Does Islam Have A Day Of Rest Like Christianity? The Sabbath Compared To Muslim Jum'ah

What do you picture when you think of Sunday, the Sabbath day? Rest from work, fellowship with family and fellow believers, church services, worship songs, sermons, and Sunday school are all things that may come to mind. Sabbath is one of the first structures or orders God established in the Bible, because He knew how significant this day will be for us, His people, throughout the ages. Muslims do not follow the same schedule as Christians. Instead of Sunday, a day of Sabbath,  Muslims have “jum’ah,” the Arabic word for Friday, as a day for congregational prayer.

What is Jum’ah in Islam? 

Origins of the Jum’ah 

Jum’ah is an Arabic word which means gathering. Muslims also call it “the day of congregation” or “Yawmul Jum’ah.” The weekly Friday gatherings in the mosques (mostly by men) are marked by devout prayer, a sermon “Khutbah” delivered by an Imam, and recitations of the Quran and Hadith. Every Muslim man in the community is expected to attend the local mosque, or, if travelling, the closest mosque he can find.

“O believers! When the call to prayer is made on Friday, then proceed diligently to the remembrance of Allah and leave off your business. That is best for you, if only you knew.” Surah 62:9

In Islamic countries, schools, government offices and corporate companies are closed on Fridays; but most merchandise shops, marketplaces, and restaurants stay open. The men who are working that day take a break from their work around noon for a couple of hours to go to the mosque and then resume their work.

In the evening, families gather for special meals and outings with friends. Usually, Saturday is the second weekend day they take, and Sunday morning everyone goes back to school and work. 

What the Hadith says about the special significance of Jum’ah 

But why do Muslims hold their day of prayer on Friday, and what makes it so important to them? There are five reasons, found in the Hadith, that Friday is the best day of the week for the Muslim.

The first four reasons are listed in this Hadith which quotes Muhammad:

“The best day on which the sun has risen is Friday; on it, Adam was created, on it he was made to enter Paradise, on it he was expelled from it. And the last hour will take place on no day other than Friday.” (Sahih Muslim 854b)

But we see the main reason Fridays are considered holy through this Hadith:

“There is an hour (opportune time) on Friday and if a Muslim gets it while praying and asks something from Allah, then Allah will definitely meet his demand." And he (the Prophet) pointed out the shortness of that time with his hands.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 935)

Friday is the optimal day for a Muslim to pray because Allah will be quick to answer his prayers if he prays during that blessed hour, which no one knows when it takes place.

What are the rules for Jum’ah in Islam? 

The “blessings of Friday,” do not come without a cost to the Muslim. As with much of Islam, the Ju’mah is burdened with stiff legal codes and protocol:

• It is called “a necessary duty for every Muslim” that cannot be skipped over. But slaves, women, boys, and the sick can be excused (Sunan Abi Dawud 1067).

• All who attend the mosque prayer service are required to perform a special ceremonial cleansing beforehand (Sunan Abi Dawud 342).

• Women who come do not have the freedom to set their prayer mat just anywhere. Rather, there is a designated section for women behind the men or in a separate room (Sunan Ibn Majah 1000).

• Women are encouraged that their prayers are best said and received by Allah at home – so attending Jum’ah in a mosque is not the best for women, only men.

• When a Muslim arrives at the mosque for Ju’mah prayer, the Hadith also assures them that an angel waits at the entrance of their mosque to record their attendance (Sahih al-Bukhari 3211). 

Do Muslims believe in a day of rest?

The Muslim Ju’mah is not the same as the Sabbath rest day that God commands in the Bible. Islam’s day of prayer becomes just another day of performing works and striving towards salvation.

The Hadith tells Muslims that their daily prayers, along with their Friday prayers, serve as an atonement for their sin (Sahih Muslim 233b). As adherents to a works-based religion, earning favor with Allah wholly rests on their shoulders. For the Muslim, there is no grace or rest.

The idea of rest and the Ju’mah are never mentioned in the same context. Neither Allah nor  Mohammed promise Muslims any rest (except for Surah 40:61, which explains Allah made the night for resting). The devout Muslim might see Friday as a day to double down and pray extra hard because their chances of rewards or being heard are greater.

Sadly, fear is ultimately what drives the Muslim to the mosque each Friday. Fear of Allah’s punishment weighs on them, and false hope of rewards deceives their hearts.  Many Muslims love Allah, whom they believe is the Creator, with all their heart. They go anxiously to the mosque, hoping to find him there, hoping he would speak to them, or give them rest. 

What is the Sabbath Day according to the Bible? 

Origins of the Christian Sabbath 

Most Christians are familiar with Genesis 2:2-3, which records that God completed His creation work, rested on the seventh day, and then blessed and sanctified it. In Jewish tradition, to take a Sabbath or Shabbat meant to rest or cease labor, and was typically observed on Saturday as the seventh day.    

What the Bible says about the Sabbath 

Our gracious Father understands the importance of rest, so He included the Sabbath rest in the Ten Commandments. A Sabbath on the seventh day became formalized in the Mosaic law as the fourth commandment. For the Israelites, it was a day to remember, to keep holy, to refrain from work, and to rest because God had blessed it (Exodus 20:8-11).

In Exodus 31:12-17, God communicates the seriousness of the Sabbath to Moses.  

Anyone who did any work on the Sabbath was to be put to death. The Sabbath, God told Moses, was to be a sign and covenant between Himself and His people.

God knew we could never perfectly keep His laws, so He sent Christ to pay the price for our sins. As Christians, we now live under the New Covenant because Christ "fulfilled the law”  and “bore our sin” (Matthew 5:17, 1 Peter 2:24).

But Christ did not abolish the Sabbath. Hebrews 4:9-10 says, “there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God.” Jesus himself is “Lord of the Sabbath” (Luke 6:56) and says, “Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)

Though modern churches meet for a Sabbath (usually on Sunday) to hear a sermon, and to pray, worship, and fellowship with one another, Christian worship is weeklong. As believers we are to rejoice every day of the week, pray continually and remain in a posture of praise (Psalm 118: 24, 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18, Psalm 136:1). We gather in fellowship to “encourage one another in love and good deeds” not to attempt to gain the favor of God who has already given us grace in abundance (Hebrews 10:24-25).  

For Christians, the Sabbath is a picture of God modeling rest for us. It is also a time when He performs his sanctifying work on our hearts (Exodus 31:13). The Sabbath is also an opportunity for us to love like Jesus (Matthew 12:12) and a time to trust in His provision, rather than our own efforts (Exodus 16:4).  

Talking with Muslims about Ju’mah and the Christian Sabbath 

The Ju’mah and the Sabbath are entirely different. To us Christians, this is clear. But it may not be so clear to a Muslim.

So how do we approach this topic with Muslims? Prayer should always come first. 

Remember that rest, grace, and redemption are entirely foreign to Muslims. Where we know repentance and salvation, all they have ever known is submission and slavery to Allah.

Here are a few questions to get your conversation started:  

• What do you do on Fridays? 

• Does Allah give you rest?

• I’d love to hear about your experiences on Fridays, your Jum’ah, and I could tell you about our Sabbath on Sundays. 

Prayer   

Dear Jesus, thank you that I can come to you for rest. Thank you for the gift of the Sabbath rest you have bestowed upon your sheep. Please equip me to talk to Muslims about the differences between their day of prayer and your day of rest. Open their hearts and minds to your light and truth. Amen.