Let's explore what Yaum Al Jumu'ah is through the lens of the Quran.
AlKitab (The Book)
The word AlKitab in the Arabic language is composed of the root letters ka ta ba, which translates to “he wrote”. The word also carries the meaning of that which has been written for you, as in ordained. It can also mean pages which are bound together.
From the Quranic usage, it is The Book which has guidance and light and has been given to various nations through a series of prophets.
1. Musa
Allah explicitly says Musa was given the Book.
- 2:53 – https://quran.com/2/53
- 6:154 – https://quran.com/6/154
- 11:110 – https://quran.com/11/110
2. Isa son of Maryam
He is taught “the Book, the wisdom, the Torah, and the Injeel (Gospel).”
- 3:48 – https://quran.com/3/48
- 5:110 – https://quran.com/5/110
3. Muhammad
The Qur’an itself is referred to as the Book revealed to him.
- 4:105 – https://quran.com/4/105
- 6:114 – https://quran.com/6/114
- 14:1 – https://quran.com/14/1
4. The Children of Israel
They were entrusted with the Book.
- 62:5 – https://quran.com/62/5
- 2:44 – https://quran.com/2/44
5. “Those who were given the Book” (general communities)
اُوۡتُوا الۡكِتَابَ
This refers to previous communities who received divine scripture before the Qur’an. Examples:
- 2:113 – https://quran.com/2/113
- 3:19 – https://quran.com/3/19
- 5:68 – https://quran.com/5/68
The Qur’an does not name each prophet individually, but speaks of entire communities receiving the Book.
Surah Al Jumu’ah
Surat AlJumu’ah is an exposition of the Book or AlKitab, and how it has interacted with humanity over the course of time through many prophets to many nations. It shows a concrete and clear example of this concept which clarifies the complexities succinctly.
Allah is in control
62:1 Allah starts the surah (loosely translated as chapter) by a hard reset. The glorification of Everything in the heavens and the earth belongs to Allah, the Sovereign, the Sacred, the Mighty, the Wise. He reminds us that He is the One who raised among the ummiyeen (people who hadn't received scripture/unlettered) who purifies them and teaches them AlKitab (the Book) and the Hikmah (the Wisdom) while earlier they were in manifest misguidance. The Quran translates to “That which is read”. That which is read is that which is written. As the name of the book revealed to Muhammad, the Quran contains things that are ordained (ex. “written for you is abstinence/fasting…”), it contains hikmah (wisdom), nadira (warning), bashara (glad tidings or good news), dhikr (remembrance), tibyani li kulli shay (explanation of all things for the believers).
People were supposed to carry (preserve, follow, obey, teach) the Torah
62:5 mentions those who were tasked to carry the Torah but failed to do so are like donkeys carrying books. The same root word "hamala" is used. What does it mean to "carry" or “hamala”? To obey, teach, preserve, not tamper with. Obviously they not only changed the scripture but also contaminated it with much of their own ignorance and desires.
62:9 speaks of yaum al jumu'ah. Oh you who believe, when you hear the call to the salah (communion) of the yaum (day/period of time) al jumu'ah (the gathering) then hasten to the remembrance of Allah and LEAVE business. That is best for you if you are indeed knowledgeable.
Allah has made this concept crystal clear for us to follow and exposed the various corruptions the previous nations had introduced, when you compare what Allah says in this verse to what the Jews ended up doing. Allah says to hasten towards the remembrance of Allah and LEAVE business. When you’re done, continue to seek the bounties of Allah.
The banu Israel kept trying to find loopholes to keep doing business in that day. Then it turned to don't do any work of ANY kind. Then not your men, not your women, not your children, not your men servants or maid servants, not your animals....and so on.
Al Kitab was the same, the guidance was the same. But due to how they interacted with their prophets to whom Al Kitab was revealed, either the rules were changed for them OR they changed the rules themselves and claimed their messengers did it. And Allah knows best.
In this chapter, there is a tacit warning to the Muslims who have received the Quran to take heed of the corruption and not end up committing the same mistakes.
Examples of Avoiding/Rejecting/Denying Allah’s Verses
1. Changing or altering the wording
They deliberately changed the wording of revelation or instructions.
Altering words from their proper places
يُحَرِّفُونَ الۡكَلِمَ عَنۡ مَّوَاضِعِهٖ
- 4:46 — https://quran.com/4/46
- 5:13 — https://quran.com/5/13
Twisting their tongues
لَيًّا بِاَلْسِنَتِهِمۡ
4:46 — https://quran.com/4/46
Meaning: bending or manipulating the wording to change meaning.
2. Saying “we hear but disobey”
This is a direct Qur’anic description of refusing to follow the command even after acknowledging it.
سَمِعۡنَا وَعَصَيۡنَا
2:93 — https://quran.com/2/93
They accepted the command verbally but resisted its implementation.
3. Asking excessive or evasive questions to avoid obedience
The most famous example:
The cow story
They kept asking narrowing, technical questions to avoid carrying out a simple command.
2:67–71 — https://quran.com/2/67 Their repeated questioning was a form of seeking loopholes and delay.
4. Breaking covenants after making them
They accepted obligations, then broke them.
نَّقۡضَهُمۡ مِّيثَاقَهُمۡ
4:155 — https://quran.com/4/155
This was another method of avoiding what Allah obligated.
5. Hiding parts of the Book
They selectively concealed guidance to avoid certain commands.
يَكۡتُمُوۡنَ
- 2:146 — https://quran.com/2/146
- 6:91 — https://quran.com/6/91
They hid what contradicted their desires.
6. Ignoring spirit and focusing on superficial compliance
Violation of the Sabbath
They tried to circumvent by manipulating timing, turning the command into a loophole exercise.
وَلَقَدۡ عَلِمۡتُمُ الَّذِيۡنَ اعۡتَدَوۡا مِنۡكُمۡ فِي السَّبۡتِ
- 2:65 — https://quran.com/2/65
- 7:163–166 — https://quran.com/7/163
They attempted to “cheat” the command while pretending outward obedience.
7. Demanding signs instead of submitting
While not a loophole in the technical sense, the Qur’an presents it as evasion of duty.
2:55–56 — https://quran.com/2/55
A way of postponing or escaping commitment.
Yaum AlJumu’ah is NOT “Friday”
Earlier Scriptures
The Jews kept the 7th day “holy” as in dedicated to the service of God and to do no other “business” or work. In the Quran, Allah instructs us to hasten to the remembrance of Allah and to “leave business” or “trade”. This seems like practical advice rather than to not do ANY work. It can be argued, objectively that the parable of the “Good Samaritan” in the New Testament, clarifies the deviant practice of following the letter of the law and missing the essence of the law.
There is a chapter in the Quran called “AlJumuah” which translates to “The Gathering”. In this chapter Allah says:
Surah Jumuah (62:9)
O you who believe, when the call for Salāh (prayer) is proclaimed in the day of gathering, hasten for the remembrance of Allah, and leave off business. That is much better for you, if you but know.
In both Hebrew and Arabic the days of the week are numbered. If someone tries to interfere with this, it can be easily caught out. Let’s take a look at the chart below and see if we can catch the inconsistency.
Days of week (Arabic & Hebrew)
Let’s help correct the inconsistencies
