Friday Ghusl

Friday ghusl or Ghusl al-Jumuʿa (Arabic: غسل الجمعة) (ritual bathing on Friday) is one of the most important recommended ghusls. About the importance of this ghusl, Prophet Muhammad (s) said, "Never abandon ghusl al-Jumu'a, even if you have to save on food and spend on performing ghusl; as ghusl al-Jumu'a is one of the greatest mustahab acts."

The time of performing Friday ghusl is from adhan of fajr prayer on Friday to the noon of that day; although one can perform its qada on Friday afternoon or on Saturday. According to most marja's ghusl al-Jumu'a will not suffice for performing prayer, that is, one must make wudu for performing it.

Merits

Friday ghusl is emphatically recommended, to the extent that some early faqihs said that it is wajib (compulsory). About the importance of this ghusl, Prophet Muhammad (a) said, "Never abandon ghusl al-Jumu'a, even if you have to save on food and spend on performing ghusl; as ghusl al-Jumu'a is one of the greatest mustahab acts." Moreover, when Imam Ali (a) wanted to rebuke someone, he would say to him, "You are even weaker than the one who abandons ghusl al-Jumu'a."

It is commonly said that if someone perform Friday ghusl for 40 weeks in row, his/her body will not decay in grave; however, there is no hadith supporting this saying.

Time

The time of performing Friday ghusl is from adhan of fajr prayer on Friday to the noon of that day. It is better to perform it near the noon. If one guesses that s/he would not have access to water on Friday, s/he is allowed to perform ghusl al-Jumu'a on Thursday.

If one cannot perform ghusl al-Jumu'a by the noon on Friday, s/he can perform its qada in Friday afternoon or on Saturday. Some said that if ghusl al-Jumu'a is performed in Friday afternoon or on Saturday, according to precaution, it must be performed without the niyya (intention) of ada' or qada.

How to Perform

Like other ghusls, ghusl al-Jumu'a is performed in two ways: tartibi (sequential) and irtimasi (by immersion). It only differs from other ghusls in niyya (intention).

Sufficing for prayer

According to the fatwa of most marja's, Friday ghusl will not suffice for prayer and one must make wudu for performing salat, in addition to ghusl al-Jumu'a.

If after Friday ghusl a hadath (something that voids wudu or ghusl) occurs, there is no need for repeating the ghusl; actually, repeating it is not mustahab (recommended).

Supplication

It is recommended to read this supplication while performing Friday ghusl:

“

أشْهَدُ أنْ لا إِلهَ إلاَّ اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لا شَریک لَهُ وَأنَّ مُحَمَّداً عَبْدُه وَرَسوُلُه. اَلّلهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلی مُحَمَّد وَآلِ مُحَمَّد وَاجْعَلْنی مِنَ التَّوَّابینَ وَاجْعِلْنی مِنَ الْمُتَطَهِّرین

”

"I bare witness that there is no god except for Allah, the One, Who has no partner, and [I bare witness that] Muhammad is His servant and His apostle. O, Allah, salute Muhammad and his household; and make me one of the repenters and make me one of the purification seekers."

References

The material for this article is mainly taken from غسل جمعه in Farsi Wikishia.