Surah al-Jumu’ah is the 62nd Surah of the
Glorious Qur’an revealed in Madinah.
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
All that is in the
Heavens and the earth glorifies Allah, the King, al-Quddus (free from the
matters that can lead one to ignorance) the Majestic and the All-Wise. It is He
who has sent to the illiterate (people without a Heavenly book) a Messenger
from among their own people to recite to them His revelations and purify them.
He will teach the Book to them and wisdom, even though before this they had
been in plain error, and to others, who have not yet joined, (accepted the
faith). He (Allah) is Majestic and All-Wise. Such is the favor of Allah, which
He grants to whomever He wants. Allah’s favor is great. Those who were to carry
the responsibility of the Torah but ignored it are like donkeys laden with
books. How terrible is the example of the people who reject the revelations of
Allah. Allah does not guide the unjust. (Muhammad), ask the Jews, “If you
believe that you are the chosen people of Allah to the exclusion of all other
people, wish for death if you are truthful. They will never wish for death
because of what they have done! Allah knows best about the unjust people.
(Muhammad), tell them, “The death from which you run away will certainly
approach you. Then you will be returned to the One who knows the unseen and the
seen, and He will tell you what you have done. Believers, on Friday when the call
for prayer is made, try to prepare yourselves to attend prayer (remembering
Allah) and leave-off all businesses. This would be better for you if only you
knew it. When the prayer ends, disperse through the land and seek the favor of
Allah. Remember Allah often so that perhaps you will have everlasting
happiness. When they see a merchandise or sport, they rush toward it and leave
you standing alone. Say, “(Allah rewards for good deeds) are better than
merriment (game) or merchandise; Allah is the best Sustainer.”
It is a point to ponder, in the above Ayah which
reads, “When they see a merchandise or sport, they rush toward it and leave you
standing alone”, were these companions of the Noble Messenger? As it is
generally believed that whoever saw the Noble Prophet (s.a.w.a.s.) even once, was
a companion!
The Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) first recited the signs,
then purified them by raising their attention from sensual needs to their
spiritual requirements and taught them the Book containing the Truth and Wisdom
to apply it in practical life. When the poor came to the Messenger and
complained that they do not have wealth to spent in Allah’s path and earn His
reward, the Messenger told them: “You
recite one hundred times ‘La Ilaha Illallah (there is no god but Allah the One
God’ and it will be better than liberating a slave and better than giving one
hundred horses in the way of Allah.” Likewise the children of Isra’il held
the Torah but did not act upon it. The same example hold good for the Muslims
who hold the Glorious Qur’an but do not act upon it. Although the Jews
professed themselves to be favorites of Allah but when they were told to invoke
death but they did not because of their sins. By the way, Imam Ali (a.s.) said: “Verily, the son of Abu Talib, is more familiar with death than the baby with its
mother’s breast.” Friday is called the day of the birth of the Noble Messenger
(s.a.w.a.s.), the day of Grace, the Day of Blessings, the Day of Mercy, the Day
of Acceptance of Prayer, the Day of Festival, the Day of Piety, the Day of
Endeavor, the Day of Honor, and the Day of Abundance. Friday is for congregational
prayers, a weekly demonstration of the brother-hood in the faith and the unity
of the faithful, sharing the spiritual state of a joint communion with Allah.
At the end of the Surah, the believers are admonished not to get distracted by
any craze for amusement and worldly gain at the cost of their duty to Allah.
According to Jabir, once when the Noble Messenger (s.a.w.a.s.) was offering the
Friday prayers, a caravan entered the town singing and beating the drum, every
one ran to witness the jubilant caravan except twelve persons including Jabir.
Sources used:
The Glorious Qur’an (English translation) by Ayatollah
Agha H.M.M. Pooya Yazdi
The Glorious Qur’an (Urdu translation) by Ayatollah Nasir
Makarem Shirazi
The Glorious Qur’an (English translation) by Muhammad Sarwar
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