In the Musnad of Ahmad (1), Abū al-Dardā’ reported that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

“Whoever bathes on Friday, then puts on his clothes and applies perfume if he has any, then walks calmly to the Friday prayer without stepping over anyone or causing anyone harm, prays whatever has been ordained for him, and then waits until the imam finishes = his sins between the two Fridays are forgiven.”

Nineteenth: Hell is kindled every day except Friday. The hadith of Abū Qatāda concerning this has already been mentioned. The underlying reason—and Allah knows best—is that Friday is the best of days in Allah’s sight, and the acts of worship, obedience, supplication and earnest pleading with Allah, Glorified is He, that take place on it prevent Hell from being kindled that day. Thus, believers commit fewer sins on Friday than on other days. Even the wicked refrain on it from things they do not refrain from on Saturday and other days.

The apparent meaning of this hadith is that Hell is kindled during the life of this world, and that it is set ablaze every day except Friday. As for the Day of Resurrection, its torment will never abate, nor will it be lightened on any day for those who are its true inhabitants. They therefore call upon its keepers to supplicate their Lord to lighten (2) their torment for a day, but the keepers do not grant their request.

Twentieth: Friday contains an hour when supplications are answered: an hour during which Allah grants whatever He is asked for. In the two Sahīh collections (3), Abū Hurayra reported that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

“On Friday there is an hour during which, if a Muslim is standing in prayer and asks Allah, Mighty and Majestic, for anything, He grants it to him.”

He gestured with his hand to indicate how brief it was.