(210) Chapter: The Excellence of Friday Prayer

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "If anyone performs Wudu' properly, then comes to the Friday prayer, listens to the Khutbah (religious talk) attentively and keeps silent, his (minor) sins between that Friday and the following Friday will be forgiven, with the addition of three more days; but he who touches pebbles has caused an interruption. " [Muslim]. Commentary: 1. "If anyone performs ablution properly'' means does it in accordance with the Sunnah of the Prophet (PBUH), that is to say, one should not exceed the prescribed limits, nor should one use water extravagantly. One should wash every organ of the body involved in "Wudu'', at the most for three times. One should neither use water in excess of the need nor leave any of the organs unwashed or partly washed in Wudu'. This Hadith also makes it evident that it is more meritorious to perform Wudu' at home. 2. Sins of ten days are pardoned because every virtue has at least ten-times reward. Here sins means minor sins as the major ones are not forgiven without sincere repentance nor are Huquq-ul-`Ibad i.e., (rights of people) forgiven without compensation. 3. One should listen to the Khutbah quietly with full attention. One must avoid toying with anything (such as straws, one's watch, etc.) as this is a useless exercise, which will doubtlessly deprive one of the Friday reward.