Wake Up to Our Purpose: Renewing Our Friday and Daily Worship
How to Approach the Friday Prayer and Everyday Prayers with Love and Deeper Meaning
The Call to Righteousness
I begin by reminding myself and you of the divine call to have taqwa of Allah, for that is the best provision. We have been blessed beyond imagination by the gift of the Friday Prayer.
In Surat al-Jumu‘a, Allah (Most High) tells us:
“O you who believe! When the call is proclaimed for prayer on Friday, hasten to the remembrance of Allah and leave off business.” [Quran, 62:9]
This “hastening” is both physical and spiritual—a sign of eagerness and reverence. It is from the Prophetic sunna to arrive early for the Friday Prayer, to set aside our worldly concerns, and to ready our hearts for the remembrance of Allah.
Related Resources
- Answers: The Fiqh of the Friday Prayer
- Article: The Virtues and Etiquette of Friday
- Video: The Significance of Friday Prayer – SeekersGuidance YouTube Channel
The Distinction of Friday
Friday is the best of days—a weekly Eid. One way to honor this day is by dressing our best, at least better than we normally do. Even something as simple as keeping a clean jacket at school or work can help instill a sense of reverence for this special occasion.
It is also sunna to perform a ghusl on Friday with the intention of preparing for the Friday Prayer. Trimming one’s nails, cleansing oneself thoroughly, and—for men—applying a pleasant fragrance are actions beloved to the Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace).
The Companions (Allah be pleased with them) held perfume in high regard. One of them remarked that even spending a third of one’s wealth on good scent would not be considered wasteful if one intended to emulate the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace).
Attentiveness During the Khutba
When the imam delivers the khutba (Friday sermon), we strive for attentive stillness and unity of purpose. The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) taught:
“If you say to your companion, ‘Listen!’ on a Friday while the imam is delivering the sermon, you have indeed engaged in idle speech.”
[Bukhari]
Even idle fidgeting is discouraged, as it undermines the spiritual benefit of the sermon. This focused stillness trains us in purposefulness—not just at the Friday Prayer, but in all our worship.
In our daily prayers, too, we seek deep intention. In one of the opening supplications, the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) would recite:
“Inni wajjahtu wajhiya lilladhi fataras-samawati wal-arda hanifan…”
“I have turned my face entirely to the One who created the heavens and the earth, devoutly inclining (to the truth)…”
[Muslim, from Quran, 6:79 as a Prophetic supplication.]
Related Resources
- Podcast: Renew Your Acts of Worship – SeekersGuidance Podcast
- Video: Focusing in Prayer – SeekersGuidance YouTube Channel
Longing for Prayer
The believer is called to stand reverently in prayer. The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) longed for it so deeply that he said to Bilal (Allah be pleased with him):
“Arihna biha ya Bilal.”
“Grant us comfort by it, O Bilal.”
[Ahmad]
For the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), prayer was both refuge and joy. His wife, ‘A’isha (Allah be pleased with her), described how he would be fully present with the family—until the call to prayer sounded. She said, “When the time for prayer came, it was as if he did not know us, nor did we know him,” indicating his complete devotion in worship.
By contrast, the hypocrites are described in the Quran as standing to pray “lazily” [Quran, 4:142]. We seek to avoid that heedlessness. Imagine a spouse excited to meet their beloved but finding the other person distracted and uninterested. May Allah protect us from approaching our worship with such disinterest.
Instruments of Mass Distraction
We live in an age of digital overload and constant interruptions, which can corrode our capacity to focus on what truly matters. The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) foretold that, near the end of time, superficial distractions and illusions would lead many astray.
Yet the believer is meant to stand firm upon their purpose. We were created to know, love, and serve Allah (Most High). Our focus should remain on Him, and we should guard ourselves from heedlessness in the face of endless technological temptations.
Beginning and Ending the Day with Purpose
One of the most effective ways to remain spiritually grounded is to reflect on how we begin and end each day. The du‘as of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) for morning and evening are not mere words; they are profound declarations of faith and purpose.
Upon waking, he taught us to say:
“Alhamdulillahil-ladhi ahyana ba‘da ma amatana wa-ilayhin-nushur.”
“All praise is for Allah, Who has given us life after He caused us to die (in sleep), and to Him is the return.”
[Bukhari]
Sleep is a lesser death, and rising each morning is a reminder of our ultimate resurrection before Allah.
Related Resources
- Article: Morning and Evening Dhikr – SeekersGuidance
- Answers: Recommended Adhkar for the Day and Night
- Podcast: Daily Remembrance – SeekersGuidance Podcast
- Video: Importance of Dhikr – SeekersGuidance YouTube Channel
Mean What You Say
Our dhikr (remembrance) and dua (supplication) carry immense meaning:
- Subhan Allah (سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ) affirms Allah’s absolute perfection.
- Alhamdulillah (الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ) proclaims that all praise belongs to Him.
- La ilaha illa Allah (لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ) testifies there is no god but Allah.
- Allahu Akbar (اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ) declares He is far greater than anything we can imagine.
We should strive not to utter these statements mechanically. When said with genuine presence of heart, they become proclamations of love, awe, and surrender to the Divine.
Smiling in Gratitude
Another seemingly small yet transformative practice is to smile sincerely. Too often, we carry ourselves as though weighed down by the world’s burdens. Yet as believers, we have ample reasons for gratitude: faith, guidance, and countless blessings—both worldly and spiritual.
The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) was known for his radiant countenance. He encouraged us to smile, teaching that it is a form of charity to those around us. Even when alone, a smile of contentment and shukr (thankfulness) to Allah can brighten our hearts.
A Declaration of Love
Ultimately, let us awaken to the deeper purpose for which we were created. Our attendance at the Friday Prayer, our five daily prayers, our remembrance (dhikr), and our supplications (dua) are all declarations of love for Allah.
He has declared His eternal love for the believers who do good. Our task is to respond with sincerity, devotion, and meaningful action.
May Allah (Most High) send His peace and blessings upon the Prophet Muhammad—he who taught us every good—and upon his family and companions. May He grant us wakeful hearts, devoted intentions, and a life of purpose that draws us closer to His pleasure.
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ وَسَلِّمْ عَلَى سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ أَجْمَعِينَ
Allahumma salli wa-sallim ‘ala Sayyidina Muhammad, wa-‘ala alihi wa-sahbihi ajma‘in.
Amin.
More from SeekersGuidance
