Fiqh of Hadith – Friday Shower by Sh. Kifah Mustapha
Abu Said Al Khudari (RAA) said, “I witnessed the prophet (PBUH) saying: “showering on Friday is a must for everyone (who reached puberty) and to brush the teeth and to apply perfume if available.” Hadith narrated by Bukhari. عن أبي سعيد الخدري رضي الله تعالى عنه قال: أشهد على رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: "الغسل يوم الجمعة واجب على كل محتلم وأن يستن وأن يمس طيبا إن وجد". رواه البخاري.
Many people used to wear wool at the time of the prophet (PBUH) and had only one garment to  wear. The prophet (PBUH) advised Muslims to mind their hygiene and be clean by taking a shower, brushing their teeth and wearing perfume before the Friday noon prayer since they are meeting and praying in a group.
Imam Malek and the school of Zahiriyyah ruled that the Friday shower is an obligation, an order that you cannot miss, while most Schools of Thought referred to the Hadith as urging Muslims to shower, preferred but not an obligation with liability at the Day of Judgment if missed.
Imam Shafei, Malek and Abu Hanifa said that this shower is for the prayer itself not for the day of Friday, meaning that, if the shower was taken after Friday prayer it will not count. The school of Shafei and Abu Hanifa spoke of the time to shower being after dawn (Fajer) of Friday until just before the prayer starts, but Malekiah School and Awzaiee said that the shower is in relation to the time you intend to go to the prayer itself.
Limiting the need for the shower to those who have reached puberty is a reminder that the Friday noon prayer is not an obligation for children although they are urged to attend. It is also sufficient to take one shower intended for the Friday noon prayer combined with any other reason that requires a shower.
Brushing the teeth and wearing perfume is an additional reminder of the importance of cleanliness in Islam.
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