Friday—the day of congregation prayers

It stands ordained that on Friday, the day of congregational prayer, other engagements, all other businesses may be left aside to attend to the prayer:

‘’O you who believe: When the call is made for prayer on the Congregation day (Youm-ul-Jumah) hasten to the remembrance of God, and drop all business. That is better for you, if only you knew’’ (62:9)

Friday (Youm-ul-Jumah) is the day of weekly congregation prayer for the Muslims. The special day of the week is marked for prayer as well an assembly of people of a particular locality. When it is made out that it is better for you, it implies it has inherent benefits, like a weekly exchange of views and deliberation vis-à-vis community affairs in a locality. The deliberation over community affairs is implied in the Friday sermon (the Khutba). The deeper implication is collective living. Nothing may be done to compromise it, as follows in the subsequent verse:

‘’Then, when the prayer is concluded, disperse through the land and seek God’s bounty, and remember God much, so that you may prosper’’ (62:10)

It implies that when this congregation of Salat is over, disperse and go wherever you like in search of your livelihood seeking God’s bounty, as inherent in remembrance of God is your prosperity. It may be remembered that what is with God is better than any business or entertainment, as ordained:

‘’Yet when they come across some business, or some entertainment, they scramble towards it, and leave you standing. Say, what is with God is better than entertainment or business; and God is the best of providers’’ (62:11)

The Holy Verse refers to some people in the time of Holy Prophet (pbuh) scrambling towards some entertainment or some business, in spite of the injunction of preference to the prayer. It is related to the Holy Prophet (pbuh) that such people need to be told that what is with God is better than any business or entertainment.