Fiqh
Friday and the two Eids
The weekly and yearly gatherings
4 min, Intro
Friday is the Muslim day of congregation: a midday prayer with a sermon. Twice a year come the Eids, festivals marking the end of Ramadan and the days of Hajj. This lesson follows the Hanafi school, as followed in much of South Africa.
Draft written with AI help: awaiting scholar review
The thread
Muslims gather on two rhythms: every Friday at midday, and twice a year for the Eids. This lesson follows those gatherings in the Hanafi school. From the Friday sermon and prayer. To the festival at the end of Ramadan. To the festival of sacrifice during the Hajj.
Jumu'ah, the Friday prayer
It is Friday, at midday, and the call to prayer goes out. The Qur'an speaks to that moment: when the call is made for prayer on Friday, hurry to the remembrance of God and leave off trade.
On this day the usual midday prayer is replaced by Jumu'ah: a sermon (khutbah) followed by two units of prayer in congregation.
It is obligatory for adult men who are resident and able. Women may attend, and their prayer counts.
Preparing well is sunnah: a bath (ghusl), clean clothes, perfume, coming early.
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ إِذَا نُودِيَ لِلصَّلَوٰةِ مِن يَوۡمِ ٱلۡجُمُعَةِ فَٱسۡعَوۡاْ إِلَىٰ ذِكۡرِ ٱللَّهِ وَذَرُواْ ٱلۡبَيۡعَۚ ذَٰلِكُمۡ خَيۡرࣰ لَّكُمۡ إِن كُنتُمۡ تَعۡلَمُونَ ٩
9 O you who believe, when the call for prayer is made on Friday, then hasten to the remembrance of Allah and leave off trading. That is better for you, if only you knew.
When one of you comes to Jumu'ah, let him take a bath.
Sahih al-Bukhari 877, Sahih Muslim 844 Sahih In Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim
On Friday, the Qur'an calls Muslims away from trade and to prayer.
Eid al-Fitr
Twice a year, the gathering is a festival. The first comes at the end of Ramadan.
Eid al-Fitr, the festival of breaking the fast, falls on the first day of Shawwal, when the new moon is sighted after Ramadan. Fasting that day is forbidden.
Ideally before the prayer, each Muslim who can afford it gives zakat al-fitr, a fixed small amount for themselves and each dependant, so that the poor can celebrate too.
Then the prayer. In the Hanafi school the Eid prayer is wajib (required): two units with extra takbirs (calls of "Allahu akbar"), followed by a sermon. Then family, visits and food.
Eid al-Fitr begins by making sure the poor can celebrate too.
Eid al-Adha and the sacrifice
The second Eid comes during the Hajj. Eid al-Adha, the festival of sacrifice, falls on the tenth of Dhu al-Hijjah.
It recalls Ibrahim's readiness to sacrifice his son, and the ram given in his place.
In the Hanafi school, those who hold the nisab (the zakat threshold) must offer an animal, qurbani. The meat is shared: traditionally a third for the family, a third for relatives and friends, a third for the poor.
And the Qur'an is clear about the point. Neither the meat nor the blood reaches God. What reaches Him is your devotion.
لَن يَنَالَ ٱللَّهَ لُحُومُهَا وَلَا دِمَآؤُهَا وَلَٰكِن يَنَالُهُ ٱلتَّقۡوَىٰ مِنكُمۡۚ كَذَٰلِكَ سَخَّرَهَا لَكُمۡ لِتُكَبِّرُواْ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَىٰكُمۡۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ ٣٧
37 It is neither their flesh nor their blood that reaches Allah, but it is your piety that reaches Him. This is how He has subjected them to you, so that you may proclaim Allah’s greatness for having guided you. And give glad tidings to those who do good.
What reaches God is devotion, not meat.