(Friday Sermon - August 16, 2019 )

Background

Hazrat Qatadah bin Nu‘man Ansari^(ra) belonged to the Banu Zafar clan of the Khazraj tribe of the Ansar. His father was Nu‘man bin Zaid and his mother was Unaisah bint Qais. Hazrat Qatadah’s^(ra) title is reported as Abu Umar as well as Abu Amr and Abu Abdullah. He was the half-brother of Hazrat Abu Saeed Khudri^(ra); they were both born to the same mother.

Hazrat Qatadah^(ra) had the opportunity to participate in the Bai‘at-e-Aqabah along with 70 Ansari companions. However, according to another narration by Allamah Ibn Ishaaq, he was not part of those Ansari companions who participated in the Bai‘at-e-Aqabah or perhaps he has simply not mentioned him.

Participation in Battles

Hazrat Qatadah^(ra) was one of the archers appointed by the Holy Prophet^(sa). He participated in the Battles of Badr, Uhud, Khandaq and all the subsequent battles along with the Holy Prophet^(sa). Hazrat Qatadah’s^(ra) eye was struck by an arrow during the Battle of Uhud due to which his eye came out of its socket.

He came to the Holy Prophet^(sa) and said, “O Messenger^(sa) of Allah! I have been struck by an arrow and my eye has come out. I love my wife very much, however if she were to see me like this, I fear that she may start to resent me.” The Holy Prophet^(sa) placed the eye back in the socket with his hand and it was set in its place again and he regained his sight in that eye.

This eye was sharper and stronger than his other eye even in old age. According to another narration, the Holy Prophet^(sa) had applied his saliva on that eye as a result of which it became even better than the other eye. (Al-Tabaqaat-ul-Kubra li ibn Saad, Vol. 3, p. 239, Wa min Bani Zafar…, Dar Ihyaa Al-Turath Al-Arabi, Beirut, 1996) (Usdul Ghaba, Vol. 4, pp. 370-371, Qatadah^(ra), Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2008)

Hazrat Qatadah^(ra) himself has also mentioned this incident and states, “The Messenger^(sa) of Allah was given a bow as a gift. The Holy Prophet^(sa) gave it to me on the occasion of Uhud. I shot arrows with it in front of the Holy Prophet^(sa) until its string broke. Despite this, I remained in front of the blessed face of the Messenger^(sa) of Allah.”

Usually we mention Hazrat Talha^(ra) in this regard but his name is also mentioned. He further states:

“I continued to stand in front of the Holy Prophet^(sa). Whenever, an arrow came in the direction of the Messenger^(sa) of Allah, I would move my head in front of it so that I would serve as a shield for the blessed countenance of the Messenger^(sa) of Allah. I did not have any more arrows left at that point which I could shoot. At that moment, an arrow struck one of my eyes, due to which my eye came out of its socket and onto my cheek. Thereafter, the attacking army dispersed and I held my eye in my own hand and went to the Holy Prophet^(sa). I was not far from him when the Messenger^(sa) of Allah saw it in my hand, and tears started to flow from the Holy Prophet^(sa) eyes and prayed, ‘O Allah! Qatadah^(ra) has saved the face of Your Prophet with his own face. Pray, make this eye of his, the more beautiful and observant of the two.’ Thus, that eye was more beautiful and the visually more perceptive of the two.” (Al-Mu‘jam Al-Kabir Li Al-Tabarani, Vol. 19, p. 8, Umar bin Qatadah bin Al-Numan, Dar Ihyaa Al-Turath Al-Arabi, 2002)

In the tradition which he has narrated himself, there is no mention of the fact that his wife will not love him because of this and will begin to resent him. The earlier account related was what the historians have written in order to perhaps arouse more interest, or perhaps just for the sake of it.  However, in his own narration of the account, there is no mention of his wife.

Nevertheless, his eye fell out of the socket during the battle. The Holy Prophet^(sa) placed it back in its socket and his eyesight was immediately restored. As a matter of fact, it improved greatly and for this very reason, Hazrat Qatadah^(ra) later became known by the title of Dhul-Ain, that is, the possessor of the eye. (Al-Isaba Fi Tamyeez Al-Sahaba, Vol. 2, p. 345, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, Lebanon, 2005)

Hazrat Qatadah^(ra) participated alongside the Holy Prophet^(sa) in all battles, including the Battle of Khandaq [the Ditch].

Martyrdom

At the occasion of the Conquest of Mecca, the flag of the tribe of Banu Zafar was in the hands of Hazrat Qatadah^(ra). He passed away at the age of 65, in 23 AH. Hazrat Umar^(ra) led his funeral prayer in Medina. His half-brother, Hazrat Abu Saeed Khudri^(ra), Muhammad^(ra) bin Maslama and Harith^(ra) bin Khuzma came down into his grave and according to one narration, Hazrat Umar^(ra) was also among those who came down into the grave [during his burial]. The name of one of the grandsons of Hazrat Qatadah^(ra) was Asim bin Umar, who was an expert in the field of genealogy – the knowledge of families, ancestries and tribes – and Allama Ibn Ishaaq has related many of his narrations. (Al-Tabaqaat-ul-Kubra li ibn Saad, Vol. 3, p. 239, Wa min Bani Zafar,…, Dar Ihyaa Al-Turath Al-Arabi, Beirut, 1996) (Usdul Ghaba, Vol. 4, p. 372, Qatadah^(ra), Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 2008) (Siyar Al-Sahabah Az Saeed Ansari, Vol. 3, p. 474, Darul Ishaat, Karachi, 2004)

A Gift From the Holy Prophet^(sa)

In one of the narrations it states that the Holy Prophet^(sa) had a bow that was called Qutoom. This was made from Naba, a tree from which arrows are made. This was the bow that broke during the Battle of Uhud by Hazrat Qatadah^(ra) due to its excessive use. (Tarikh Dimashq Li Ibn Akir, Vol. 4, p. 148, Bab Dhikr Silahah Wa Markubah, Dar Ihyaa Al-Turath Al-Arabi, 2001) (Lughaat Al-Hadith, Vol. 4, p. 293, Ali Asif Printers, Lahore, 2005)

Dispute With the Banu Ubairak

Hazrat Qatadah^(ra) bin Nu‘man states that there was a family from among the Ansar, which were known as Banu Ubairak. There were three brothers, Bishr, Bashir and Mubashir. Bashir was a hypocrite poet and used to ridicule the companions of the Holy Prophet^(sa) through his poetry. He made out to be a Muslim, but some of his actions were contradictory to this. He would attribute his statements to some Arabs and say that such and such a person has said this. When the companions of the Holy Prophet^(sa) heard the couplets he used to recite, the Companions stated, “By God! This is the couplet of this very wretched person and these couplets are those of Ibn Ubairak.” These were needy and impoverished people during the age of ignorance as well as during the era of Islam and they did not change their state. They did not do any work nor make any effort. As a result of this, they were extremely poor.

Furthermore, he states that dates and barley were the food for the people of Medina. Once a person became wealthy and a grain merchant would bring some white, finely grounded flour from the region of Levant, this wealthy individual would purchase some of it and include it in his food. However, his wife and children would still eat dates and barley.

He says that once, it so happened that when a grain merchant came from the region of Levant, his paternal uncle, Rifa‘ah bin Zaid purchased a sack of white flour and placed it in his storeroom. He had also placed his weapons, armour and sword in that storeroom. He says that a wrongdoing was committed against him in that this storeroom was looted. Thieves broke in by breaking the wall and the ration, including the weapons were stolen. In the morning, his paternal uncle, Rifa‘ah, came to him and said:

“My dear nephew! I was greatly wronged last night. Our storeroom was broken into and all of our rations and weapons were stolen. We have tried to receive some information in the area and have also asked people. In response we were told that they saw Banu Ubairak this evening. They had lit a fire and they believe that they were probably celebrating with our food. That is, they were probably cooking and eating the items they had stolen.”

Hazrat Qatadah^(ra) further states that while they were conducting an investigation in the neighbourhood, the Banu Ubairak claimed, “By God! We think that the person who stole from you is Labeed bin Sahl.” In other words, they blamed someone else. He states that Labeed was a Muslim and virtuous man from among them. When he heard that the Banu Ubairak were accusing him of theft, he drew his sword and stated, “Am I a thief? By God, my sword shall remain between us unless you find out who committed this theft.”

He became extremely impassioned and sought to settle the matter at once. The people around him said, “You are not a thief, put your sword away for we believe you”, and that “you are a very virtuous man.” However, upon further investigation, there was no doubt that it was the Banu Ubairak who had committed the theft. He further states that his paternal uncle stated, “My dear nephew! Perhaps we could have recovered my belongings had you gone to the Holy Prophet ^(sa) and informed him of this incident.”

Hazrat Qatadah^(ra) bin Nu‘man states that upon hearing this, he went to the Holy Prophet^(sa) and presented himself before him and informed him by stating: “Someone from among our own people has carried out this unjust and cruel act. They went to my paternal uncle, Rifa‘ah bin Zaid’s house and stole his weapons and ration by secretly breaking into his store. We request that our weapons be returned to us. As far as the ration and the grain is concerned, we do not need it as such.”

The Holy Prophet^(sa) stated, “I will decide on this matter after having sought consultation.” When this news reached Banu Ubairak, they met with someone from their tribe known as Aseer bin Urwah. They discussed the matter with him, and a few other men from the local area also joined together with them and went to the Holy Prophet^(sa) and stated, “O Messenger^(sa) of Allah! Qatadah bin Nu‘man and his paternal uncle are accusing someone from among us of committing theft without providing any witnesses or evidence. We are Muslims and good people.”

Qatadah states, “I visited the Holy Prophet^(sa) and discussed this matter with him. The Holy Prophet^(sa) said, ‘You have accused a people of theft who have been described as Muslims and good people, without providing any witnesses and evidence.’”

Qatadah^(ra) was a person of virtuous disposition. He states that after meeting the Holy Prophet^(sa) and having heard what he said, he returned home and felt that it would have been better to lose some of his wealth instead of bringing this matter to the Holy Prophet^(sa) and to have caused the Holy Prophet^(sa) such discomfort. It would have been better to lose his wealth than to have ever mentioned this to the Holy Prophet^(sa). He then states that his paternal uncle visited him and stated, “My dear nephew! What have you done thus far regarding this matter?” In response, Hazrat Qatadah^(ra) informed him about what the Holy Prophet^(sa) had said to him. His uncle stated, “Allah is our Helper.”

Only a short while had passed since this conversation took place that the following verses of the Holy Quran were revealed:

اِنَّاۤ اَنۡزَلۡنَاۤ اِلَیۡکَ الۡکِتٰبَ بِالۡحَقِّ لِتَحۡکُمَ بَیۡنَ النَّاسِ بِمَاۤ اَرٰٮکَ اللّٰہُ ؕ وَ لَا تَکُنۡ لِّلۡخَآئِنِیۡنَ خَصِیۡمًا

Meaning, “We have surely sent down to thee the Book comprising the truth, that thou mayest judge between men by that which Allah has taught thee. And be not thou a disputer for the faithless.” (Surah al-Nisa, Ch.4: V.106)

The word لِّلۡخَآئِنِیۡنَ [the faithless] was used here for the Banu Ubairak. It then further stated وَّاسۡتَغۡفِرِاللّٰہَ “And ask forgiveness of Allah.”  اِنَّ اللّٰہَ کَانَ غَفُوۡرًا رَّحِیۡمًا “Surely, Allah is Most Forgiving, Merciful.” (Surah al-Nisa, Ch.4: V.107)

Then, Allah the Almighty stated:

وَ لَا تُجَادِلۡ عَنِ الَّذِیۡنَ یَخۡتَانُوۡنَ اَنۡفُسَہُمۡ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰہَ لَا یُحِبُّ مَنۡ کَانَ خَوَّانًا اَثِیۡمًا۔ یَّسۡتَخۡفُوۡنَ مِنَ النَّاسِ وَ لَا یَسۡتَخۡفُوۡنَ مِنَ اللّٰہِ وَ ہُوَ مَعَہُمۡ اِذۡ یُبَیِّتُوۡنَ مَا لَا یَرۡضٰی مِنَ الۡقَوۡلِ ؕ وَ کَانَ اللّٰہُ بِمَا یَعۡمَلُوۡنَ مُحِیۡطًا۔ ہٰۤاَنۡتُمۡ ہٰۤؤُلَآءِ جٰدَلۡتُمۡ عَنۡہُمۡ فِی الۡحَیٰوۃِ الدُّنۡیَا ۟ فَمَنۡ یُّجَادِلُ اللّٰہَ عَنۡہُمۡ یَوۡمَ الۡقِیٰمَۃِ اَمۡ مَّنۡ یَّکُوۡنُ عَلَیۡہِمۡ وَکِیۡلًا۔ وَ مَنۡ یَّعۡمَلۡ سُوۡٓءًا اَوۡ یَظۡلِمۡ نَفۡسَہٗ ثُمَّ یَسۡتَغۡفِرِ اللّٰہَ یَجِدِ اللّٰہَ غَفُوۡرًا رَّحِیۡمًا

“And plead not on behalf of those who are dishonest to themselves. Surely, Allah loves not one who is perfidious and a great sinner. They seek to hide from men, but they cannot hide from Allah; and He is with them when they spend the night plotting about matters of which He does not approve. And Allah encompasses what they do. Behold! you are the ones who pleaded for them in the present life. But who will plead with Allah for them on the Day of Resurrection, or who will be a guardian over them? And whoso does evil or wrongs his soul, and then asks forgiveness of Allah, will surely find Allah Most Forgiving, Merciful.” (Surah al-Nisa, Ch.4: V.108-111)

God Almighty then states:

وَ مَنۡ یَّکۡسِبۡ اِثۡمًا فَاِنَّمَا یَکۡسِبُہٗ عَلٰی نَفۡسِہٖ ؕ وَ کَانَ اللّٰہُ عَلِیۡمًا حَکِیۡمًا۔ وَ مَنۡ یَّکۡسِبۡ خَطِیۡٓٮـَٔۃً اَوۡ اِثۡمًا ثُمَّ یَرۡمِ بِہٖ بَرِیۡٓــًٔا فَقَدِ احۡتَمَلَ بُہۡتَانًا وَّ اِثۡمًا مُّبِیۡنًا

“And whoso commits a sin commits it only against his own soul. And Allah is All-Knowing, Wise. And whoso commits a fault or a sin, then imputes it to an innocent person, certainly bears the burden of a calumny and a manifest sin.” (Surah al-Nisa, Ch.4: V.112-113)

Hazrat Qatadah^(ra) then says that this points towards the Banu Ubairak, who said that according to them, Labeed bin Sahal committed the theft. God Almighty then further states:

وَ لَوۡ لَا فَضۡلُ اللّٰہِ عَلَیۡکَ وَ رَحۡمَتُہٗ لَہَمَّتۡ طَّآئِفَۃٌ مِّنۡہُمۡ اَنۡ یُّضِلُّوۡکَ ؕ وَ مَا یُضِلُّوۡنَ اِلَّاۤ اَنۡفُسَہُمۡ وَ مَا یَضُرُّوۡنَکَ مِنۡ شَیۡءٍ ؕ وَ اَنۡزَلَ اللّٰہُ عَلَیۡکَ الۡکِتٰبَ وَ الۡحِکۡمَۃَ وَ عَلَّمَکَ مَا لَمۡ تَکُنۡ تَعۡلَمُ ؕ وَ کَانَ فَضۡلُ اللّٰہِ عَلَیۡکَ عَظِیۡمًا۔ لَا خَیۡرَ فِیۡ کَثِیۡرٍ مِّنۡ نَّجۡوٰٮہُمۡ اِلَّا مَنۡ اَمَرَ بِصَدَقَۃٍ اَوۡ مَعۡرُوۡفٍ اَوۡ اِصۡلَاحٍۭ بَیۡنَ النَّاسِ ؕ وَ مَنۡ یَّفۡعَلۡ ذٰلِکَ ابۡتِغَآءَ مَرۡضَاتِ اللّٰہِ فَسَوۡفَ نُؤۡتِیۡـہِ اَجۡرًا عَظِیۡمًا

“And but for the grace of Allah upon thee and His mercy, a party of them had resolved to bring about thy ruin. And they ruin none but themselves and they cannot harm thee at all. Allah has sent down to thee the Book and Wisdom and has taught thee what thou knewest not, and great is Allah’s grace on thee. There is no good in many of their conferences except the conferences of such as enjoin charity, or goodness, or the making of peace among men. And whoso does that, seeking the pleasure of Allah, We shall soon bestow on him a great reward.” (Surah al-Nisa, Ch.4: V.114-115)

Nonetheless, these verses could have various other meanings as well, however they thought that these verses were revealed about their situation. However, God Almighty disclosed the reality of the matter to the Holy Prophet^(sa). The outcome of this was that when these verses were revealed, the people of Banu Ubairak about whom there was suspicion of the theft, also thought that these verses were revealed about them and admitted to their theft. They brought the weapons back to the Holy Prophet^(sa), who then returned it to Rifa‘ah, who was the rightful owner.

Hazrat Qatadah^(ra) states:

“My uncle was an elderly man and his eye sight was weak even prior to his acceptance of Islam during the age of ignorance [jahiliyyah]. Owing to this, I thought that perhaps my uncle was weak in his faith.” He thought that although he had accepted Islam and became a Muslim, he was not firm in his faith. “But when I took the weapons that had been returned from the thieves, he said to me, ‘O my nephew! I give these away as Sadaqah [charity] in the way of God Almighty.’ At that time, I realised and I was convinced that my uncle was firm in his faith, and all the while I was wrong to doubt his level of faith.”

The Outcome of Hypocrisy

When these verses of the Holy Quran were revealed, Bashir, one of the brothers about whom there was doubt that he was a hypocrite, went to join the idolaters and stayed with Sulafah bint Sa‘d. At that time, God Almighty revealed the following verses:

وَ مَنۡ یُّشَاقِقِ الرَّسُوۡلَ مِنۡۢ بَعۡدِ مَا تَبَیَّنَ لَہُ الۡہُدٰی وَ یَتَّبِعۡ غَیۡرَ سَبِیۡلِ الۡمُؤۡمِنِیۡنَ نُوَلِّہٖ مَا تَوَلّٰی وَ نُصۡلِہٖ جَہَنَّمَ ؕ وَ سَآءَتۡ مَصِیۡرًا۔ اِنَّ اللّٰہَ لَا یَغۡفِرُ اَنۡ یُّشۡرَکَ بِہٖ وَ یَغۡفِرُ مَا دُوۡنَ ذٰلِکَ لِمَنۡ یَّشَآءُ ؕ وَ مَنۡ یُّشۡرِکۡ بِاللّٰہِ فَقَدۡ ضَلَّ ضَلٰلًۢا بَعِیۡدًا

“And as to him who opposes the Messenger after guidance has become clear to him, and follows a way other than that of the believers, We shall let him pursue the way he is pursuing and shall cast him into Hell; and an evil destination it is. Allah will not forgive that anything be associated with Him as partner, but He will forgive what is short of that to whomsoever He pleases. And whoso associates anything as partner with Allah has indeed strayed far away.” (Surah al-Nisa, Ch. 4: V.116-117)

When Bashir left Islam and went to stay with Sulafah, who was an idolater, Hazrat Hassan^(ra) bin Thabit criticised him in one of his couplets. When Sulafah bint Sa‘d heard these couplets, she took his possessions and placing them on her head, threw them out of the house in an open plain. She then said it was owing to him that they received the gift of Hassan bin Thabit’s couplets, i.e., due to him they also became the target of his couplets. She then said, “I will not receive any benefit from you.” (Sunan Al-Tirmidhi, Abwab Tafsir Al-Qur’an, Bab Wa Min Surah Al-Nisa, Hadith 3036)

Hence, she stated that she would not keep his possessions in her house any longer. Thus, this was the ultimate fate of a hypocrite or idolater.

The Weight of Surah Al-Ikhlas

Hazrat Abu Saeed Khudri^(ra) relates that once Hazrat Qatadah^(ra) bin Nu‘man spent the entire night reciting Surah al-Ikhlas. When the Holy Prophet^(sa) was informed about this, the Holy Prophet^(sa) said, “I swear by Him in Whose hands is my life, Surah Al Ikhlas is equal to a half or one third of the Quran.” (Musnad Ahmad bin Hanbal, Vol. 4, p. 42, Musnad Abu Saeed Khudri, Hadith 11131, Alamul Kutub, Beirut, 1998)

Meaning, it refers to the Unity of God, which in reality is the teachings that are found in the Holy Quran.

Etiquettes of Prayer

Abu Salma says that Hazrat Abu Hurairah^(ra) would narrate to us a Hadith from the Holy Prophet^(sa) that he once said, “On Friday, there comes a time whereby if a Muslim is engaged in prayer and seeks the favours of Allah the Almighty, then Allah will grant all that to him.” Hazrat Abu Hurairah^(ra) then signalled with his hands indicating that the aforementioned time is very short.

Abu Salma says, “When Hazrat Abu Hurairah^(ra) passed away, I thought to myself, ‘By God! When I meet Abu Saeed Khudri^(ra), I will certainly ask about that [special] hour, perhaps he will know.’ Thus, on one occasion I met him and saw that he was straightening a few canes. I asked, ‘O Abu Saeed! What are these sticks that you are straightening?’” There were some sticks that he was arranging. “He replied, ‘These sticks are such that God Almighty has placed blessings therein for us. The Holy Prophet^(sa) liked these sticks and would use them whilst walking. We would straighten them and bring them to the Holy Prophet^(sa).’ He then stated that on one occasion, the Holy Prophet^(sa) saw spittle on the floor of the mosque, in the direction of the Qibla. At that time the Holy Prophet^(sa) was holding one of these sticks and he used it to clean the spittle, then said, ‘Whenever anyone from among you is in prayer, they should not spit in front of them, as their Lord is before them.’”

This means that as a person is standing before God Almighty, therefore they should not spit in front of them. I believe that perhaps not all the commandments had been revealed. That is why in this narration, which is found in Bukhari, it is mentioned that one ought to spit to one’s left or under one’s foot.

At the time, the area they would pray in was not fully constructed and therefore they would put earth over it to clean it. That is why the Holy Prophet^(sa) advised to spit under one’s feet. However, later on when the commandments were revealed and they received moral training, the directive of the Holy Prophet^(sa) was that one should use the corner of their robe or cloth if they need to wipe their nose or if they have to spit.

But nowadays there are tissues and handkerchiefs, and mosques are carpeted, therefore it does not mean that spitting on the floor is permissible. In those days there was a temporary permission granted due to the situation at the time. Moreover, later on, the Holy Prophet^(sa) clarified that if someone has to clean their nose or has to spit, they ought to use one corner of their robe, then cover it and clean it once they go outside.

The narrator of the incident then says:

“On the same night it rained heavily. When the Holy Prophet^(sa) came out to lead the Isha prayer, there was a sudden flash of lightning. The Holy Prophet^(sa) saw Hazrat Qatadah^(ra) and said, ‘O Qatadah! What are you doing at this hour?’ He replied, ‘O Messenger^(sa) of Allah, I knew that very few people would come for prayers, (due to the heavy rain and lightning) therefore, I thought that I ought to attend and so I came early. The Holy Prophet^(sa) said, ‘When you finish your prayers, wait here until I pass by.’ Thus, when the prayer finished, the Holy Prophet^(sa) gave a stick to Hazrat Qatadah^(ra) and said, ‘This stick will enable you to see ten steps ahead of you and ten steps behind you. Then when you enter your house, you will see the shadow of a human; before he speaks, kill him with this stick, for that will be Satan.’ Therefore, he did as he was instructed. Abu Saeed^(ra) then further says, ‘We have love for these sticks because the Holy Prophet^(sa) granted them to us. We would give them to the Holy Prophet ^(sa) after preparing it specially for him. The Holy Prophet^(sa) would then use them and also return them to us or give them to people as gifts. Therefore, there are many blessings attached to them. That is why I am arranging them.’”

A Special Time for the Acceptance of Prayer on Friday

Abu Salma^(ra) further states that he asked:

“O Abu Saeed^(ra)! Hazrat Abu Hurairah^(ra) once narrated a hadith to us about a special time on Fridays.” Abu Salma initially went to ask Abu Saeed this very question, but when he saw him arranging the sticks, he first enquired about the sticks. He then returned to his actual question and asked, “According to a narration of Abu Hurairah^(ra), on Fridays, a particular moment comes in which prayers are accepted and if he knew about this. Abu Saeed Khudri replied that he asked the Holy Prophet^(sa) concerning that particular moment to which he replied, ‘At first I was informed about that particular moment, but then, just like the Night of Decree, I was made to forget it.’ Abu Salma said that he then left and went to Hazrat Abdullah bin Salam.” (Musnad Ahmad bin Hanbal, Vol. 4, p. 42, Musnad Abu Sa eed Khudri, Hadith 11131, Alamul Kutub, Beirut, 1998) (Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab as-Salat, Bab Hukkul Mukhaat Bil Hisaa Min al-Masjid, Hadith 408-409)

The narration from Musnad Ahmad bin Hanbal, which has just been quoted, mentions that there is a particular moment on a Friday for the acceptance of prayer. In this regard, there are various other narrations from which three particular times can be ascertained. One of them is reported to appear during the Friday Sermon, the second is towards the latter part of the day and the third is that it appears after the Asr prayer.

Hazrat Abu Hurairah^(ra) relates that the Holy Prophet^(sa) spoke about the Friday prayer and stated that there is a particular moment in the day, which, if a Muslim experiences while he is stood in a state of prayer, he shall be granted whatever he supplicates from God Almighty. Through the gesture of his hand, the Holy Prophet ^(sa) indicated that the duration of this particular moment was extremely limited. (Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitabul Jumuah, Bab al-Sa‘ah Fi Yaumil Jumuah, Hadith 935)

Then, there is a narration from Sahih Muslim in which Abu Burdah bin Abu Musa Ash‘ari relates that Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar^(ra) said to him, “Have you heard your father narrate the Hadith from the Holy Prophet^(sa) with regard to the description of the particular moment that appears on Friday?” He replied, “Indeed, I have.” He then said that his father stated, “I heard the Holy Prophet^(sa) say that the particular moment appears from the time the imam sits down till he concludes the prayer.” (Sahih Muslim, Kitab-ul-Jumuah, Bab Fi Al-Sa‘atillati Fi Yaumil Jumuah, Hadith 835)

In another narration related by Hazrat Abdullah^(ra) bin Salam, in which he states that once the Holy Prophet^(sa) was seated and he asked, “We read in the book of God that there is a particular moment on Friday in which if a person seeks anything from Allah, whilst in the state offering prayer, his prayer is surely answered.” Hazrat Abdullah ^(ra) states that the Holy Prophet^(sa) then pointed towards him and said, “Or some part of an hour,” i.e., a very short time. Hazrat Abdullah stated, “Indeed, or some part of an hour.” Hazrat Abdullah^(ra) then stated, “When exactly is that hour?” The Holy Prophet^(sa) stated, “It is in the last hours of the day (i.e., when the day is approaching its end).” Hazrat Abdullah^(ra) then asked, “Does it not appear during the prayer?” The Holy Prophet^(sa) stated, “Indeed, when a believer completes his prayer but remains seated thereafter and it is merely owing to that prayer he remains seated, then that also constitutes as part of the prayer itself.” (Sunan Ibn Majah, Kitab Iqaamat As-Salat Wa Al-Sunnati Fiha, Bab Ma Ja’a Fi Al-Sa‘ah Turjaa Fi Al-Jumuah, Hadith 1139)

In other words, if after prayer, one remains occupied in the remembrance of God Almighty, one will still be considered to be in the state of prayer and this creates a condition for one to continue offering supplications.

In another narration, Hazrat Abu Hurairah^(ra) states that the Holy Prophet^(sa) stated, “A particular moment appears on a Friday in which if a believer is seeking good from Allah the Almighty, He surely grants him whatever good he was supplicating for. This particular moment appears after the Asr prayer.” (Musnad Ahmad bin Hanbal, Vol. 13, p. 117, Musnad Abu Hurairah, Hadith 7688, Maktabah Muassisah Al-Risalah, Beirut, 2008)

Here, the narration of Musnad Ahmad bin Hanbal states that this particular time appears after Asr on a Friday. In another narration it states that Hazrat Abu Salma^(ra) enquired from the Holy Prophet^(sa) regarding this particular time and the Holy Prophet ^(sa) stated:

آخِرُساعاتِ النھار

Meaning, that it appears in the final hours of the day. (Musnad Ahmad bin Hanbal, Vol. 7, pp. 847-848, Musnad Abdullah bin Salaam, Hadith 24189, Alamul Kutub, Beirut, 1998)

Expounding upon this, Hazrat Musleh Maud^(ra) states in his Tafsir [exegesis of the Holy Quran]:

“Friday and Ramadan are similar in one respect. That is because Friday is a day for the acceptance of prayer as is the month of Ramadan. With regard to the Friday prayer, the Holy Prophet^(sa) states that if a person arrives at the mosque for prayer and quietly remains occupied in the remembrance of God Almighty whilst waiting for the imam, and thereafter attentively listens to the Friday Sermon and offers the prayer in congregation, God Almighty shall bestow His special blessings upon him. Moreover, there is a particular moment which appears on Friday in which whatever one supplicates for is answered. Hazrat Abu Hurairah^(ra) relates that the Holy Prophet^(sa) spoke about the Friday prayer and said that there was a particular moment in the day which if a Muslim experienced while he was stood in a state of prayer, he would be granted whatever he supplicated from God Almighty. The Holy Prophet^(sa) indicated with the gesture of his hand that the duration of this particular moment was extremely limited.”

Hazrat Musleh Maud^(ra) further states:

“One of the explanations of this hadith which certainly needs to be given is that only such prayers will be accepted which are in accordance to the established practise of God Almighty and the Divine law. However, prayers of an ill nature will certainly not be accepted. Those supplications which are lawful, in accordance to the established practise of God Almighty and the Divine law will only be accepted. And while this is a great bounty, it is not easily achieved. The duration of the Friday prayer starts approximately a short while before the second Azan [call to prayer] and ends with the Salam [i.e., the completion] of prayer. Even in the instance where the sermon is short, the total duration of the Friday prayer is almost 30 minutes and if the sermon is a little longer, the total duration can be around 1-1.5 hours. During this 1-1.5-hour period, there comes a particular moment in which whatever one supplicates is answered. However, one cannot determine whether the acceptance of prayer is in the very first, second or third minute of the sermon. In fact, one cannot even determine a single minute from the entire 90 minutes of the sermon as to which of them was the one for the acceptance of prayer.

“Thus, one will have to search for the entire 90 minutes. In other words, one will have to continuously pray for the entire 90 minutes of the sermon in order to succeed in achieving this moment in which all of one’s supplications are answered. However, to continuously pray for 90 minutes and remain focused is a very arduous task indeed.”

Hazrat Musleh Maud^(ra) further writes,

“Certain people cannot keep their attention focused for even five minutes. For instance, I have come here for prayer, and naturally as one takes a glance around, I happened to notice that before the sermon some people were offering their Sunnah prayer and their eyes would begin to wander here and there. The Sunnah prayer only lasts for a few minutes but even in this short duration of time, their eyes roam about everywhere, at times looking to their right or left or at the floor or then up in the heavens. Thus, if one cannot even focus their attention for 2-2.5 minutes, to maintain one’s concentration for an entire 90 minutes and remain occupied in prayer and the remembrance of God Almighty is no easy task.” (Khutbat-e-Mahmud, Vol. 33, pp. 161-162, Khutbah Farmudah 30 May 1952) (Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitabul Jumuah, Bab al-Sa‘ah Fi Yaumil Jumuah, Hadith 935)

Therefore, if there is mention of a particular moment [for the acceptance of prayer], it requires a continuous and concerted effort. One has to greatly strive in order to achieve this. It is not as simple as  praying and having that prayer accepted instantly within that very minute. In fact, there is no knowledge as to when that moment may be. Therefore, it is necessary for one to continuously remain engaged in prayer during this time, without diverting their attention. Hazrat Musleh Maud^(ra) has also mentioned that this is no easy task. In order to attain the blessings of the Friday prayer, one needs to make great effort.