A man asked Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) about the Friday bath, whether it is obligatory. He said: No, but whoever wishes may perform the bath. And I will tell you about the beginning of the bath: the people were needy (and poor), they wore woolen clothes and used to water the date palms by carrying water skins on their backs, while the Prophet’s Mosque was narrow and had a low roof. (One day it happened that) people came wearing those woolen clothes, they sweated in them, and the pulpit of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was also small, just three steps. When people sweated in the wool, a strong odor spread and they began to trouble each other, and this odor reached the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) while he was on the pulpit. At that time, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: O people! When you come for Friday (prayer), perform the bath, and if possible, use the best fragrance.

Sayyidah Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) says: People used to do their work themselves, and then in that state they would come (to the mosque for Jumu'ah), so it was said to them: If you perform ghusl (ritual bath), it would be better.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id Khudri and Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with them) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Whoever performs ghusl on Friday, uses miswak, applies perfume if he has it, wears his best clothes, then goes out and comes to the mosque and does not step over people's necks, then prays as much as he wishes, and when the Imam comes, he remains silent and does not speak until the prayer is finished, then this (Friday) will be an expiation for the sins committed between this Friday and the previous Friday. Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: It also becomes an expiation for three more days (of sins), because Allah Almighty has made one good deed equal to ten times its like.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Whoever performs ghusl or attains purity and attains purity well, wears the best clothes from among his garments, and uses fragrance which Allah Almighty has made available for him or applies his wife's oil, then comes for Jumu'ah and neither engages in idle talk nor causes separation between two people, then his (those sins) will be forgiven which are between this Jumu'ah and the next Jumu'ah.

(Second chain) A similar hadith has been narrated, however, ‘Ubadah bin ‘Amir said about the above narration: He has spoken the truth, rather, (sins are forgiven for) an additional three days.

Sayyiduna Salman al-Khair (may Allah be pleased with him) also narrated a hadith from the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) similar to the previous hadith.

It is also narrated from Sayyiduna Salman (may Allah be pleased with him), he says: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) asked me: Do you know what the day of Friday is? I said: It is the day on which Allah created your father (Adam, peace be upon him). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: But I know fully well what the day of Friday is. Whoever performs purification in a good manner, then comes for Friday (prayer) and remains silent until the Imam finishes the prayer, then this (act) will be an expiation for the sins committed between this Friday and the next Friday, as long as major sins are avoided.

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that a man from among the Companions entered the mosque on the day of Jumu’ah while Sayyiduna Umar bin Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) was delivering the sermon to the people. He asked him: What is this time (of coming)? He replied: O Commander of the Faithful! I have just returned from the market, then I heard the call to prayer and came only after performing ablution. Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: You sufficed with only ablution, leaving the ritual bath, but do you know that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to command taking a bath?

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, that Sayyiduna Umar bin Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, was delivering a sermon (then he narrated as in the previous hadith, except that in this one it is mentioned): Then he said: Have you not heard that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: When any one of you comes for Jumu'ah, he should take a bath.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Whoever among you comes for Jumu’ah should perform ghusl (ritual bath). Tawus says: I said to Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him): People say that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Perform ghusl on the day of Jumu’ah and wash your heads, even if you are not in a state of janabah, and apply perfume as well. Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The command for ghusl is correct, but regarding perfume, I do not know.