Allah commanded the believers to gather to worship Him on Friday,
[يأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ
ءَامَنُواْ إِذَا نُودِىَ لِلصَّلَوةِ مِن يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ فَاسْعَوْاْ إِلَى
ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ]
(O you who believe! When the call is proclaimed for the Salah on Al-Jumu`ah
(Friday), then hasten (Fas`aw) to the remembrance of Allah) meaning, go to it
and head for it. The meaning of Sa`y (hasten) here does not refer to walking
quickly. It only refers to the importance of it. `Umar bin Al-Khattab and Ibn
Mas`ud - may Allah be pleased with them - recited it; (فَامْضُوا إِلَى ذِكْرِ
اللهِ) ("Then proceed to the remembrance of Allah.'') As for walking in haste to
the prayer, that was indeed prohibited, since it was recorded in the Two Sahihs
from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet said,
«إِذَا سَمِعْتُمُ
الْإِقَامَةَ فَامْشُوا إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ وَعَلَيْكُمُ السَّكِينَةَ وَالْوَقَارَ
وَلَا تُسْرِعُوا، فَمَا أَدْرَكْتُمْ فَصَلُّوا وَمَا فَاتَكُمْ
فَأَتِمُّوا»
(When you hear the Iqamah, proceed to offer the prayer with calmness and
solemnity and do not rush. And pray whatever you catch, and complete whatever
you have missed.) This is the wording with Al-Bukhari. Abu Qatadah said, "While
we were praying behind the Messenger of Allah he heard commotion. At the end of
the prayer, the Prophet said;
«مَا
شَأْنُكُمْ»
(What is the matter with you) They said, `We hastened to the prayer.' The
Prophet said,
«فَلَا تَفْعَلُوا،
إِذَا أَتَيْتُمُ الصَّلَاةَ فَامْشُوا وَعَلَيْكُمُ السَّكِينَةَ فَمَا
أَدْرَكْتُمْ فَصَلُّوا وَمَا فَاتَكُمْ فَأَتِمُّوا»
(Don't do that. When you come for prayer, there should be tranquility upon
you. Pray what remains of the prayer and complete what you have missed.)'' The
Two Sahihs collected this Hadith. Al-Hasan commented, "By Allah! Hastening to
the prayer is not accomplished by the feet. Indeed they were prohibited from
coming to prayer without tranquility and dignity. Rather it is about the hearts,
the intention, and the submission.'' Qatadah said,
[فَاسْعَوْاْ إِلَى
ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ]
"(then hasten to the remembrance of Allah) means that you have to hasten to
the prayer with your heart and actions, and walk to it.'' It is recommended for
those coming to the Friday prayer to perform Ghusl (taking bath) before they
come. It is collected in the Two Sahihs that `Abdullah bin `Umar said that
Allah's Messenger said,
«إِذَا جَاءَ
أَحَدُكُمُ الْجُمُعَةَ فَلْيَغْتَسِلْ»
(When one of you comes to the Friday prayer, then let him perform bath.) The
Two Sahihs recorded that Abu Sa`id said that the Messenger of Allah said,
«غُسْلُ يَوْمِ
الْجُمُعَةِ وَاجِبٌ عَلى كُلِّ مُحْتَلِمٍ»
(Ghusl on the day of Jumu`ah is Wajib (required) from every Muhtalim. ) Abu
Hurayrah narrated that Allah's Messenger said,
«حَقٌّ لله عَلى
كُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ أَنْ يَغْتَسِلَ فِي كُلِّ سَبْعَةِ أَيَّامٍ، يَغْسِلُ رَأْسَهُ
وَجَسَدَهُ»
(It is Allah's right on every Muslim to bathe during every seven days, by
washing his head and body.) Muslim collected this Hadith. Jabir narrated that
Allah's Messenger said,
«عَلى كُلِّ رَجُلٍ
مُسْلِمٍ فِي كُلِّ سَبْعَةِ أَيَّامٍ غُسْلُ يَوْمٍ وَهُوَ يَوْمُ
الْجُمُعَةِ»
(Within every seven days, every Muslim man has the obligation to perform
Ghusl at least one day, the day of Jumu`ah.) Ahmad, An-Nasa'i and Ibn Hibban
collected this Hadith.