All praise is due to Allaah, Who made the succession of the night and day a sign for those who see clearly. I praise Him and thank Him for His immense blessings. I also send prayers of blessings and peace upon the noblest of the Prophets and Messengers, our Prophet Muhammad (SAWS), and upon his family and all of his companions. To proceed:
Nations continue to celebrate their holidays and enjoy their continuous occurrences. They feel delight when the names of these holidays are mentioned. Then how about the holiday of the Islaamic community and its worship of Allaah during it?
Verily the weekly holiday for the Muslims is the day of Jumuah (Friday), which Allaah has honored this nation (the Muslims) with after He misguided the Jews and Christians concerning it. The Prophet (SAWS) said,
Allaah misguided those before us concerning the day of Jumuah. Thus, the Jews had As-Sabt (Saturday) and the Christians had Al-Ahad (Sunday) (i.e. as their days of worship). Then Allaah brought us and guided us to the day of Jumuah. Thus, He made the days (come in the sequence of) Al-Jumuah (Friday), As-Sabt (Saturday), and Al-Ahad (Sunday). Likewise, they (the Jews and Christians) will come after us on the Day of Judgement. We are the last (of these religions) of the people of this world and the first on the Day of Judgement to be judged before the rest of creation. (Muslim)
Jumuah is the day which the Messenger of Allaah (SAWS) said about it,
The best day that the sun rises upon is the day of Jumuah. (Muslim)
This is the great day that some of the Muslims have made for long sleeping, relaxing and taking trips. Some women have designated this day for shopping in the market places and housework. Thus, they have become neglectful of the right of this day. We must know the value of this day and its special qualities so that we may devote ourselves to worship, obedience (of Allaah), increased supplicating and praying for blessings upon the Prophet (SAWS).
Ibn Al-Qayyim said in his book Zaad Al-Maaad:It was from his (the Prophets) guidance to magnify this day, honor it, and designate it for acts of worship, making it more special than other days. The scholars differ as to which is better between Jumuah and the Day of Arafah... Then Ibn AlQayyim counted more than thirty merits and virtues that this great day contains.