The communal gathering of the Muslims on this day was ordained so that they might be reminded of the magnitude of Allah’s favors upon them. The sermon was likewise prescribed to recall those blessings and urge them to show gratitude, and the Friday prayer itself was legislated for the middle of the day so that the whole congregation would assemble in one mosque.

Allah commanded the believers to attend that gathering, listen to the sermon, and perform the prayer, saying: “O you who believe! When the call to prayer is made on Friday, hasten to the remembrance of Allah and leave off trade; that is better for you, if only you knew” (62:9).

Ibn al-Qayyim said: “Part of the Prophet’s guidance, ﷺ, was to venerate this day, honor it, and single it out with acts of worship not practiced on other days. The scholars have differed over whether Friday is superior to the Day of ʿArafah; the Shāfiʿīs hold two opinions on the matter. During the dawn prayer of Friday he would recite the two chapters Alif-Lām-Mīm Tanzīl (al-Sajdah) and Hal Atā ʿAlá al-Insān (al-Insān).”

He went on to say: “I heard Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah remark that the Prophet ﷺ recited these two chapters in the Friday dawn prayer because they encompass the events associated with that day: they mention the creation of Adam, the Resurrection, and the gathering of all servants—events that will occur on a Friday. His recitation of them on this day…"