Surah Al-Jumu'ah

الجمعة

Surah Al-Jumu'ah is a Medinan surah of 11 verses about the Prophet sent to teach and purify his people, and about answering the call to the Friday congregational prayer.

Meaning
The Congregation, Friday
Surah
62 of 114
Verses
11
Revealed in
Medina
Found in
Juz 28

What Surah Al-Jumu'ah is about

Al-Jumu'ah is the 62nd surah of the Quran, revealed in Medina, with 11 verses. Its name means Friday or the day of congregation, taken from verse 9, which tells believers to hurry to the remembrance of Allah when the call to prayer is made on that day. Like several surahs around it, it opens with all of creation glorifying Allah.

Verse 2 describes the role of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ: sent to an unlettered people as one of them, reciting Allah's verses to them, purifying them, and teaching them the Book and wisdom. Verse 3 extends this to others who have not yet joined them, and verse 4 calls it Allah's favor, given to whom He wills.

Verses 5 to 8 turn to people who were given the Torah but did not carry it out, comparing them in verse 5 to a donkey loaded with books it cannot benefit from. Verses 6 to 8 then speak of death: those who claim a special status are challenged to wish for death if they are sincere, and verse 8 says that the death people run from will meet them wherever they are.

The final section is practical. Verse 9 tells believers to leave trade when the call for Friday prayer is made, and verse 10 tells them that once the prayer is over they may spread through the land and seek Allah's bounty, remembering Him often. Verse 11 recalls an occasion when people left the Prophet ﷺ standing during the sermon to go after a trading caravan and some entertainment, and reminds them that what is with Allah is better.

Main themes

  1. The Prophet as teacher and purifier

    Verse 2 summarizes the Prophet's mission in four actions: reciting the verses, purifying people, and teaching both the Book and wisdom. The surah presents this as a favor from Allah that reaches beyond the first generation.

    Verses 2–4
  2. Carrying knowledge without acting on it

    Verse 5 compares those who were given scripture but did not live by it to a donkey carrying books. The image is a warning for any community that holds revelation without following it.

    Verse 5
  3. No escaping death

    Verses 6 to 8 challenge those who claim to be Allah's chosen to wish for death. Verse 8 tells everyone that the death they flee from will meet them, and then they will be returned to the One who knows the seen and unseen.

    Verses 6–8
  4. The Friday prayer

    Verses 9 to 11 set the pattern of Friday: leave buying and selling at the call, attend the remembrance of Allah, then return to work and seek His bounty. The surah treats both prayer and earning a living as part of a believer's day.

    Verses 9–11

Verses to know

هُوَ ٱلَّذِي بَعَثَ فِي ٱلۡأُمِّيِّـۧنَ رَسُولٗا مِّنۡهُمۡ يَتۡلُواْ عَلَيۡهِمۡ ءَايَٰتِهِۦ وَيُزَكِّيهِمۡ وَيُعَلِّمُهُمُ ٱلۡكِتَٰبَ وَٱلۡحِكۡمَةَ وَإِن كَانُواْ مِن قَبۡلُ لَفِي ضَلَٰلٖ مُّبِينٖ ﴿٢﴾

It is He who sent among the unlettered a messenger from themselves; reciting His revelations to them, and purifying them, and teaching them the Scripture and wisdom; although they were in obvious error before that.
Al-Jumu'ah 62:2

One of the clearest summaries in the Quran of what the Prophet ﷺ came to do: recite, purify, and teach the Book and wisdom.

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ إِذَا نُودِيَ لِلصَّلَوٰةِ مِن يَوۡمِ ٱلۡجُمُعَةِ فَٱسۡعَوۡاْ إِلَىٰ ذِكۡرِ ٱللَّهِ وَذَرُواْ ٱلۡبَيۡعَۚ ذَٰلِكُمۡ خَيۡرࣱ لَّكُمۡ إِن كُنتُمۡ تَعۡلَمُونَ ﴿٩﴾ فَإِذَا قُضِيَتِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةُ فَٱنتَشِرُواْ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَٱبۡتَغُواْ مِن فَضۡلِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱذۡكُرُواْ ٱللَّهَ كَثِيرٗا لَّعَلَّكُمۡ تُفۡلِحُونَ ﴿١٠﴾

9O you who believe! When the call is made for prayer on Congregation Day, hasten to the remembrance of Allah, and drop all business. That is better for you, if you only knew. 10Then, when the prayer is concluded, disperse through the land, and seek Allah’s bounty, and remember Allah much, so that you may prosper.
Al-Jumu'ah 62:9–10

These verses are the Quranic basis for the Friday congregational prayer. They ask believers to put trade aside for the prayer and then to go back out and seek their livelihood.

وَإِذَا رَأَوۡاْ تِجَٰرَةً أَوۡ لَهۡوًا ٱنفَضُّوٓاْ إِلَيۡهَا وَتَرَكُوكَ قَآئِمٗاۚ قُلۡ مَا عِندَ ٱللَّهِ خَيۡرࣱ مِّنَ ٱللَّهۡوِ وَمِنَ ٱلتِّجَٰرَةِۚ وَٱللَّهُ خَيۡرُ ٱلرَّـٰزِقِينَ ﴿١١﴾

Yet whenever they come across some business, or some entertainment, they scramble towards it, and leave you standing. Say, “What is with Allah is better than entertainment and business; and Allah is the Best of providers.”
Al-Jumu'ah 62:11

An honest picture of the early community. Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim report that a caravan arrived during the Friday sermon and most people left, with about twelve men staying with the Prophet ﷺ.

When Surah Al-Jumu'ah is recited

Sahih Muslim reports that the Prophet ﷺ recited Surah Al-Jumu'ah in the Friday congregational prayer, usually followed by Surah Al-Munafiqun in the second unit. Many imams continue to recite it in the Friday prayer for that reason.

Surah Al-Jumu'ah in Arabic and English

All 11 verses, with the Arabic, a transliteration to help you read it aloud, and the English translation by Talal Itani.

بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

  1. 1

    يُسَبِّحُ لِلَّهِ مَا فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ ٱلۡمَلِكِ ٱلۡقُدُّوسِ ٱلۡعَزِيزِ ٱلۡحَكِيمِ

    Yusabbihu lillahi ma fee alssamawati wama fee alardi almaliki alquddoosi alAAazeezi alhakeemi

    Everything in the heavens and the earth glorifies Allah, the Sovereign, the Holy, the Almighty, the Wise.

  2. 2

    هُوَ ٱلَّذِي بَعَثَ فِي ٱلۡأُمِّيِّـۧنَ رَسُولٗا مِّنۡهُمۡ يَتۡلُواْ عَلَيۡهِمۡ ءَايَٰتِهِۦ وَيُزَكِّيهِمۡ وَيُعَلِّمُهُمُ ٱلۡكِتَٰبَ وَٱلۡحِكۡمَةَ وَإِن كَانُواْ مِن قَبۡلُ لَفِي ضَلَٰلٖ مُّبِينٖ

    Huwa allathee baAAatha fee alommiyyeena rasoolan minhum yatloo AAalayhim ayatihi wayuzakkeehim wayuAAallimuhumu alkitaba waalhikmata wain kanoo min qablu lafee dalalin mubeenin

    It is He who sent among the unlettered a messenger from themselves; reciting His revelations to them, and purifying them, and teaching them the Scripture and wisdom; although they were in obvious error before that.

  3. 3

    وَءَاخَرِينَ مِنۡهُمۡ لَمَّا يَلۡحَقُواْ بِهِمۡۚ وَهُوَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡحَكِيمُ

    Waakhareena minhum lamma yalhaqoo bihim wahuwa alAAazeezu alhakeemu

    And others from them, who have not yet joined them. He is the Glorious, the Wise.

  4. 4

    ذَٰلِكَ فَضۡلُ ٱللَّهِ يُؤۡتِيهِ مَن يَشَآءُۚ وَٱللَّهُ ذُو ٱلۡفَضۡلِ ٱلۡعَظِيمِ

    Thalika fadlu Allahi yuteehi man yashao waAllahu thoo alfadli alAAatheemi

    That is Allah’s grace, which He grants to whomever He wills. Allah is Possessor of limitless grace.

  5. 5

    مَثَلُ ٱلَّذِينَ حُمِّلُواْ ٱلتَّوۡرَىٰةَ ثُمَّ لَمۡ يَحۡمِلُوهَا كَمَثَلِ ٱلۡحِمَارِ يَحۡمِلُ أَسۡفَارَۢاۚ بِئۡسَ مَثَلُ ٱلۡقَوۡمِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَذَّبُواْ بِـَٔايَٰتِ ٱللَّهِۚ وَٱللَّهُ لَا يَهۡدِي ٱلۡقَوۡمَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ

    Mathalu allatheena hummiloo alttawrata thumma lam yahmilooha kamathali alhimari yahmilu asfaran bisa mathalu alqawmi allatheena kaththaboo biayati Allahi waAllahu la yahdee alqawma alththalimeena

    The example of those who were entrusted with the Torah, but then failed to uphold it, is like the donkey carrying works of literature. Miserable is the example of the people who denounce Allah’s revelations. Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people.

  6. 6

    قُلۡ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ هَادُوٓاْ إِن زَعَمۡتُمۡ أَنَّكُمۡ أَوۡلِيَآءُ لِلَّهِ مِن دُونِ ٱلنَّاسِ فَتَمَنَّوُاْ ٱلۡمَوۡتَ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَٰدِقِينَ

    Qul ya ayyuha allatheena hadoo in zaAAamtum annakum awliyao lillahi min dooni alnnasi fatamannawoo almawta in kuntum sadiqeena

    Say, “O you who follow Judaism, if you claim to be the chosen of Allah, to the exclusion of the rest of mankind, then wish for death if you are sincere.”

  7. 7

    وَلَا يَتَمَنَّوۡنَهُۥٓ أَبَدَۢا بِمَا قَدَّمَتۡ أَيۡدِيهِمۡۚ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمُۢ بِٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ

    Wala yatamannawnahu abadan bima qaddamat aydeehim waAllahu AAaleemun bialththalimeena

    But they will not wish for it, ever, due to what their hands have advanced. Allah knows well the wrongdoers.

  8. 8

    قُلۡ إِنَّ ٱلۡمَوۡتَ ٱلَّذِي تَفِرُّونَ مِنۡهُ فَإِنَّهُۥ مُلَٰقِيكُمۡۖ ثُمَّ تُرَدُّونَ إِلَىٰ عَٰلِمِ ٱلۡغَيۡبِ وَٱلشَّهَٰدَةِ فَيُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمۡ تَعۡمَلُونَ

    Qul inna almawta allathee tafirroona minhu fainnahu mulaqeekum thumma turaddoona ila AAalimi alghaybi waalshshahadati fayunabbiokum bima kuntum taAAmaloona

    Say, “The death from which you flee will catch up with you; then you will be returned to the Knower of the Invisible and the Visible, and He will inform you of what you used to do.”

  9. 9

    يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ إِذَا نُودِيَ لِلصَّلَوٰةِ مِن يَوۡمِ ٱلۡجُمُعَةِ فَٱسۡعَوۡاْ إِلَىٰ ذِكۡرِ ٱللَّهِ وَذَرُواْ ٱلۡبَيۡعَۚ ذَٰلِكُمۡ خَيۡرࣱ لَّكُمۡ إِن كُنتُمۡ تَعۡلَمُونَ

    Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoo itha noodiya lilssalati min yawmi aljumuAAati faisAAaw ila thikri Allahi watharoo albayAAa thalikum khayrun lakum in kuntum taAAlamoona

    O you who believe! When the call is made for prayer on Congregation Day, hasten to the remembrance of Allah, and drop all business. That is better for you, if you only knew.

  10. 10

    فَإِذَا قُضِيَتِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةُ فَٱنتَشِرُواْ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَٱبۡتَغُواْ مِن فَضۡلِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱذۡكُرُواْ ٱللَّهَ كَثِيرٗا لَّعَلَّكُمۡ تُفۡلِحُونَ

    Faitha qudiyati alssalatu faintashiroo fee alardi waibtaghoo min fadli Allahi waothkuroo Allaha katheeran laAAallakum tuflihoona

    Then, when the prayer is concluded, disperse through the land, and seek Allah’s bounty, and remember Allah much, so that you may prosper.

  11. 11

    وَإِذَا رَأَوۡاْ تِجَٰرَةً أَوۡ لَهۡوًا ٱنفَضُّوٓاْ إِلَيۡهَا وَتَرَكُوكَ قَآئِمٗاۚ قُلۡ مَا عِندَ ٱللَّهِ خَيۡرࣱ مِّنَ ٱللَّهۡوِ وَمِنَ ٱلتِّجَٰرَةِۚ وَٱللَّهُ خَيۡرُ ٱلرَّـٰزِقِينَ

    Waitha raaw tijaratan aw lahwan infaddoo ilayha watarakooka qaiman qul ma AAinda Allahi khayrun mina allahwi wamina alttijarati waAllahu khayru alrraziqeena

    Yet whenever they come across some business, or some entertainment, they scramble towards it, and leave you standing. Say, “What is with Allah is better than entertainment and business; and Allah is the Best of providers.”

Surah Al-Jumu'ah PDF

The whole surah on printable pages: Arabic, transliteration and English side by side. Free to download, print and share.

Download the PDF

Questions about Surah Al-Jumu'ah

How many verses are in Surah Jumuah?

Surah Al-Jumu'ah has 11 verses. It is a Medinan surah and the 62nd in the Quran.

Which verse of the Quran is about Friday prayer?

Verse 9 of Surah Al-Jumu'ah tells believers to hurry to the remembrance of Allah and leave trade when the call to prayer is made on Friday. Verse 10 says they may go back to seeking their livelihood once the prayer is finished.

Is Surah Jumuah recited in Friday prayer?

Yes. Sahih Muslim reports that the Prophet ﷺ recited Al-Jumu'ah and Al-Munafiqun in the Friday prayer, and many imams follow this practice.

Is Surah Al-Jumu'ah the same as Surah Kahf for Friday?

No. Surah Al-Jumu'ah is the 62nd surah and is about Friday prayer itself, while Surah Al-Kahf is the 18th surah, which many Muslims read on Fridays. They are separate surahs.