Which Surah Is Named After a Day of the Week?
ما هي السورة المسماة بيوم من أيام الأسبوع؟
The Surah is Surah Al-Jumu'ah (Friday) 62
سورة الجمعة 62
1. Hasten to the Remembrance of Allah | فاسعوا إلى ذكر الله
Allah says: O you who believe, when the call is made for the prayer on the day of Friday, hasten to the remembrance of Allah and leave trade; that is better for you, if you only knew (62:9).
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا نُودِيَ لِلصَّلَاةِ مِن يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ فَاسْعَوْا إِلَىٰ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَذَرُوا الْبَيْعَ (سورة الجمعة: 9)
قال تعالى: (يا أيها الذين آمنوا إذا نودي للصلاة من يوم الجمعة فاسعوا إلى ذكر الله وذروا البيع ذلكم خير لكم إن كنتم تعلمون) (الجمعة 62: 9).
2. Why It Is Called Al-Jumu'ah | لماذا سميت الجمعة
Ibn Kathir explains that the day is called al-Jumu'ah because it comes from gathering: the Muslims gather on it once every week in the great mosques. On it the creation was completed, since it is the sixth of the six days in which Allah created the heavens and the earth; on it Adam was created, admitted to Paradise and sent out of it; and on it the Hour will come. How the Quran sets out the six days of creation is explained in how many days it took to create the heavens and the earth. He adds that in the old language it was called Yawm al-'Aruba. The Prophet said that on Friday there is an hour in which a Muslim, standing in prayer, asks Allah for something, and Allah gives it to him (Sahih al-Bukhari 935).
بين ابن كثير أن الجمعة سميت جمعة لأنها مشتقة من الجمع، فإن أهل الإسلام يجتمعون فيه في كل أسبوع مرة بالمعابد الكبار، وفيه كمل جميع الخلائق فإنه اليوم السادس من الستة التي خلق الله فيها السماوات والأرض، وفيه خلق آدم وفيه أدخل الجنة وفيه أخرج منها، وفيه تقوم الساعة، وكان يقال له في اللغة القديمة: يوم العروبة. وقال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم في يوم الجمعة: "فيه ساعة لا يوافقها عبد مسلم وهو قائم يصلي يسأل الله تعالى شيئا إلا أعطاه إياه" (صحيح البخاري 935).
3. Guided to Friday | هدانا الله ليوم الجمعة
The Prophet said: We are the last, yet the first on the Day of Resurrection, although they were given the Book before us; this is their day which was made obligatory for them, and they differed over it, and Allah guided us to it, so the people follow us in it: the Jews tomorrow and the Christians the day after (Sahih al-Bukhari 876). Sahih Muslim 855 has: the Jews had Saturday and the Christians had Sunday. Friday and Saturday are the only two days of the week named in the Quran, as explained in the days of the week mentioned in the Quran.
قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: "نحن الآخرون السابقون يوم القيامة، بيد أنهم أوتوا الكتاب من قبلنا، ثم هذا يومهم الذي فرض عليهم فاختلفوا فيه، فهدانا الله، فالناس لنا فيه تبع، اليهود غدا، والنصارى بعد غد" (صحيح البخاري 876).
4. Then Disperse in the Land | فانتشروا في الأرض
Once the prayer is over, trade is allowed again: and when the prayer has been concluded, disperse in the land and seek of the bounty of Allah, and remember Allah much so that you may succeed (62:10). Remembering Allah in daily life is discussed in how one remembers Allah.
فَإِذَا قُضِيَتِ الصَّلَاةُ فَانتَشِرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَابْتَغُوا مِن فَضْلِ اللَّهِ وَاذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ (سورة الجمعة: 10)
فإذا انقضت الصلاة أبيح البيع: (فإذا قضيت الصلاة فانتشروا في الأرض وابتغوا من فضل الله واذكروا الله كثيرا لعلكم تفلحون) (الجمعة 62: 10).
Frequently Asked Questions | الأسئلة الشائعة
Which surah is named after a day of the week?
Surah Al-Jumu'ah (62), Friday.
Why is Friday called al-Jumu'ah?
Ibn Kathir says the word comes from gathering: the Muslims gather on it once every week in the great mosques.
What was Friday called in the old Arabic language?
Yawm al-'Aruba, as Ibn Kathir notes.
Is trade allowed after the Friday prayer?
Yes: when the prayer has been concluded, disperse in the land and seek of the bounty of Allah (62:10).