰخِرَتِي وَدُنْيَايَ

WA LASTU ARJOO LE-AAKHERATEE WA DUNYAAYA

I do not place my hope for my hereafter, my worldly life,

وَلَا لِيَوْمِ فَقْرِيْ يَوْمَ يُفْرِدُنِيْ النَّاسُ فِيْ حُفْرَتِيْ

WA LAA LE-YAWME FAQREE YAWMA YUFERODONIN NAASO FEE HUFRATEE

or for the day of my poverty—the day when people leave me alone in my grave

وَاُفْضِيْ اِلَيْكَ بِذَنْبِيْ سِوَاكَ.

WA UFZEE ELAYKA BE-ZANBEE SEWAAKA.

and I come before You with my sins—in anyone other than You.

Third: It has been narrated that one who says the following invocation after the Zohr and Fajr Prayers on Fridays, as well as other days, will catch Imam al-Mahdi(a.s.) before he dies:

اَللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلٰى مُحَمَّدٍ وَاٰلِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَجِّلْ فَرَجَهُمْ

ALLAAHUMMA SALLE A’LAA MOHAMMADIN WA AALE MOHAMMADIN WA A’JJIL FARA-JAHUM.

O Allah, bless Mohammad and the family of Mohammad and hasten their relief.

In addition, it has been narrated that one who repeats the aforesaid invocation one hundred times will have sixty of his requests granted for him - thirty in this worldly life and thirty on the Resurrection Day.

Fourth: It is recommended to recite [Surah al-Rahman](A59) (No. 55) after the Fajr Prayer on Fridays and to say, “None of Your favors do I deny,” wherever the verses, “Then which of the favors of your Lord will ye deny?” are recited.

Fifth: Shaykh al-Tusi has recorded that it is highly recommended to recite [Surah al-Tawheed](A116), to invoke Almighty Allah’s blessings upon Mohammad and his Household, and to pray Him for forgiveness each one hundred times after the Fajr Prayer on Fridays. It is also highly recommended to recite Surahs al-Nisa’ (No. 4), Hud (No. 11), al-Kahf (No. 18), al-Saaffaat (No. 37), and al-Rahman (No. 55) during that time.

Sixth: It is recommended to recite [Surah al-Ahqaaf](A50) (No. 46) and [Surah al-Momenoon](A27) (No. 23).

Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) is reported as saying that anyone who recites [Surah al-Ahqaf](A50) at Friday nights or on Fridays will not be inflicted by dismays in his worldly life and will be saved from the horrors on the Resurrection Day. The Imam (a.s.) is also reported as saying that anyone who recites [Surah al-Momenun](A27) regularly each Friday will come upon a happy end and will be granted an abode in the Supreme Paradise with the Prophets and Messengers of Almighty Allah.

Seventh: It is recommended to repeat [Surah al-Kaferun](A113) (No. 109) ten times before sunrise and then pray Almighty Allah so that all prayers will be answered.

It has been narrated that Imam Ali ibn al-Husayn Zayn al-Aabedeen (a.s.) used to repeat reciting Ayah al-Kursi (verse No. 255 of [Surah al-Baqarah](A6) No. 2) from early morning up to midday (zohr) on Fridays. When he accomplished the obligatory prayers, he would recite [Surah al-Qadr](A101) (No. 97) frequently.

It is worth mentioning that to recite Ayah al-Kursi in the form of revelation on Fridays achieves a great reward.

Eighth: It is highly recommended to bathe oneself. In fact, this is one of the most confirmed rituals of Fridays. The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) is reported to have instructed Imam Ali (a.s.) by saying, “O Ali; wash yourself every Friday even if you have to purchase water with your Daily provisions and have nothing to eat. Verily, no voluntary act is better than this.”

Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) is also reported to have said: Whoever washes himself on Fridays and, meanwhile, says the following supplicatory prayer will be pure all through that week:

اَشْهَدُ اَنْ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهٗ لَا شَرِيْكَ لَهٗ

ASH-HADO AN LAA ELAAHA ELLAL LAAHO WAHDAHU LAA SHAREEKA LAHU

I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, alone without partner,

وَاَشْهَدُ اَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهٗ وَرَسُوْلُهٗ

WA ASH-HADO ANNA MOHAMMADAN A’BDOHU WA RASOOLOHU

and I bear witness that Mohammad is His servant and His Messenger.

اَللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلٰى مُحَمَّدٍ وَّاٰلِ مُحَمَّدٍ

ALLAAHUMMA SALLE A’LAA MOHAMMADIN WA AALE MOHAMMADIN

O Allah, bless Mohammad and the family of Mohammad,

وَاجْعَلْنِيْ مِنَ التَّوَّابِيْنَ

WAJ A’LNEE MENAT TAWWAABEENA

and make me among those who constantly repent,

وَاجْعَلْنِيْ مِنَ الْمُتَطَهِّرِيْنَ

WAJ A’LNEE MENAL MOTATAH-HEREENA.

and make me among those who purify themselves.

“Pure” in the aforesaid Hadith stands for purification from sins or acceptance of the deeds, which is thus moral purification.

In any case, it is important not to neglect bathing oneself on Fridays when possible. The recommended time of this bathing is between sunrise and midday (zohr). In addition, the nearer to midday (zohr) the better.

Ninth: It is recommended to dye with hibiscus, for it saves from leprosy and insanity.

Tenth: It is also recommended to cut the mustache neatly and trim the nails so as not to miss the great merits of doing these acts. As has been mentioned in narrations, these acts bring about expansion in sustenance, cancellation of sins up to the next Friday, and security from insanity and leprosy. On doing that, it is recommended to say the following litany:

بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ وَبِاللّٰهِ وَعَلٰى سُنَّةِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَاٰلِ مُحَمَّدٍ

BISMIL LAAHE WA BILLAAHE WA A’LAA SUNNATE MOHAMMADIN WA AALE MOHAMMADIN

In the name of Allah and by Allah, and upon the way (Sunnah) of Mohammad and the family of Mohammad.

It is also recommended, on cutting the nails, to start with the little finger of the left hand and end with that of the right hand. The same thing is applicable to the nails of the feet. Then, the cut nails should be buried.

Eleventh: It is recommended to apply perfume and put on the best of one’s clothes.

Twelfth: It is recommended to give alms, for the rewards are doubled up on Fridays and at Friday nights, as is confirmed by narrations, as one thousand folds as giving alms on other days.

Thirteenth: It is recommended to arrange fruits and wholesome meals to the family members so that Fridays will be their days of pleasure.

Fourteenth: It is recommended to eat pomegranate before breakfast and to eat seven leaves of endive before midday (zohr). In this connection, Imam Musa al-Kazim (a.s.) is reported to have said, “The heart of him who eats a pomegranate before breakfast on Fridays will be enlightened for forty days. To eat two pomegranates increases the period of enlightenment to eighty days, and so on. It also dismisses the evil suggestions. Of course, to get rid of Satan’s suggestions is to stop acting disobediently to Almighty Allah; and to stop acting disobediently to Him allows entrance to Paradise.”

In al-Misbah, the author has said that to eat pomegranates on Fridays and at Friday nights achieves great merits.

Fifteenth: It is recommended to dedicate Fridays to learning the religious laws and instructions, not to wandering in others’ gardens, accompanying the vicious and the licentious, speaking about the others’ defects, laughing and guffawing, reciting poetry, and discussing useless subjects as well as similar matters. Disadvantages arisen from such matters are too many to be mentioned.

Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq (a.s.) is reported as saying, “Woe to a Muslim who does not dedicate Fridays to learning the affairs of his religion.”

The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) is also reported to have said, “If you, on Fridays, see old men telling the tales of infidelity and of the pre-Islamic era, you should then make their heads the targets of stones.”

Sixteenth: It is recommended to repeat one thousand times at least the invocation of blessings upon the Holy Prophet and his Household. Imam Muhammad al-Baqir (a.s.) is reported to have said, “For me, no act of worship is more favorable than invoking blessings upon the Prophet and his immaculate Household - may Allah bless them all - on Fridays.”

If there is not enough time to repeat this invocation one thousand times, it must be repeated one hundred times at least so that faces will be brightened on the Judgement Day.

It has been also narrated that all sins will be totally forgiven for those who repeat invocations of blessings upon the Holy Prophet and his Household one hundred times, repeat the following supplicatory prayer one hundred times, and recite [Surah al-Tawheed](A116) (No. 112) one hundred times on Fridays:

اَستَغفِرُاللهَ رَبِّی وَاَتُوْبُ اِلَیْهِ

ASTAGHFERUL LAAHA RABBEE WA ATOOBO ELAYHE

I seek forgiveness from Allah, my Lord, and I turn to Him in repentance.

It has been also narrated that to invoke blessings upon the Holy Prophet and his household is equal (in reward) to seventy times of going on Hajj.

Seventeenth: It is recommended to say the ritual Ziyarahs of the Holy Prophet and Imams, peace be upon them all. A section of this book is dedicated to the etiquettes and methods of Ziyarahs.

Eighteenth: It is recommended to visit the tombs of one’s relatives in general and parents in particular. Imam al-Baqir (a.s.) is reported as saying, “Visit the graves of your relatives on Fridays, for they know about those who visit their graves and will be happy for that.”

Nineteenth: It is recommended to say [Nudbah Supplication](E34), which is one of the rites to be done on the Four Feast Days (i.e. Eid al-Fitr - the first of Shawwal, Eid al-Azha - the tenth of Zilhajj, Eid al-Ghadeer - the eighteenth of Zilhajj, and Fridays).