ABLUTION SECTION · 129 – BATHING ON FRIDAY
340 – From Abu Hurayra, may Allah be pleased with him, it is related: One time, Omar bin al-Khattab was delivering the sermon on a Friday when a man (Uthman bin Affan) entered. Omar, may Allah be pleased with him, said to him, “Are they detaining you from the prayer?” and “Why are you late?” The man replied, "I did not delay excessively; as soon as I heard the adhan, I performed ablution." Then Omar, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “Did you also perform an incomplete ablution like the prayer? Did you not hear the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, command, ‘When one of you comes for Friday, let him bathe’?” [241]
EXPLANATION
Uthman bin Affan, may Allah be pleased with him, had been occupied with nothing other than what came after the adhan. Nevertheless, Omar bin al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, rebuked him for missing the reward of the first hour. It is recommended to bathe on Fridays. Uthman bin Affan’s coming to Friday without bathing also caused rebuke. According to Hasan al-Basri and according to one narration, Imam Malik holds that bathing on Friday is obligatory. But according to the majority of jurists, bathing on Friday is recommended.
Abū Sa’īd al-Hudrī (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) said: “It is obligatory upon every male who reaches the age of puberty to bathe on Fridays.” [242]
COMMENTARY
The obligation mentioned in this hadith refers to a significance akin to an obligation, rather than a strict one.
Indeed, if it were truly obligatory, the validity of Friday prayers would be permissible.
Hafsā (may Allah be pleased with her) related: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) said, “It is obligatory for every male who reaches the age of puberty to attend Friday prayer, and it is necessary for whoever attends Friday prayer to bathe.”
Abū Dāwūd said: A person who bathes after dawn on Friday suffices for the washing for Friday, whether he bathes due to ritual impurity or otherwise.
It is narrated on the authority of Abu Sa'id al-Hudri and Abu Huraira, may Allah be pleased with them both, that they said: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "Whoever washes on Friday and wears his finest garment, and if he has perfume, applies it, then comes to the Friday prayer without jostling anyone, and listens attentively to the sermon and remains silent until the Imam concludes, then his sins between that Friday and the previous one are expunged."
Abu Huraira, may Allah be pleased with him, said: "May rewards increase for him; and it expunges [sins] from three days [and more]."
Abu Dawud has a more complete narration from Muhammad ibn Salama. Hammad did not mention the words of Abu Huraira.
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Every man who reaches the age of puberty should wash on Friday, use a miswak, and apply some perfume."
However, in Bukayr’s narration, Abdurrahman was not mentioned, and regarding perfume, he said: “He may apply [perfume] from the fragrance of a woman if he wishes.”
From Aws ibn Aws as-Sakafi, may Allah be pleased with him:
The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “Whoever washes his head and performs the full ablution on Friday, hurries forth early, attends the Friday prayer early, avoids walking [unnecessarily], stands near the Imam, and listens to the speaker without talking, then he will receive a reward equivalent to a year of voluntary prayers at night and voluntary fasts during the day.” [246]
*Explanation:*
*Gusle*: This means to wash. For the Arabs would anoint their hair with oil.
The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, mentioned washing the head separately, saying “whoever washes his hair and performs *ghusl*.”
*Bekkara*: This means to leave home early; *Iptekara*: this means to arrive at Friday prayer early.
*Bekkara* can also mean giving charity early in the morning; *Iptekara* can also mean being prompt for Friday.
346 – From Aws ibn as-Sakafi (may Allah be pleased with him), he narrated:
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) said, “Whoever washes his head on Friday, then washes [his entire body],” And then the narrator recounted a similar wording to the preceding hadith.
From Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-As, may Allah be pleased with him:
The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
“Whoever washes on Friday and uses perfume – even if he has family – and wears his finest clothing and does not jostle those in front of him (during prayer) and does not speak during the sermon, then his sins between that Friday and the next are expiated. And whoever speaks during the sermon or jostles the shoulders of the congregation, then he only receives the reward of the noon [Zuhr] prayer.”
EXPLANATION:
The use of perfume used by women is disliked. However, it may be used in a situation of necessity.
It is reported that those who are late for Friday and subsequently push their way through people to get to the front will not receive the reward of Friday, and they will only have earned the reward of the noon prayer.
Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) related:
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) would perform ablution for four reasons:
“For ritual impurity (janaba), for Friday, after venipuncture, and after washing a corpse.”
FOOTNOTE
The hadith indicating that the person who washes a deceased should perform ablution is abrogated. Refer to hadith number 3162.
It is recommended (mustahabb) for the one who washes a corpse to perform ablution, and it is also recommended to perform ablution after venipuncture. Performing ablution due to ritual impurity is obligatory (fard), and performing ablution on Friday is recommended (mustahabb). (Maalim al-Sunnah vol. 1, p. 274)
According to the narration of Ali bin Hawshaab – may Allah be pleased with him – from Makhul: I asked about the meaning of the words "Gusl" and "Istibra'" (bathing) of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him. Makhul replied: “It means washing the head and the body.”
Said ibn 'Abdullāh al-Rāziyyallāhu ‘anhu was asked about the meaning of *ghusl* and *istightsāl*. He replied: “It is to wash the head and the body.”
Abū Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) said: “Whoever washes on Friday as if he were purifying himself from ritual impurity, then goes to the mosque in the first hour, it is as if he has given a reward equivalent to that of a camel. If he goes in the second hour, it is as if he has given a reward equivalent to that of an ox. If he goes in the third hour, it is as if he has given a reward equivalent to that of a horned sheep. If he goes in the fourth hour, it is as if he has given a reward equivalent to that of a chicken. If he goes in the fifth hour, it is as if he has given a reward equivalent to that of an egg. When the Imam ascends the pulpit, the angels are present.”