The Book of Jumu'ah, the Two Festivals, the Prayer for Rain, the Eclipse Prayer, and Funerals-01a
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The reciter: Yahya ibn Yahya narrated to us, saying: I read to Malik from Safwan ibn Sulaym from 'Ata ibn Yasar from Abu Sa'id al-Khudri that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sahih Muslim 846a.
The Shaykh : In the chapter heading: "The chapter on the obligation of the Friday bath for every adult man." He specified "adult" because it is not obligatory for a non-adult, nor is the Friday prayer obligatory for him. If the Friday prayer is not obligatory for him, then it is even more so that what is obligatory for the prayer is not obligatory for him. As for the hadith, it is extremely explicit that the bath is only obligatory for the adult, due to his saying:. It is also explicitly clear, with no ambiguity, that the Friday bath is obligatory. When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said "obligatory," he knew what he meant and knew what the word *obligatory* implies. For the obligatory is that which is established and falls off without any movement after it, [Al-Hajj 22:36].
This is an explicit text regarding the obligation of the bath on Friday. Nevertheless, the scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) differed regarding this bath. Some said: It is a recommended practice in all circumstances. Some said: It is obligatory in all circumstances. And some distinguished, saying: If it is in the days of summer and heat, and there is much dirt and bad odors, then the bath is obligatory, and otherwise it is not obligatory.
However, the opinion most in accordance with the evidence is that it is obligatory in all circumstances, but it is not like the obligation of the bath from major ritual impurity. In other words: if a person prays Friday without bathing, his prayer is valid, but he is sinful and deserves punishment, unless Allah pardons him.
Sometimes a person is surprised that such a text is present, yet there is disagreement about its obligation, even though it is explicit and clear. If this phrase were to appear in one of the jurists' books and it said: "The Friday bath is obligatory" or "The Friday bath must be performed," what would people understand from it? Obligation, and sin for leaving it. How much more so when it comes from the most eloquent of creation, the most sincere of creation, and the most knowledgeable of creation regarding the Shari'ah of Allah? In the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), knowledge was combined: he was the most knowledgeable of people regarding the Shari'ah of Allah. Second: truthfulness; it is not possible for him to say "obligatory" while lying in it, may Allah protect him from that. Also, eloquence and clarity: this is at the peak of clarity. And fourth: the complete intention for the good of the Ummah; no one is ever more sincere to the Ummah than he. So how would he express something that is not obligatory and say that it is obligatory? Is this not a cause of confusion, hesitation, and doubt among the Ummah? Therefore: we see that it is obligatory, and that whoever does not perform it is sinful. As for the validity of the prayer, the prayer is valid, because this is not from major ritual impurity. If someone asks: What made it obligatory? Why do we not interpret it as applying only when a person has dirt on him in order to remove the odor? The answer to that is: We do not say that it is obligatory only to remove dirt, but rather it is obligatory to honor this prayer. Then, if the operative cause of the ruling becomes apparent to us, that is better. And if the operative cause of the ruling does not become apparent to us, it is obligatory upon us to follow, whether we know the wisdom or not.
If someone asks: Do you make it obligatory even in winter? Do you not have mercy on creation? We say: This is mercy for creation, that we say: Perform it so that your obligations are discharged. This is mercy. Mercy for creation does not mean that we drop something from them that the text indicates is obligatory. Then, based on this principle, it would follow that we must drop the bath from major ritual impurity for them in the days of winter, and Ahmad did not say this. As for in our time and era, praise be to Allah, the matter is made extremely easy. You only have to open a tap in a dry wall, and then the water comes to you at your preference: if you wish, you increase the heat, and if you wish, you decrease it. It is a great blessing that no one dreams of, not even in a night dream, and praise be to Allah.
Taking a bath on Friday is essential for every adult person.
الغسل يوم الجمعة واجب على كل محتلمThe Shaykh : In the chapter heading: "The chapter on the obligation of the Friday bath for every adult man." He specified "adult" because it is not obligatory for a non-adult, nor is the Friday prayer obligatory for him. If the Friday prayer is not obligatory for him, then it is even more so that what is obligatory for the prayer is not obligatory for him. As for the hadith, it is extremely explicit that the bath is only obligatory for the adult, due to his saying:
for every adult
على كل محتلمand when they are [lifeless] on their sides
فإذا وجبت جنوبهاThis is an explicit text regarding the obligation of the bath on Friday. Nevertheless, the scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) differed regarding this bath. Some said: It is a recommended practice in all circumstances. Some said: It is obligatory in all circumstances. And some distinguished, saying: If it is in the days of summer and heat, and there is much dirt and bad odors, then the bath is obligatory, and otherwise it is not obligatory.
However, the opinion most in accordance with the evidence is that it is obligatory in all circumstances, but it is not like the obligation of the bath from major ritual impurity. In other words: if a person prays Friday without bathing, his prayer is valid, but he is sinful and deserves punishment, unless Allah pardons him.
Sometimes a person is surprised that such a text is present, yet there is disagreement about its obligation, even though it is explicit and clear. If this phrase were to appear in one of the jurists' books and it said: "The Friday bath is obligatory" or "The Friday bath must be performed," what would people understand from it? Obligation, and sin for leaving it. How much more so when it comes from the most eloquent of creation, the most sincere of creation, and the most knowledgeable of creation regarding the Shari'ah of Allah? In the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), knowledge was combined: he was the most knowledgeable of people regarding the Shari'ah of Allah. Second: truthfulness; it is not possible for him to say "obligatory" while lying in it, may Allah protect him from that. Also, eloquence and clarity: this is at the peak of clarity
The Friday full ritual bath is obligatory
غسل الجمعة واجبIf someone asks: Do you make it obligatory even in winter? Do you not have mercy on creation? We say: This is mercy for creation, that we say: Perform it so that your obligations are discharged. This is mercy. Mercy for creation does not mean that we drop something from them that the text indicates is obligatory. Then, based on this principle, it would follow that we must drop the bath from major ritual impurity for them in the days of winter, and Ahmad did not say this. As for in our time and era, praise be to Allah, the matter is made extremely easy. You only have to open a tap in a dry wall, and then the water comes to you at your preference: if you wish, you increase the heat, and if you wish, you decrease it. It is a great blessing that no one dreams of, not even in a night dream, and praise be to Allah.