Prayer guide
Jumu'ah — The Friday Prayer
The weekly congregational prayer obligatory on every adult, sane, free Muslim man who is not a traveller, replacing Dhuhr on Fridays. Two rak'ahs preceded by a khutbah delivered by the imam.
Its Sanctity
Allah commands: 'O you who have believed, when the call is proclaimed for the prayer on the day of Jumu'ah, then hasten to the remembrance of Allah and leave trade. That is better for you, if only you knew.' (Qur'an 62:9). The Prophet ﷺ said: 'The best day on which the sun has risen is Friday. On it Adam was created, on it he was admitted to Paradise, on it he was expelled from it, and the Hour will not arise except on a Friday.' (Muslim 854). It is the Muslim's Eid every week.
Its Pre-Conditions
(1) The ghusl of Friday — strongly emphasized (Bukhari 858); (2) wearing one's best clothes and perfume — for men; (3) using siwak; (4) coming early to the masjid — the Prophet ﷺ described an angel at the door of every masjid recording arrivals: 'one who comes in the first hour is as one who offered a camel; the second hour, a cow; the third, a ram; the fourth, a hen; the fifth, an egg. Then the imam comes out — and the books are folded.' (Bukhari 881, Muslim 850); (5) listening silently to the khutbah — speaking during it nullifies its reward; (6) the khutbah itself — two parts separated by a brief sitting.
The Hour of Response
On Friday there is an hour in which any du'a is accepted. The Prophet ﷺ said: 'There is on Friday an hour — no Muslim servant standing in prayer, asking Allah for anything, but Allah will give it to him. And he indicated with his hand its short duration.' (Bukhari 935, Muslim 852). The most reliable reports place this hour between Asr and Maghrib on Friday. Spend it in du'a.
Surah al-Kahf
The Prophet ﷺ said: 'Whoever recites Surah al-Kahf on Friday, a light shines for him between this Friday and the next.' (al-Hakim, classed sahih). Read the whole Surah (or as much as you are able) on Friday — the night of Friday (Thursday after Maghrib) or during the day before Asr.