in which no Muslim servant who is standing in prayer asks Allah for anything without Allah granting it to him,” and he pointed with his hand, indicating how brief that hour is.

Another of Friday’s distinctive features is the sermon, whose very purpose is to praise and glorify Allah, to testify to His oneness, to affirm His Messenger’s prophethood ﷺ, and to remind the worshippers.

The special merits of this day are many. Imām Ibn al-Qayyim, in his work Zad al-Maʿād, listed them and reached a total of one hundred and thirty-three.

Yet despite all this, many people treat the day lightly: for them it holds no advantage over other days; some render it a time for laziness and sleep; others squander it in amusement, play, and heedlessness of Allah’s remembrance—so much so that the number of worshippers at the dawn prayer on that day drops noticeably. There is no power and no might except through Allah.

It is recommended to pronounce the takbīr (saying “Allāhu akbar”) while walking to the mosque on Friday. Upon entering, one should perform two rakʿahs as the mosque greeting.

If a person arrives early and wishes to offer additional voluntary prayers, there is no objection, for the early generations used to come well before time and continue praying until the imam emerged.

Shaykh al-Islām Ibn Taymiyyah said: “What is preferable for the one who comes to the Friday prayer is to remain engaged in prayer until the imam appears, because of what is found in the Sahih…”