In the Old Testament which had been given to Prophet Moses, in the section of Creation-(Tekvin) in Bab 1 it says;

"Allah has created the heavens and the earth. Everywhere was secluded and empty. And Allah said: "Let there be light, light come into existence".

Also, in Bab 2 the following comments take place;

"And the heavens, and the earth and their armies have been completed and Allah has finished this work on the seventh day. He retreated from all of his work and rested on the seventh day, and he blessed the seventh day and sanctified that day. Because, Allah rested on that day away from the work that he created and performed".

According to the Jewish understanding the day on which Allah rests and prays is Saturday. Therefore, they spend this day by remembering, mentioning Allah, talking, and performing the Salat. Though, the salat they perform is similar to ours (muslims), there is no bowing forward from the waist (ruku), after standing up straight (kıyam) they immediately prostrate themselves while sitting on one's knees putting the forehead down to the floor, (sejde)

Also, in the Koran, which covers the old Testament, the Psalms, and Tie New Testament (the Gospel), there are Verses (Passages) regarding Friday in connection with the Creation of Universes.

Originally, the absulate creator who is characterized by endless Names and Qualities has "Created the Universes in six days." The philosophy behind this cannot be explained with the concept of "a day" that we know it can be said that Allah has manifested a certain part of his manifestations i.e. his existence. Koran, is reflecting this decree in the figurative sence, with the word "day".

You may see certain qualities of a painter in one of his paintings, and in another painting you may recognize his different qualities.

If this had not been the perspective, it would be impossible to think of reducing the creative power, which is free from all concepts of time and place to the concept of " a day".

Let me point out once again; The creation of the Universes in six days is related to the usage of a small part of the manifestations with respect to the endless manifestations.

We can see this same theme in the Sura Fussilet (Chapter of Fussilet) in Verses 9,10,11 such as;

"Are you really denying the One who created the Heavens and the Earth in two days and associating partners to him..."

"... and there he supplied food in exactly four days..."

The meaning in Allah's creating the Universes in six days is that the creation has attained perfection on Friday.

As you know, Sunday is the holy day for Christians. The community of Prophet Jesus spends this day by joining the mass in the church.

However, Friday is particulary for the Islams, the community of Prophet Mohammed.

In the hadith our Prophet/The Ambassador of Allah / RasulAllah has declared;

"The day of Friday has been given to "Jews" and "Christians", but they had faults in finding out this day. Even though they made explanations, they could not find. Allah has kept this day for the people and made it a feast-day for them. My people are the ones who deserve this day. The Jews and the Christians should follow them. They were left to the following days, Saturday and Sunday. (Buhari-Muslim)

The obligatory prayers such as salat and fast are in close relation with the movements of the Sun and the moon. I have mentioned before in my essays that the relative concept of time came into existence because of these movements.

There are three intervals of time during which performing the salat is forbidden.

1-) In the morning forty-five to fifty minutes before sunrise .

2-) At noon approximately forty-five minutes before the sun reaches its peak.

3-) In the evening forty five minutes before sunset During these periods it is not desirable to perform the salat. Only Friday is exceptional. Let us explain this subject with a hadith.

"Everyday, before the sun reaches its peak, when it is right in the middle, they start the fire of the Hell and prepare the Hell. Do not perform the salat during these hours only except Friday. Friday is the salat (for the salat) the whole day long. On this day hell is not prepared". (Ibn Hibban Zuafa)

In another hadith Our Prophet of Allah / RasulAllah has declared;

" The horns of the demons arise with sunrise, and get separated when the sun becomes higher. When the sun reaches its peak they come together, when it starts to descend they get separated, at sunset they come back again and get separated again after the sun has set." (Muslim)

If you wish we can unfold this hadith to the extent that our capacity permit us and try to understand the meaning.

The meaning of demon having horns; is the demon's throwing negative ideas to the people, according to the principle of acting in compliance with his goal of existence. His horns, his bad ideas, start with sunrise and spread over to the certain hours of the day. We can explain this as the disturbances caused in the human brain by the rays of sun, as a result of the angles the sun makes on the Earth.

The brain is using all of its power to be protected from the negative directed waves at that very monment. Meanwhile, it is fighting with the various ideas of the demon who is not missing this opportunity.

The preparation of hell indicated in the first hadith is in relation with this condition.

This is the reason why performing the salat at these special times is undesirable.

However, with the wisdom and hidden meaning of Friday, the confusion which is present on the other days of the week is not valid for this day.

Friday, also means "the week".Regarding this meaning Our Prophet (S.A.V) declares the following in one of his hadiths;

"The deeds (actions) of the people are presented two times before every Friday (namely every week), On Mondays and Thursdays, each Man Who has faith is forgiven. On the other hand, the one Who has enmity between himself and his brother is not forgiven, Instead it is said "Let these two wait until they perform what they have to do." (Muslim)

As can be understood, the doors of repantence will be opened two times every week and the person will be mentioning his regrets and sorrow and will ask Allah to forgive him. However, those, who are full of enmity and hatred will not be able to create this intensity if they don't ask from Allah.

It is interesting that while the Koran is inviting to pilgrimage (hadj) the people who have accepted Islam as their Religion, he is making the invitation for Friday only to those who are more refined among them.

Friday (the Friday Salat, as can be understood from the name necessitates a group of minimum three people).

The sermon (khutbah) of Our Prophet at the first Friday Salat was like this;

"May Allah stop the one who is denying, underrating, thus quitting Friday; from completing his tasks."

After the eleventh verse of the Sura (chapter) of Friday has been revealed, the salat and sermon (khutbah) have changed places. During the first Fridays, sermon followed the salat. The change was made, because some people left without listening to the sermon.

The salat of Friday eliminates the salat of the Noon. The salats performed as sunnat before and after the Friday salat do not have any relation with it. During the Friday(salat) the important things are the sermon and the two rekat(genuflections) of salat.*

On Fridays, Our Prophet came to the masjid after performing two genuflections of Salat* at his home.

After the sermon and after performing the two genuflections of Salat, he performed two more genuflections at the mascid. If, he couldn't do this at the mascid, then he performed four genuflections of salat at his home... The reality was like this.

It will be useful to point out that the salats should be performed only if they are obligatory (if they are stated among the pillars). The ones performed before and after are considered as performed according to individuals will or unnecessary.

The movements made while performing the salat have been instructed by Our Prophet. He used to direct the people in accordance with the channel of divine revelations (inspirations) that he had. Unfortunately, now, after the Friday salat, the noon salat is performed with quick rythms, which has become a symbol of worshipping that has no relation with the system.

There isn't any set of rules forbidding the women from performing the Friday Salat. They, too, can carry out this duty like any other refined people of Islam.

Friday is the day on which the human being questions his own self (his personality and his character).

Friday, Allah doesn't question anyone who is wearing a new dress, due to the philosophy of this day.

One of the hadiths about Friday says,

"If someone has the possibility to perform the Friday salat in the presence of a just or unjust (cruel) imam (hodja), then be assured that he won't have any other salat".

We must pay attention to this hadith. It is talking about the presence of an hodja who is "just" and/or "cruel". There is a rule stating that the salat should be performed even with "a cruel hodja".

Another hadith says "Allah seals the heart of the person who forgets three Fridays. (Ahmed and Sunen Sahibi)

In the Sura (chapter) of Friday in verses 9-10 and 11 it is recomended to those who have faith, that when they are invited for prayer*, they should leave shopping aside, go to the Friday and after performing the salat they should be scattered all over the world.

From the external point of view ıt is very important that on this day people should be dressed in their best clothes, smell nice and clean their mouth.

Our prophet is mentianing this point in a hadith.

"On Friday, have two more extra dresses apart from your daily dress."(Ibni Mace)

While the Hodja is at the khutbah (delivering the sermon), it is necessary to stop talking, and not to give an answer even when a question is asked.

Another hadith of Our Prophet is highly interesting;

"When the time for the Salat comes don't come running to it, just walk. Be calm and dignified".

There is a very special moment during the Friday (salat), Every prayer made at this special moment is accepted. The requests are answered similar to the prayers made during the sejde.*

Our Prophet is saying;

"Every prayer made during the sejde is accepted and granted by Allah.."

The Islamic Saint Muhyiddin Arabi says about sejde;

"The heart has also a sejde, that is the person living (compreheding) his non-existance along with the existence of Allah".

One of the other qualities of Friday is that it is not imperative for those who are travelling...

*Genuflections of Salat: The basic movement of Salat consisting of the following movements. Standing up straight, then bowing with upper body paralel to the floor. Then standing up again, then going down and putting the fore head down to the floor, afterwards sitting on the kneed, then going down again, afterwards standing up straight "like at the beginning.

*Invitation for prayer (Ezan): In Islam the salat is performed five times during the day. Therefore Ezan, the time of the salat is reminded to them trough these invitations.

*Sejde:One of the movements made while performing the Salat. The person puts his forehead down on the floor feeling the existance of the Only One Allah, who has created the Universes, galaxies, the suns, the stars and the planets.

Ahmet F. Yuksel