The Significance of Sunday in Islam
Sunday is the first day of the week. Hazrat Anas Ibn Maalik – may Allah be pleased with Him – states that when the Holy Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon Him – was asked regarding the significance of Sunday, he stated:
یَوْمُ غَرْسٍ وَ عِمَارَۃٍ قَالُوْا کَیْفَ ذٰلِکَ یَا رَسُوْلَ اللّٰہِ قَالَ لِاَنَّ فِیْہِ اِبْتِدَاَ اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی الدُّنْیَا وَ عِمَارَتُھَا۞
“It is a day for planting and construction.” They asked, “How is that O Allah’s Messenger?” He replied, “Because Allah Almighty began to create and construct the world on this day.”
(Ghunyatut Taalibeen Vol. 2, p. 73)
It is for this reason that to plant and to engage in construction projects on a Sunday is a means for blessing. Sunday is the day of ‘Eid for the Christians. When Hazrat ‘Isa – peace be upon Him – commanded his nation to celebrate on Friday, his nation refused and said that they would not like the jews to celebrate their ‘Eid which is on Saturday after their ‘Eid, hence, they made Sunday into a holiday, because in their opinion, Sunday was the ideal day to commence with any project or work.
(‘Ajaibul Makhlooqaat p. 43)
Important Events That Occurred On Sunday:
Allah Almighty created hell on Sunday and made its seven gates. Allah Almighty states:
لَہَا سَبْعَۃُ اَبْوٰبٍ ؕ لِکُلِّ بَابٍ مِّنْہُمْ جُزْءٌ مَّقْسُوۡمٌ ﴿٪۴۴﴾
It has seven entrances. For each entrance there is an appointed portion of them.
(Al-Hajar 15, Verse 44)
Allah Almighty created stars on Sunday, hence, He states in the Holy Quran:
وَ ہُوَ الَّذِیۡ جَعَلَ لَکُمُ النُّجُوۡمَ لِتَہۡتَدُوۡا بِہَا فِیۡ ظُلُمٰتِ الْبَرِّ وَ الْبَحْرِؕ قَدْ فَصَّلْنَا الۡاٰیٰتِ لِقَوْمٍ یَّعْلَمُوۡنَ ﴿۹۷﴾
And it is He who has made the stars for you that you may get the way in the darkness of the Land and the sea. We have explained the signs in detail for people who know.
(Al-An’aam 6, Verse 97)
The Almighty Allah created three types of stars:
- That are stationary and do not move from their place neither do they set.
- The stars that rise and set.
- The stars that float in orbit.
(Kitaab Al-Sabee’aat p. 30)
The Fasts of Sunday:
The Holy Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon Him – has stated:
صُوْمُوْا یَوْمَ السَّبْتِ وَالْاَحَدِ وَخَالِفُوْاالْیَھُوْدَ وَالنَّصَارٰی۞
Fast on Saturday and Sunday, and do against the practices of Christians and jews.
(Ghunyatut Taalibeen p. 74)
The Optional Prayers on Sunday:
It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Hurairah – may Allah be pleased with Him – that the Master of the universe the Holy Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon Him – has stated that a Muslim who offers four Rak’ats of Nafl (optional Salah) and recites Surah Fatiha and:
اٰمَنَ الرَّسُوۡلُ بِمَاۤ اُنۡزِلَ اِلَیۡہِ مِنۡ رَّبِّہٖ وَالْمُؤْمِنُوۡنَؕ کُلٌّ اٰمَنَ بِاللہِ وَمَلٰٓئِکَتِہٖ وَکُتُبِہٖ وَرُسُلِہٖ۟ لَا نُفَرِّقُ بَیۡنَ اَحَدٍ مِّنۡ رُّسُلِہٖ۟ وَقَالُوۡا سَمِعْنَا وَ اَطَعْنَا٭۫ غُفْرَانَکَ رَبَّنَا وَ اِلَیۡکَ الْمَصِیۡرُ﴿۲۸۵﴾
The Messenger believed in that which was sent down to him from his Lord and the believers too; all accepted Allah and His angels and His Books and His messengers saying this, ”that we do not differentiate in the matter of having faith in any of His messengers’ and submitted” we heard and obeyed. Let there be your forgiveness, O Our Lord! And to you is our return.
(Al-Baqarah 2, Verse 285)
Allah Almighty shall grant him the reward equivalent to the number of all the Christians and jews combined and the reward of a Prophet, and also the reward of Hajj and ‘Umrah he also writes in their account. He grants them the reward of 1,000 Salahs through each Rak’at of that Nafl and He also blesses them with a tree that is full of musk through the recitation of every letter.
Hazrat Ali – may Allah be pleased with him – narrated that the Holy Prophet – may Allah send peace and blessings upon Him – has stated:
“Offer Nafl Salahs excessively on Sunday and believe in Allah to be the only One having no partner. If one offers four Rak’ats of Nafl Salah after the Dhuhr Salah on a Sunday and recites Surah Fatiha and Surah Sajdah in the first Rak’at and Surah Fatiha and Surah Furqaan in the second and make Salaam after Tashahhud, and then offer another Two Rak’ats Nafl with Surah Fatiha and Surah Jumu’ah in both the Rak’ats and ask for his needs from Allah Almighty after Salaam, Allah Almighty will fulfil his needs and will keep him saved from the Christian’ religion.
(Ghunyatut Taalibeen p. 140, Ihya Uloomiddeen p. 204)
(Fadaail Al-Aiyaam Wal-Shuhoor p. 25-45)
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