Abu Hurayra (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) used to recite in the Fajr Prayer of Friday [surat al-Sajda] and [surat al-Insan].” (Sahih Bukhari & Muslim)
Al-Hakim al-Tirmidhi wrote in his book Ilal al-Shari’ah (The Wisdom Behind the Teachings of the Shariah),
“The reason these two suras are recited in the Fajr Prayer on the day of Friday is because in these two suras there is mention of the creation of Adam (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), and he was created on Friday. It is as if he (the Messenger of Allah) wanted to spread mention of this event among the worshipers on the day of Friday.”
Al-Hakim al-Tirmidhi is referring to the fact that the day of Friday is the Eid of the Muslims, because it is the day in which humanity was created. The two suras above begin with mention of the creation of mankind, and a reminder for mankind to give thanks and celebrate this blessing:
“Such is He who knows all that is unseen as well as what is seen, the Almighty, the Merciful, who gave everything its perfect form. He first created man from clay – then made his descendants from an extract of underrated fluid – Then He moulded him; He breathed from His Spirit into him; He gave you hearing, sight, and minds. How seldom you are grateful!” (Q. Sura as-Sajda: 6-9)
“We created man from a drop of mingled fluid to put him to the test; We gave him hearing and sight; We guided him to the right path, whether he was grateful or not” (Q. Sura al-Insan: 2-3)
Al-Nu’man ibn Bashir (may Allah be pleased with him) said that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) used to recite Sura al-A’la and Sura al-Ghashiya in the Friday Prayers and Eid prayers, and even on the days in which Eid was on Friday, he (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) would recite them in both the Eid and Friday prayers (Sahih Muslim, Nasa’i, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud).
I say: Perhaps the wisdom in this is that the Friday khutba serves as a reminder for the community. In these two suras Allah (most high) says:
So remind, if reminding is useful. Those who stand in awe of God will heed the reminder, but it will be ignored by the most wicked….(Q. 87:9-11)
So remind them: your only task is to remind, you are not there to control them…. (Q. 88:21-22).
And it is also reported from Abu Hurayra that Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) sometimes would recite Surat al-Jumuah and Surat al-Munafiqun on Friday, and that Ali ibn Abi Talib would recite them when he led Friday prayers in Kufa (Sahih Muslim). Perhaps the wisdom in that is these verses:
Believers! When the call to prayer is made on the day of congregation, hurry towards the reminder of God and leave off your trading, – that is better for you, if only you knew –, then when the prayer has ended, disperse in the land and seek out God’s bounty. Remember God often so that you may prosper (Q. 62:9-10)
Believers, do not let your wealth and your children distract you from remembering God: those who do so will be the ones who lose (Q. 63:9)
And Allah ta’ala knows best.
Written June 2019
Basira Academy 