AL JUMU’AH (Friday)
In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful
1 Whatever is in the heavens and on earth, declares the praises and glory of Allah, the sovereign, the holy one, the exalted in might, the wise.
2 It is he who has sent among the unlettered a messenger from among themselves, to rehearse to them his signs, to sanctify them, and to instruct them in Al-Kitab and wisdom, although they had been, before in clear error,
3 As well as others of them, who have not already joined them: and he is exalted in might, wise.
4 Such is the bounty of Allah, which he bestows on whom he will: and Allah is the Lord of the highest bounty.
5 The comparison of those who were entrusted with the Taurat, but did not obey it, is that of a donkey carrying books.[1] Evil is the comparison of people who falsify the signs of Allah: and Allah guides not people who do wrong.
6 Say: O you Jews! If you think that you are friends to Allah, to the exclusion of other men, then express your desire for death, if you are truthful!
7 But never will they express their desire, because of what their hands have sent on before them! And Allah knows well those that do wrong!
8 Say: The death from which you flee will truly overtake you: then will you be sent back to the knower of things secret and open: and he will tell you the things that you did!
9 O you who believe! When the call is proclaimed to prayer on Friday, hasten earnestly to the remembrance of Allah, and leave off business: that is best for you if you but knew!
10 And when the prayer is finished, then may you disperse through the land, and seek of the bounty of Allah: and celebrate the praises of Allah often, that you may prosper.
11 But when they see some bargain or some amusement, they disperse headlong to it, and leave you standing. Say: That which is from the presence of Allah is better than any amusement or bargain! And Allah is the best to provide.
[1] This helps us understand how the Jews could have been unfaithful to the Taurat, and yet the Taurat itself is free from corruption. The Jewish scribes were very careful in preserving the text of the Taurat generation through generation. But that pure text of the Taurat did many of the people no good because they did not obey it. It is one thing to have Allah’s book, but another thing to obey it.