Some of the Innovations of the Friday Prayer

Question :

The Permanent Committee for Religious Research and Legal Rulings read the following letter which was addressed to His Excellency, the General Director and whose text was as follows:

Allah, the Most High says:
But no, by your Lord, they can have no faith until they make you (O Muhammad) judge in all disputes between them and find in themselves no resistance against your decisions and accept (them) with full submission.

Khalid: There must be religious chanting before the Athan of Zuhr on Fridays.

'Umar: No, rather, recitation of the Qur'an through the loudspeaker is more loved by Allah than that.

Khalid: The recitation of As-Samadiyyah before the start of the Khutbah and religious chanting is obligatory and highly preferred.

'Umar: That has not been prescribed by Allah, nor by His Messenger and it is not obligatory. In fact, it is obligatory to be silent until the Imam ascends the pulpit and the Athan is made.

Khalid: Religious instruction following the Friday prayer is something highly preferred and there is no objection to it.

'Umar: This has not been reported from the mouth of the Messenger of Allah nor from his Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, and they did not do it during their lifetimes.

Khalid: Praying two Rak'ahs before the Friday prayer is obligatory and it is a Sunnah.

Umar: The Messenger of Allah did not pray it and neither did his Companions, may Allah be pleased with them.

Khalid: The Mu'aththin sending blessings upon the Messenger of Allah after the Athan is something highly preferred and there is no objection to it.

'Umar: No, it is not permissible, and it was not done by the Messenger of Allah, nor was it done by his Companions, may Allah be pleased with them.

It is requested that you provide the correct answer in writing, in accordance with the ruling of the Islamic law. May Allah reward you with the best reward.

Answer:

First of all, Nasheed prior to the Athan for Friday prayer has not been confirmed as lawful; rather, it is an innovation. And Friday should not be singled out for the recitation of the Qur'an through the loudspeaker, or otherwise
- neither before the Athan, nor after the prayer and its recitation is not an Islamic feature of Friday; rather, its recitation is prescribed every day, so making it particular for Fridays is an innovation. The confirmed Sunnah is to confine oneself to the Athan for it.

Secondly, recitation of As-Samadiyyah or anything else from the Qur'an or remembrance before the start of the Khutbah is not obligatory; in fact, it is an innovation, and it has been authentically reported from the Prophet that he said:
"Whoever innovated in this matter (i.e. this religion) of ours will have it rejected.

Thirdly, there is no sin in holding a lesson or lessons in circles of learning on Fridays, as there is no evidence to forbid it after prayer.

Fourthly, There is no Sunnah prayer before the Friday prayer, because this has not been authentically reported from the Prophet, neither has it been reported from his Companions, may Allah be pleased with them. But it is lawful for the one who comes to the Friday prayer to pray whatever supererogatory prayers are easy for him, until the Khatib ascends the pulpit. And whoever enters after the Khatib has ascended the pulpit, it is only prescribed for him to pray Tahiyyatul-Masjid.

Fifthly, Sending prayers on the Prophet is encouraged in the Islamic law and its reward is great, and it is a Sunnah after the Athan; but the Mu'aththin should send prayers on him after the Athan quietly, not aloud. It is an innovation for the Mu'aththin to do so upon completing the Athan. As for the one who hears the Athan, it is a Sunnah for him to repeat it and to send prayers on the Prophet after the Mu'aththin completes the Athan, and he should ask Allah to grant intercession to His Prophet, saying:
O Allah! Lord of this complete supplication, and of the established prayer, grant Muhammad intercession and the most virtuous place and raise him to the praiseworthy station which You have promised him.