In the name of Allah, The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful, all praise and thanks belong to our most Merciful Lord. He is the Lord of the Heavens and the Earth and everything in between. He is the Lord and Creator of all that exists. He is not bound in anyway by what He has created and there is no creator other than Him. He is the only One worthy of worship and has no competitor, consort, or offspring. He is the True Sovereign, Master, Owner, and King of all that exists. He is the All Knowing of all that is, what could be, what will be, what is not and what could never be. All of that is under His Will and Power and He does whatever He wants. He is not obligated to do anything. He cannot be compelled to do, nor can He be restrained from doing. What His creation knows of Him is only that which He has permitted. Allah says,
Abraham (14:10)
۞ قَالَتْ رُسُلُهُمْ أَفِى ٱللَّهِ شَكٌّۭ فَاطِرِ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ يَدْعُوكُمْ لِيَغْفِرَ لَكُم مِّن ذُنُوبِكُمْ وَيُؤَخِّرَكُمْ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍۢ مُّسَمًّۭى ۚ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنْ أَنتُمْ إِلَّا بَشَرٌۭ مِّثْلُنَا تُرِيدُونَ أَن تَصُدُّونَا عَمَّا كَانَ يَعْبُدُ ءَابَآؤُنَا فَأْتُونَا بِسُلْطَـٰنٍۢ مُّبِينٍۢ ١٠
Their messengers asked ˹them˺, “Is there any doubt about Allah, the Originator of the heavens and the earth? He is inviting you in order to forgive your sins, and delay your end until your appointed term.”[1] They argued, “You are no more than humans like us! You ˹only˺ wish to turn us away from what our forefathers worshipped. So, bring us some compelling proof.”
Abraham (14:11)
قَالَتْ لَهُمْ رُسُلُهُمْ إِن نَّحْنُ إِلَّا بَشَرٌۭ مِّثْلُكُمْ وَلَـٰكِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَمُنُّ عَلَىٰ مَن يَشَآءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِۦ ۖ وَمَا كَانَ لَنَآ أَن نَّأْتِيَكُم بِسُلْطَـٰنٍ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَعَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ ١١
Their messengers said to them, “We are ˹indeed˺ only humans like you, but Allah favours whoever He chooses of His servants. It is not for us to bring you any proof without Allah’s permission. And in Allah let the believers put their trust.
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran
His existence is irrefutable and can be rationally deduced. We know of Him only what He has revealed about Himself. There is no doubt that Allah is The Real, The Truth. May Peace and blessings be upon His Messenger and Slave, whose name means the One who is Praised, Muhammad, Imam of the Messengers, and Seal of the Prophets and upon His Family, Companions and all who follow Him to the end of time. He ﷺ is the first of the Messengers to be created and the last to be dispatched. Allah has said to him in the Quran,
68:1
نٓ ۚ وَٱلْقَلَمِ وَمَا يَسْطُرُونَ ١
Nũn. By the pen and what everyone writes!
68:2
مَآ أَنتَ بِنِعْمَةِ رَبِّكَ بِمَجْنُونٍۢ ٢
By the grace of your Lord, you ˹O Prophet˺ are not insane.
68:3
وَإِنَّ لَكَ لَأَجْرًا غَيْرَ مَمْنُونٍۢ ٣
You will certainly have a never-ending reward.
68:4
وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍۢ ٤
And you are truly ˹a man˺ of outstanding character.
He, Exalted is He, has also said within the Quran about the Messenger of Allah ﷺ,
The Combined Forces (33:21)
لَّقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِى رَسُولِ ٱللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌۭ لِّمَن كَانَ يَرْجُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلْيَوْمَ ٱلْـَٔاخِرَ وَذَكَرَ ٱللَّهَ كَثِيرًۭا ٢١
Indeed, in the Messenger of Allah you have an excellent example for whoever has hope in Allah and the Last Day, and remembers Allah often.
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran
Muhammad ibn Abdullah, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, is not to be deified or worshipped besides Allah. He ﷺ is a creation of Allah, the best creation of Allah and he is to be followed. Allah has commanded the Prophet to say in the Quran,
قُلْ إِن كُنتُمْ تُحِبُّونَ ٱللَّهَ فَٱتَّبِعُونِى يُحْبِبْكُمُ ٱللَّهُ وَيَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ ذُنُوبَكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۭ ٣١
Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “If you ˹sincerely˺ love Allah, then follow me; Allah will love you and forgive your sins. For Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”
Family of Imran (3:32)
قُلْ أَطِيعُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱلرَّسُولَ ۖ فَإِن تَوَلَّوْا۟ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ ٣٢
Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “Obey Allah and His Messenger.” If they still turn away, then truly Allah does not like the disbelievers.
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran
Allah has said about Messengers,
The Women (4:64)
وَمَآ أَرْسَلْنَا مِن رَّسُولٍ إِلَّا لِيُطَاعَ بِإِذْنِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ وَلَوْ أَنَّهُمْ إِذ ظَّلَمُوٓا۟ أَنفُسَهُمْ جَآءُوكَ فَٱسْتَغْفَرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَٱسْتَغْفَرَ لَهُمُ ٱلرَّسُولُ لَوَجَدُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ تَوَّابًۭا رَّحِيمًۭا ٦٤
We only sent messengers to be obeyed by Allah’s Will. If only those ˹hypocrites˺ came to you ˹O Prophet˺—after wronging themselves—seeking Allah’s forgiveness and the Messenger prayed for their forgiveness, they would have certainly found Allah ever Accepting of Repentance, Most Merciful.
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran
And Allah has said,
48:8
إِنَّآ أَرْسَلْنَـٰكَ شَـٰهِدًۭا وَمُبَشِّرًۭا وَنَذِيرًۭا ٨
Indeed, ˹O Prophet,˺ We have sent you as a witness, a deliverer of good news, and a warner,
48:9
لِّتُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ وَتُعَزِّرُوهُ وَتُوَقِّرُوهُ وَتُسَبِّحُوهُ بُكْرَةًۭ وَأَصِيلًا ٩
so that you ˹believers˺ may have faith in Allah and His Messenger, support and honour him, and glorify Allah morning and evening.[1]
48:10
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يُبَايِعُونَكَ إِنَّمَا يُبَايِعُونَ ٱللَّهَ يَدُ ٱللَّهِ فَوْقَ أَيْدِيهِمْ ۚ فَمَن نَّكَثَ فَإِنَّمَا يَنكُثُ عَلَىٰ نَفْسِهِۦ ۖ وَمَنْ أَوْفَىٰ بِمَا عَـٰهَدَ عَلَيْهُ ٱللَّهَ فَسَيُؤْتِيهِ أَجْرًا عَظِيمًۭا ١٠
Surely those who pledge allegiance to you ˹O Prophet˺ are actually pledging allegiance to Allah. Allah’s Hand is over theirs. Whoever breaks their pledge, it will only be to their own loss. And whoever fulfils their pledge to Allah, He will grant them a great reward.
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran
Our faith is not valid without belief in Muhammad being the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. Likewise, our faith is not valid without belief in the Messengers and Prophets that came before him. In understanding the above, I testify that that there is nothing worthy of worship except Allah, alone without any partner and that I bear witness that Muhammad ﷺ is His Slave and Messenger.
To proceed:
We are nearing the holiday of Easter, which comes nearly two weeks after our holiday of Eid al Fitr. For the Christian community, this past week was known as “Holy Week” beginning with Palm Sunday, encompassing Passover, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and culminating with Easter. Easter marks the end of the liturgical season of Lent and the beginning of the liturgical season of Easter. It lasts for seven weeks, ending with the holiday of Pentecost. For the Jewish community, the holiday of Passover as well is not a single day. Rather, it is also a liturgical seasonal holiday that lasts for eight days. The culmination of Passover is a holiday called Isru Chag upon which it is forbidden to fast.
These weeks are weeks praise and thanks with various understandings, theological underpinnings, and practices. For example, on Maundy Thursday, many Christians take part in a practice of washing the feet of the parishioners, particularly the poor, prior to them receiving the eucharist. In Islam, a condition of the obligatory daily prayers is ritual purity. The act of achieving ritual purity is called lustration or ablution (wudu), in which we wash our faces, hands up to the elbows, wipe our heads, and wash our feet with water in accordance with the following verse of the Quran in preparation of our ritual prayer (salah):
The Table Spread (5:6)
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِذَا قُمْتُمْ إِلَى ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ فَٱغْسِلُوا۟ وُجُوهَكُمْ وَأَيْدِيَكُمْ إِلَى ٱلْمَرَافِقِ وَٱمْسَحُوا۟ بِرُءُوسِكُمْ وَأَرْجُلَكُمْ إِلَى ٱلْكَعْبَيْنِ ۚ وَإِن كُنتُمْ جُنُبًۭا فَٱطَّهَّرُوا۟ ۚ وَإِن كُنتُم مَّرْضَىٰٓ أَوْ عَلَىٰ سَفَرٍ أَوْ جَآءَ أَحَدٌۭ مِّنكُم مِّنَ ٱلْغَآئِطِ أَوْ لَـٰمَسْتُمُ ٱلنِّسَآءَ فَلَمْ تَجِدُوا۟ مَآءًۭ فَتَيَمَّمُوا۟ صَعِيدًۭا طَيِّبًۭا فَٱمْسَحُوا۟ بِوُجُوهِكُمْ وَأَيْدِيكُم مِّنْهُ ۚ مَا يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ لِيَجْعَلَ عَلَيْكُم مِّنْ حَرَجٍۢ وَلَـٰكِن يُرِيدُ لِيُطَهِّرَكُمْ وَلِيُتِمَّ نِعْمَتَهُۥ عَلَيْكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ ٦
O believers! When you rise up for prayer, wash your faces and your hands up to the elbows, wipe your heads, and wash your feet to the ankles. And if you are in a state of ˹full˺ impurity,[1] then take a full bath. But if you are ill, on a journey, or have relieved yourselves, or have been intimate with your wives and cannot find water, then purify yourselves with clean earth by wiping your faces and hands.[2] It is not Allah’s Will to burden you, but to purify you and complete His favour upon you, so perhaps you will be grateful.
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran
The act of washing the feet on Maundy Thursday is not obligatory for the Christians , but it seems to be highly recommended as an act of service and humility before God. The act is in accordance with what Pope Francis described as “the gesture Jesus performed in the Upper Room, giving himself ‘to the very end’ for salvation of the world, his boundless charity.” This act of “charity” being encompassed within the season of lent in which Christians are recommended to fast is very interesting. Commonalities can be seen with the coupling of the obligatory fast of Ramadan, which began days apart from this year’s Lent, and the act of Zakat Al Fitr, a charity for the poor to be able celebrate the day of Eid. The holiday of Isru Chug has a similar component to our Eids as well. In both holidays, the worshippers are forbidden to fast.
For us Muslims we are in the month of Shawwal. It is the month of our Eid, upon which we conclude the fasting of Ramadan. Many Muslims after the first of Shawwal, fast six days of the month following the recommendation of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ preserved in the following hadith,
عن أبي أيوب رضي الله عنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: “من صام رمضان ثم أتبعه بست من شوال كان كصيام الدهر” ((رواه مسلم)).
Abu Ayyub (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “He who observes As-Saum (the fasts) in the month of Ramadan, and also observes As-Saum for six days in the month of Shawwal, it is as if he has observed As-Saum for the whole year.” [Muslim].
Riyad as-Salihin 1254
According to some scholars this recommendation is understood to mean that six days of voluntary fasts within the month of Shawwal is as if one has fasted the entire year, while other scholars understood this to mean six days of voluntary fasts from the month of Shawwal to the next Ramadan. Either way, the act of voluntary fasting is noted as a praiseworthy act to continue after making up any obligatory fasts that were missed in the month of Ramadan. It has also been recommended that Shawwal, after the Eid, be a month committed to voluntary fasting. In a sense, Shawwal is a month in which one can wind down a bit from the intensity of Ramadan. After the Eid, a day in which it is forbidden to fast, one can make up their obligatory fasts that were missed in Ramadan or continue to voluntary fasts without them being in tandem. It is not a time stop worship or take a break, but it is obviously a time to reflect and seek out voluntary acts of worship that one can do sincerely and consistently throughout the year. It is a transitional time where Muslims plot out the maintenance of their worship and good deeds outside of the blessed month while also beginning their preparations for the fifth pillar of Islam, the Hajj. Shawwal is also the month that precedes the entrance of the sacred months that follow each other, Dhul Qa’dah, Dhul Hijjah and Muharram. In these sacred months, one’s deeds are magnified. The opportunity to excel continues within these sacred months. The Hajj, the greater pilgrimage, is a testament to the significance of maintaining one’s level of worship, good character, and manners. The Hajj is an indication of the scene of the day of Judgement. The major day of the Hajj is the day of Arafat, the ninth of Dhul Hijjah, upon which the pilgrims (hujaaj) stand on the mount and plains of Arafat begging Allah for forgiveness and supplicating Him for His pleasure and for well-being and the like. Likewise, on the Day of Judgement, mankind will stand waiting for the Judgement of our Lord, hoping for His Mercy, and fearing His Punishment and Accounting of our sins. Shawwal, therefore, is a time to prepare oneself for a continual remembrance of Allah outside of Ramadan. As Muslims we must keep in mind the ebbs and flows of our Hijri calendar and how Allah has spaced out Shawwal as a buffer period between the blessed Ramadan and the sacred months. This knowledge should help us focus on our worship and remembrance of Allah.
As we observe our Jewish and Christian neighbors observe their holidays and liturgical seasons, we should also remember that Allah bless us with weekly reminders to keep us engaged in His Remembrance. On Mondays and Thursdays, our deeds are presented to Allah, and one can access the forgiveness of their Lord on these days.
حَدَّثَنَا الْعَبَّاسُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْعَظِيمِ الْعَنْبَرِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا الضَّحَّاكُ بْنُ مَخْلَدٍ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ رِفَاعَةَ، عَنْ سُهَيْلِ بْنِ أَبِي صَالِحٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ كَانَ يَصُومُ الاِثْنَيْنِ وَالْخَمِيسَ . فَقِيلَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّكَ تَصُومُ يَوْمَ الاِثْنَيْنِ وَالْخَمِيسِ فَقَالَ “ إِنَّ يَوْمَ الاِثْنَيْنِ وَالْخَمِيسِ يَغْفِرُ اللَّهُ فِيهِمَا لِكُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ إِلاَّ مُهْتَجِرَيْنِ يَقُولُ دَعْهُمَا حَتَّى يَصْطَلِحَا ” .
It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Prophet (ﷺ) used to fast on Mondays and Thursdays. It was said: “O Messenger of Allah, why do you fast on Mondays and Thursdays?” He said: “On Mondays and Thursdays Allah forgives every Muslim except two who have forsaken one another. He says: ‘Leave these two until they reconcile.’”
Sunan Ibn Majah 1740
https://sunnah.com/ibnmajah:1740
حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبَانُ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ أَبِي الْحَكَمِ بْنِ ثَوْبَانَ، عَنْ مَوْلَى، قُدَامَةَ بْنِ مَظْعُونٍ عَنْ مَوْلَى، أُسَامَةَ بْنِ زَيْدٍ أَنَّهُ انْطَلَقَ مَعَ أُسَامَةَ إِلَى وَادِي الْقُرَى فِي طَلَبِ مَالٍ لَهُ فَكَانَ يَصُومُ يَوْمَ الاِثْنَيْنِ وَيَوْمَ الْخَمِيسِ فَقَالَ لَهُ مَوْلاَهُ لِمَ تَصُومُ يَوْمَ الاِثْنَيْنِ وَيَوْمَ الْخَمِيسِ وَأَنْتَ شَيْخٌ كَبِيرٌ فَقَالَ إِنَّ نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يَصُومُ يَوْمَ الاِثْنَيْنِ وَيَوْمَ الْخَمِيسِ وَسُئِلَ عَنْ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ “ إِنَّ أَعْمَالَ الْعِبَادِ تُعْرَضُ يَوْمَ الاِثْنَيْنِ وَيَوْمَ الْخَمِيسِ ” . قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ كَذَا قَالَ هِشَامٌ الدَّسْتَوَائِيُّ عَنْ يَحْيَى عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ أَبِي الْحَكَمِ .
Narrated Usamah ibn Zayd:
The client of Usamah ibn Zayd said that he went along with Usamah to Wadi al-Qura in pursuit of his camels. He would fast on Monday and Thursday. His client said to him: Why do you fast on Monday and Thursday, while you are an old man? He said: The Prophet of Allah (ﷺ) used to fast on Monday and Thursday. When he was asked about it, he said: The works of the servants (of Allah) are presented (to Allah) on Monday and Thursday.
Sunan Abi Dawud 2436
https://sunnah.com/abudawud:2436
Friday, the day of congregation (Jumuah) is an Eid in and of itself. It is the best day of the week and day that is filled with our opportunity to raise one’s rank with Allah. From Friday-to-Friday one’s minor sins can be forgiven in full.
وعنه قال: قال رسول الله، صلى الله عليه وسلم : “من توضأ فأحسن الوضوء ثم أتي الجمعة، فاستمع وأنصت، غفر له ما بينه وبين الجمعة وزيادة ثلاثة أيام، ومن مس الحصى، فقد لغا” ((رواه مسلم)).
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].
Riyad as-Salihin 1148
https://sunnah.com/riyadussalihin:1148
وعنه عن النبي، صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: “الصلوات الخمس والجمعة إلى الجمعة، ورمضان إلى رمضان، مكفرات ما بينهن إذا اجتنبت الكبائر” ((رواه مسلم)).
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him)reported: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “The five daily (prescribed) Salat, and Friday (prayer) to the next Friday (prayer), and the fasting of Ramadan to the next Ramadan, is expiation of the sins committed in between them, so long as major sins are avoided.” [Muslim].
Riyad as-Salihin 1149
https://sunnah.com/riyadussalihin:1149
On Friday, one’s supplications are granted by Allah,
وعنه أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ، ذكر يوم الجمعة، فقال: “فيها ساعة لا يوافقها عبد مسلم، وهو قائم يصلي يسأل الله شيئًا، إلا أعطاه إياه” وأشار بيده يقللها، ((متفق عليه)) .
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said while talking about the merits of Friday, “There is a time on Friday at which a Muslim, while he (or she) is performing Salat and is supplicating, will be granted whatever he (or she) is supplicating for.” And he (ﷺ) pointed with his hand to indicate that this period of time is very short. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
Riyad as-Salihin 1156
https://sunnah.com/riyadussalihin:1156
وعن أبي بردة بن أبي موسى الأشعري، رضي الله عنه، قال: قال عبد الله بن عمر رضي الله عنهما: أسمعت أباك يحدث عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ، في شأن ساعة الجمعة؟ قال: قلت: نعم، سمعته يقول: سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ، يقول: “هي ما بين أن يجلس الإمام إلى أن تقضى الصلاة” ((رواه مسلم)).
Abu Burdah bin Abu Musa Al-Ash’ari (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) said to me: “Did you hear your father narrating something from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) about the special moment during Friday?” I said: “Yes, I heard him report from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ): ‘It occurs between the time when the Imam sits down (on the pulpit after the first Khutbah) and the time Salat is over.”‘ [Muslim].
Riyad as-Salihin 1157
https://sunnah.com/riyadussalihin:1157
It is also a day of salawaat upon the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. In fact, Friday is the day upon which the salawaat sent upon the Messenger of Allah ﷺ are presented to him.
وعن أوس بن أوس، رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : “إن من أفضل أيامكم يوم الجمعة، فأكثروا علي من الصلاة فيه، فإن صلاتكم معروضة علي” ((رواه أبو داود بإسناد صحيح)).
Aus bin Aus (May Allah be pleased with him)reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “Among the best of your days is Friday. On that day pray to Allah to exalt my mention frequently, for your such supplications are presented to me.” [Abu Dawud].
Riyad as-Salihin 1158
https://sunnah.com/riyadussalihin:1158
The other days of Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday also have their merits upon which one can benefit and gain nearness to their Lord. As Muslims, we should be aware of the benefit of the time that Allah has placed us in at every moment. We should be weary of squandering it and seek to fill each moment with that which we would like to see on the Day of Judgement, sincere and mindful intentions, and deeds solely for the pleasure of Allah.
As we witness the commemoration of this year’s Holy Week, let us be reminded that every week is holy and every Friday is a Good Friday for the Muslim. Let the work, praise and thanks of our brothers and sisters in humanity who have not embraced Islam, motivate us and remind us of our own dedication and commitment to the remembrance and praise of Allah. While our religions have clear theological differences and practices, we can all benefit from the reminder to praise and thank Allah for His innumerable blessings. We should not spend this time sowing discord or participating in reckless and fruitless argumentation about known differences. This is a time to learn about each other, appreciate our similarities and embrace our faiths without the need to disparage the faiths of others. As Allah says in the Quran, “To you your religion and to me mine.” This article was written on April 4th, 2026, CE / Shawwal 16th, 1447 AH.
Leave a Reply