Friday (al-Jumu'ah) is the weekly festival of the believers, a day for gathering, the congregational prayer, and abundant remembrance. This short chapter gathers the guidance that singling Friday out on its own for fasting, or singling its night out for standing in prayer above other nights, is discouraged.
Notice the gentle logic running through these hadith. The point is not that worship on Friday is bad, but that the day should not be set apart as if it carried a special obligation it does not have. Pair its fast with the day before or after, and let Friday keep its character as a day of joy and congregation. Where the finer rulings of fasting are concerned, the details belong to the scholars.
Hadith 1760
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: "لا تخصوا ليلة الجمعة بقيام من بين الليالي، ولا تخصوا يوم الجمعة بصيام من بين الأيام إلا أن يكون في صوم يصومه أحدكم" ((رواه مسلم)).
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Do not choose the Friday night among all other nights for standing in (Tahajjud) prayer, and do not choose Friday among all other days for Saum (fasting) except that one you have accustomed to." [Muslim].
In plain words
The Prophet taught not to single out Friday night for night prayer, or Friday alone for fasting, above other days. Friday should keep its place as a day of gathering rather than be set apart for special worship.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1760 In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 250
Hadith 1761
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) said:
وعنه قال: سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول: "لا يصومن أحدكم يوم الجمعة إلا يومًا قبله أو بعده" ((متفق عليه)).
I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as saying: "None of you should observe fast on Friday except that he should observe fast either one day before it or one day after it." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
In plain words
The Prophet said no one should fast on Friday on its own, but rather join it to the day before or the day after. This keeps Friday from being singled out as a fixed day of fasting.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1761 In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 251
Hadith 1762
Muhammad bin 'Abbad (May Allah be pleased with him) said:
وعن محمد بن عباد قال: سألت جابرًا رضي الله عنه: أنهى النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم عن صوم يوم الجمعة؟ قال: نعم ((متفق عليه)).
I asked Jabir (May Allah be pleased with him). Did the Prophet (ﷺ) prohibit fasting on Friday?" He said, "Yes." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
In plain words
Jabir confirmed that the Prophet forbade singling out Friday for fasting. The point is not to set the day apart with a fast it was not given.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1762 In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 252
Hadith 1763
وعن أم المؤمنين جويرة بنت الحارس رضي الله عنها أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم دخل عليها يوم الجمعة وهي صائمة، فقال: " أصمت أمس؟" قالت: لا، قال: " تريدين أن تصومي غدا " قالت: لا، قال : "فأفطري" ((رواه البخاري))
Juwairiyah bint Al-Harith (May Allah be pleased with her), the Mother of the Believers, said that the Prophet (ﷺ) visited her on a Friday and she was observing fast. He asked, "Did you observe fast yesterday?" She said, "No." He asked, "Do you intend to observe fast tomorrow?" She said, "No." He said, "In that case, give up your fast today." [Al-Bukhari].
In plain words
Finding Juwairiyah fasting on a Friday alone, the Prophet asked whether she had fasted the day before or would the day after, and when she said no, he told her to break it. This shows Friday should not be singled out for a lone fast.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 1763 In-book reference : Book 17, Hadith 253