QURAN SUMMARY: AL JUMUAH

NAME: الجمعة, Al-Jumu’a.

Name taken from Verse 9 where there is a mention of the word “Jumua”.

٩  يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا نُودِيَ لِلصَّلَاةِ مِنْ يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ فَاسْعَوْا إِلَىٰ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَذَرُوا الْبَيْعَ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ
9  O you who have believed, when [the adhan] is called for the prayer on the day of Jumu’ah [Friday], then proceed to the remembrance of Allah and leave trade. That is better for you, if you only knew.

But It does not mean that this name is the actual topic discussed in the whole Surah. It is just a reference and mark/symbol to distinguish this Surah from others as is with most other Surahs of Quran. While there are diversified topics discussed in these Surahs.

ENGLISH NAME: The Congregation.

CHAPTER NUMBER: 62

SURAH JUMUAH TOTAL VERSES: 11

SURAH JUMUAH TOTAL WORDS: 177

TOTAL UNIQUE WORDS WITHOUT REPETITION: 133

TOTAL LETTERS: 768

REVELATION PERIOD:

Medinan. Approx. 622 – 629 AD. First eight verses around 628-630AD and verse 9-11 around 622-627AD.

MAIN CHARACTERS:

God, Prophet Muhammad, Unlettered/Ummis, Donkey, Jews. 

SURAH JUMUAH MAIN TOPICS:

Muhammad Prophet for All, Example Of Donkey with Books And Jews Test, Friday Prayer Commands.

SURAH JUMUAH KEY VERSES:

٢  هُوَ الَّذِي بَعَثَ فِي الْأُمِّيِّينَ رَسُولًا مِنْهُمْ يَتْلُو عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتِهِ وَيُزَكِّيهِمْ وَيُعَلِّمُهُمُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَإِنْ كَانُوا مِنْ قَبْلُ لَفِي ضَلَالٍ مُبِينٍ

2  It is He who has sent among the unlettered a Messenger from themselves reciting to them His verses and purifying them and teaching them the Book and wisdom – although they were before in clear error –

٥  مَثَلُ الَّذِينَ حُمِّلُوا التَّوْرَاةَ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَحْمِلُوهَا كَمَثَلِ الْحِمَارِ يَحْمِلُ أَسْفَارًا ۚ بِئْسَ مَثَلُ الْقَوْمِ الَّذِينَ كَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِ اللَّهِ ۚ وَاللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِينَ

5  The example of those who were entrusted with the Torah and then did not take it on is like that of a donkey who carries volumes [of books]. Wretched is the example of the people who deny the signs of Allah. And Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people.

٩  يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا نُودِيَ لِلصَّلَاةِ مِنْ يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ فَاسْعَوْا إِلَىٰ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَذَرُوا الْبَيْعَ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ

9  O you who have believed, when [the adhan] is called for the prayer on the day of Jumu’ah [Friday], then proceed to the remembrance of Allah and leave trade. That is better for you, if you only knew.

١١  وَإِذَا رَأَوْا تِجَارَةً أَوْ لَهْوًا انْفَضُّوا إِلَيْهَا وَتَرَكُوكَ قَائِمًا ۚ قُلْ مَا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ خَيْرٌ مِنَ اللَّهْوِ وَمِنَ التِّجَارَةِ ۚ وَاللَّهُ خَيْرُ الرَّازِقِينَ

11  But when they saw a transaction or a diversion, [O Muhammad], they rushed to it and left you standing. Say, “What is with Allah is better than diversion and than a transaction, and Allah is the best of providers.”

SUMMARY OF TOPICS

2-3(Muhammad Sent To Unlettered/Ummis, And To Others Of Future Generations Verse3), 5(Torah/Pentateuch And Example Of Donkey With Books), 6(Jews Test; If you claim that you are allies of Allah Then Ask For Death, If You Are Truthful), 9(Jumma/Friday Prayer/Namaz Commands), 11(Allah Remembrance Is Better Than A Business Transaction)

SURAH JUMUAH BRIEF COMMENTARY & BACKGROUND

This Surah has 11 verses divided into 2 Rukus/Sections. It takes its name from verse 9: “….   يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا نُودِيَ لِلصَّلَاةِ مِنْ يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ ” (O you who have believed, when is called for the prayer on the day of Jumuah…..) where the word “الْجُمُعَةِ”  meaning Friday appears. The first eight verses of this  Surah were revealed in Madina most probably just before or after the conquest of Khyber. As per authentic traditions in Bukhari, Tirmidhi and Muslim narrated by Abu Hurairah, these verses were revealed in his presence, and Abu Huraira accepted Islam after Hudaibiyah and before the conquest of Khyber. Verse 9-11 were also revealed in Madina during early days after Hijrah when Prophet had established the Mosque, daily and Friday Prayer.

This Surah is also called الْمُسَبِّحَاتِ‎ Surah as it begins with the glorification of Allah. The collective name of الْمُسَبِّحَاتِ‎ assigns to the following 6 Surahs Hadid, Hashr, Saff, Jumuah, Taghabun and Surah Ala.

The Surah talks about the heedlessness of Israelites in obeying the commands of God and becoming too much involved in worldly matters. They were admonished of the following reasons: their refusal and denial of Prophet Muhammad only because of the reason that he came among people whom they think inferior and called them Gentiles. Secondly of not following the commandments of their own books and thirdly an admonish and a test for jews that if they claim that they are allies of Allah, then wish for death, if they should be truthful.

Ibn Abbas and Abu Hurairah narrated that Prophet of Allah PBUH used to recite Surat Jumuah and Surat Munafiqin during the Friday Prayer.