IT’S TIME. GET READY!

Preparing Our Hearts for Laylat al-Jumu‘ah and the Blessed Day of Friday

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Alhamdulillāh, all praise belongs to Allah, who has granted us another opportunity to witness the approach of Friday, a day of great virtue and significance in Islam.

The night preceding Friday begins at sunset on Thursday. It is known as Laylat al-Jumu‘ah — the night of Friday.

As this blessed time approaches, let us prepare our hearts and tongues to engage in one of the beautiful acts of worship encouraged by our beloved Prophet Muhammad ﷺ: sending abundant Ṣalawāt upon him.

Let us begin on Thursday night and continue throughout Friday, remembering the Messenger of Allah ﷺ with love, sincerity and devotion.

One simple form of Ṣalawāt is:

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ وَسَلِّمْ عَلَى نَبِيِّنَا مُحَمَّدٍ

Allahumma ṣalli wa sallim ‘alā Nabiyyinā Muhammad.

O Allah, send Your blessings and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

WHY SHOULD WE DO THIS?

Have we ever paused to reflect on the greatness of sending blessings upon the Messenger of Allah ﷺ?

Allah, the Most High, tells us in the Noble Qur’an:

“Indeed, Allah and His angels send blessings upon the Prophet. O you who believe, ask Allah to bless him and grant him peace.”

📖 Qur’an 33:56

Subḥānallāh!

Allah commands the believers to send blessings and peace upon His noble Messenger ﷺ. This is an act of worship that reflects our love for him and our desire to follow his guidance.

Therefore, let us make Ṣalawāt a regular part of our daily lives, increasing our remembrance on Thursday night and throughout Friday in accordance with the Sunnah.

A BEAUTIFUL LESSON FROM UBAYY IBN KA‘B رضي الله عنه

Among the narrations that illustrate the virtue of abundant Ṣalawāt is the conversation between the Companion Ubayy ibn Ka‘b رضي الله عنه and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.

Ubayy asked the Prophet ﷺ how much of his supplication he should devote to sending blessings upon him. As their conversation continued, he proposed dedicating a quarter, then half, and then two-thirds of his supplication to Ṣalawāt. Each time, the Prophet ﷺ encouraged him that doing more was better.

Finally, Ubayy said that he would devote all his supplication to sending blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ.

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ then told him:

“Then your worries will be taken care of, and your sins will be forgiven.”

📚 Jāmi‘ at-Tirmidhī, Hadith 2457.

What a profound lesson!

This narration reminds us of the immense virtue of Ṣalawāt and the importance of remembering the Messenger of Allah ﷺ abundantly.

It encourages us to turn to Allah through sincere worship, seeking His forgiveness, mercy and relief from our worries.

However, we should understand the narration within its proper context rather than treating it as a guarantee that every difficulty will immediately disappear or that we will never experience hardship.

WHAT LESSON CAN WE TAKE FROM THIS?

1. Make Ṣalawāt a daily habit.

Do not wait until Friday before remembering the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Make it part of your daily routine, and increase it on Thursday night and Friday.

2. Seek Allah’s forgiveness and relief through sincere worship.

When worries overwhelm you, turn to Allah through supplication, Ṣalawāt, repentance and other righteous deeds.

3. Let your love for the Prophet ﷺ reflect in your actions.

Sending blessings upon him should go hand in hand with learning his Sunnah, following his teachings and displaying good character.

4. Never underestimate a small act of goodness.

A few sincere words spoken consistently may become a means of great reward by Allah’s mercy.

FINALLY, LET US REMEMBER FĪ SABĪLILLĀH

My dear brothers and sisters in Islam, as we prepare for Friday, let us also remember the importance of supporting our local masājid and the beneficial activities carried out in the cause of Allah.

Whenever Allah grants us the means, let us endeavour to set aside a reasonable amount for voluntary charity, particularly for the maintenance of the masjid, its religious activities and the propagation of Islam.

Even a small, sincere contribution can be valuable. Give according to your means, without burdening yourself or neglecting your obligations.

Allah, the Most High, says:

“The example of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah is like a seed [of grain] which grows seven spikes; in each spike is a hundred grains.”

📖 Qur’an 2:261

May Allah accept our Ṣalawāt, forgive our sins, ease our worries, strengthen our love for His Messenger ﷺ and make us among those who remain steadfast upon the Sunnah.

May He accept our charity, bless our wealth and grant us sincerity in all our acts of worship.

Āmīn, Yā Rabb al-‘Ālamīn.

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ وَسَلِّمْ عَلَى نَبِيِّنَا مُحَمَّدٍ ﷺ