the stronger opinion, because the occasion of the ḥadīth points to this meaning, and because al-Bukhārī (877) and Muslim (844) relate from Ibn ʿUmar (may Allah be pleased with them) that the Prophet ﷺ said: “When one of you comes to the Friday prayer, let him bathe.” This is also the position of the majority of scholars.
2 – His words, “upon every muḥtalim,” show that although the Friday bath is obligatory for the prayer itself, it is not required of boys who have not yet reached puberty—even if they attend the prayer and perform it. Were it not for the qualifier “pubescent,” the bath would be obligatory for every male who prays, minors included, because once a person engages in an act of worship, everything without which that worship cannot be completed—its pillars, conditions, and obligations—becomes binding on him; otherwise, his worship would not be valid.
3 – At face value the ḥadīth makes bathing on Friday obligatory for every adult, though there is a scholarly dispute about this that will be examined shortly, Allah willing.
4 – Anyone who has not reached puberty is not required to bathe, for the legal obligations do not apply to a child or to one who is insane.
5 – The fact that the bath is legislated specifically for the day of Friday, and specifically for men to the exclusion of women, proves that the bath is for the Friday prayer itself; thus it is not acceptable after the prayer has been completed, as mentioned earlier.
6 – The ḥadīth indicates that the obligation of legal rulings is contingent upon attaining puberty; nothing is obligatory before that, as discussed above.
7 – Muslim (854) narrates that the Prophet ﷺ said: “The best day upon which the sun has risen is Friday.”
8 – The mention of “the day” in the ḥadīth indicates that bathing on the night before Friday does not suffice; the valid time begins at daybreak.
9 – The ḥadīth also points to the veneration due to this magnificent day. Such veneration is shown by the heart’s awareness of its sanctity, by preparing for the prayer, and by combining that preparation with bathing, perfume, fine clothing, and devoting oneself to worship throughout the day.