The Prophet's guidance concerning Friday and the Two `Eids

3- The Prophet's guidance concerning Friday [1]

1- It was part of his Sunnah to glorify, honor, and single out Friday with some characteristics, of which: Having ritual bathing before going to Friday Salah, put on one's best clothes, listen carefully to the Khutbah (Friday Sermon), and send peace and blessings frequently upon the Prophet (peace be upon him).

2- The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to go out if people gathered for Salah and would salute them, then would ascend the pulpit and receive them with his face and salute them again. Then he would sit and Bilal would start Adhan (call to Prayer). When he finished Adhan, the Prophet (peace be upon him) would stand up to deliver Khutbah without separating between Adhan and Khutbah. The Messenger (peace be upon him) would deliver Khutbah leaning on an arrow or a stick before he would make a pulpit.

3- He used to deliver the Khutbah while standing then would sit for a while, then would stand to deliver the second Khutbah.

4- He used to command the people with drawing near and listening. He informed the person who said to his friend: "be quiet," that he has said nonsense and who said nonsense, his Friday Khutbah was abolished.

5- When he used to deliver a Khutbah, his eyes turned into red, his tone raised, and his wrath got severer as if a warner against a coming attack.

6- He used to say in his Khutbah: «Now coming to the point» and would shorten or lengthen the Salah.

7- During the Khutbah, he used to teach his Companions the rules and the Shari`ah of Islam and used to command and forbid them when something shows up.

8- He used to interrupt his Khutbah for a need or for answering a question then he would continue his Khutbah. Sometimes he would step down the pulpit for a need then go back. He used to command his Companions according to the current conditions, and when he saw them in need, he commanded them with charity and exhorting them to it.

9- He used to point out with his forefinger during his Khutbah when he mentioned Allah, and when the rain ceased, he would offer Salatul-Istisqa' (a prayer for asking Allah for rain).

10- When he offered the Friday Salah, he would enter his house to offer two Rak`ahs, and commanded whoever offered the Friday Salah to offer four Rak`ahs thereafter.

4- The Prophet's guidance concerning the Two `Eids [2]

1- He used to offer the Two `Eids in the praying place and used to put on his best clothes.

2- He used to eat some fresh dates before going to `Eid-ul-Fitr (the Festival of Breaking the Fast) and used to eat them in odd number. As for `Eidul-Adha, he would offer the Salah of `Eidul-Adha first then would eat from his sacrificial animal. He used to delay the Salah of `Eid-ul-Fitr (the Festival of Breaking the Fast) and would accelerate the Salah of `Eidul-Adha.

3- He used to go for Salah on foot while he was holding his stick in his hand, but when he reached the praying place, he would instill it before him to offer Salah to it.

4- When he reached the praying place, he would offer Salah without Adhan nor Iqamah (call to start the Prayer). He would not say: "Salah has been established." Neither he nor his Companions offered any Salah before or after Salat-ul-`Eid.

5- He used to offer Salah first then deliver his Khutbah (religious sermon). He would offer two Rak`ahs in which he would say Takbir seven times in the first Rak`ah including Takbirat Al Ihram (Saying Allahu Akbar to begin Salah) then would pause awhile after each Takbir (saying: Allahu Akbar), and was not reported from him a certain number of Takbir. When he finished Takbir, he would start reciting the Qur'an and when he finished, he would pronounce Takbir and kneel down. In the second Rak`ah, he would pronounce Takbir five times then begin the recitation. When he finished Salah, he would address the people while they were sitting in rows. He would advise, command, and prohibit them. He would recite Surat (Qaf) and Surat Al Qamar, and sometimes would recite Surat Al A`la and Al Ghashiyah.

6- He used to deliver the Khutbah on the ground where there was no pulpit.

7- He gave concession to people not to listen to the Khutbah and only offer Salat-ul-`Eid, and when the `Eid comes on Friday, it is permissible not to offer Friday Salah and only offer the `Eid.

8- He used to go for `Eid from one path and return from a different path.