“O believers, when the proclamation is made for prayer on the Day of Congregation (Friday), hasten to God's remembrance and leave trafficking aside. That is better for you did you but know.” (62:9)  
What do you think as you see a crowd of people gathered in one place, in regular rows? Acting altogether, simultaneously and in a well-organized manner? And they are dressed beautifully and smell good? Especially when they are hundreds and thousands? I see this as a glorious union. You can find this kind of forgathering in a Friday prayer. 

Congregations in Islam

Islam emphasizes three congregations: Haj which is held annually in a large scale, weekly Friday prayers and daily congregational prayers. Hajj is God’s plan to bring huge amounts of people together in Mecca, to show the power of Islam and unite the Muslims; besides its specific spirituality. Imam Baghir (AS), the fifth Imam, mentions Hajj as one of the five bases on which Islam is founded. [1]
Friday prayer is of such high importance and value that when a person said to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HP) that he has got ready several times to go to Hajj but has not managed to, our prophet (PBUH) told him to attend Friday prayer which is Hajj of the poor. [2]

These show that Friday prayer has many characteristics of Hajj and can be influential in the same way, on a smaller scale though.

Friday

In several narrations from the last prophet (PBUH&HP) and his household, Friday is known as the best night and day of the week. It is recommended to perform full ablution (qusl), wear your best clothes, cut nails, brush your hair and beard, trim mustaches and wear perfume on this day. One of the main reasons for these recommendations is getting ready to show up among Muslims in Friday prayer.

Friday prayer (Salat al-Jumu’ah)

Friday prayer (Salat al-Jumu’ah) is an Islamic ritual. It begins with two khutbahs (orations) by Imam al-Jumu’ah in which he advises people toward observing virtue. In the first one, he elaborates on religious concepts. In the second one, he discusses political and social matters of Muslims’ community. 

Then Friday prayer is performed in congregation. It consists of two rak’ahs (parts). Each rak’ah has a qunut (raising hands); in the first rak’ah before ruku’ (bowing), in the second one after ruku’. Friday prayer and the two orations before that are a substitution to the four-rak’ah Salat al-Zuhr. After that, a four-rak’ah Salat al-Asr is performed. Please note that:

- Friday prayer cannot be performed individually.    

- Except for the Imam, there should be at least four people for a Friday prayer to be held. [3]

Friday prayer; obligatory or recommended?

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH&HP) says: “Surely God-may be blessed and exalted- made Friday prayer obligatory for you. If someone abandons it in my life or after my death, aiming to belittle or deny it, God will distress them and won’t bless them in their work; and know! their prayer is not accepted, and know! their alms-tax (Zakat) is not accepted; and know! their Haj is not accepted; and know! their good deed is not accepted until they repent.” [4]

In an ordinary situation, i.e. the presence of innocent Imam, Friday prayer is a determinate duty. That is the same duty should be done and it cannot be replaced by another one. But now that the twelfth and last Imam, Mahdi (AS) is absent, Friday prayer is a selective duty. Which means you can choose between performing Friday prayer or Salat al-Zuhr. [5]

Yet, considering its profits, Muslims should pay special attention to Friday prayer. 

Why Is Friday Prayer Highly Recommended? 

Imam Reza (AS), the eighth Imam, states the importance of Friday Prayer and its Khutbahs comprehensively: “Because Friday is a public rendezvous, khutbah on Friday has been arranged to be a means for governor to advise people and to encourage them to obedience and to warn them of disobedience and to inform them of God’s will about their interest of religion and world and let them know of what has happened to them in the world and of events in which they have disadvantage or advantage.”[6]

Reason of Repetition

- We are forgetful beings. We need to be advised repeatedly so that we may not neglect the afterlife, miss the path, and forget necessities of the society.

- See these daily and weekly prayers as the stages of a ladder. By each prayer, we should take a step upwards. By praying, we are communicating with God and by practicing in a regular program, we can enhance the quality of this communication.

References:

1. Al-Kafi, v.2, p.18
2. Wassail al-Shi'a, v.7, p.300
3. Khamenei.ir
4. Wassail al-Shi'a, v.7, p.302 
5. Khamenei.ir 
6. Wassail al-Shi'a, v.7, p.344

In the two previous parts of the solutions to depression, we introduced some of the recommendations on how to avoid anxiety and stress in Islam. Those examples included both spiritual and material advice. And they show that Islam considers the existence of human beings as a whole. That is why Islam has forbidden the unlawful (Haram) “temporary solutions” of relieving stress and emotions (like starting a dangerous relationship or spending the time in bars, etc.). Since in those cases, one usually gets nothing for what he\she spends.

Avoid Whatever Damages the Mind and Soul

Many people try to keep up with the newest standards of body hygiene to prevent various diseases. The same should be done for the mental hygiene. Much effort is needed to have a healthy soul and prevent disorders like depression, anxiety, stress in Islam, etc.

Some approaches to reduce depression act like an immediate treatment. The problem with those solutions is that they give a good feeling at the beginning. It normally does not last long and later on results in adverse effects. So, one should avoid whatever undermines the consciousness or causes deeper depression. These are:

All the Intoxicant:

Whatever destroys one’s mind and deprives him of the ability to thinking and reason is a sort of intoxicant, then, must be abandoned [1];

Drinking Alcoholic Beverages

Alcohol is harmful and adversely affects the mind and the body. Imam Reza (AS) said that God has prohibited drinking alcoholic beverages since they contaminate the mind [2];

An Ignorant Companion

 Spending a lot of time with such a person will destroy the wisdom [3] and misleads whoever he/she interacts with;

Overeating

Eating too much will degenerate one’s mind and weaken the thinking power [4,5]. According to Islamic teachings, overeating turns one to a weak-willed, sleepy, stupid person [6];

Idleness and Inaction

 Wasting time and doing nothing in life corrupt the mind [7];

Joking and Laughing Excessively

Making jokes and laughing too much causes one to seem stupid [7].

Moreover, anything that causes one to forget God and weakens one’s faith acts like a poison that darkens one’s soul:

Assuming to Have a Long Life

The one who thinks that will live a long life and forget about his/her death insists on his/her mistakes and cannot catch up. Since he/she supposes that there are still many chances to compensate. This clouds his/her heart and soul [8];

Useless Conversations

Vain conversations and hostility with others will weaken the soul [9];

Owning vast fortune such that the owner becomes too busy with them and forgets about God and his\her religious duties

Having such great wealth can harden the heart [10];

Keep on Doing Sins

Whoever does a sin several times and repents each time but does not stop committing that sin, is known to mock God [11]. It is also said that repeated sins seal and kill the heart [12];

Associating with Those Who Have Gone Astray

To spend time with those who are lost in their lives and oppose the divine guidelines, will mislead one to the wrong path [9]. 

Not Keeping the Gaze Down

Looking freely at any scene and anybody, especially non-Mahrams, causes anxiety and inquietude. Looking at a beautiful flower, for example, might take only some seconds but its smell and beauty stays in our mind longer. The same thing happens when looking at another person; especially due to the emotional impacts that men and women have on each other.

Staring at a non-Mahram will busy one’s mind with different thoughts for some time. It might also stimulate his/her feelings. Repeating these looks will cause one to get distracted and lose control in his/her mind. Also, it disturbs his/her inner peace and causes mental problems [13]. That is why Imam Ali (AS) said: “Whoever keeps the gaze down, relieves” [14].

References:

1. M. al-Kulaynī, “Al-Kafi”, vol. 6, p. 412.
2. S. H. al-Amili, “Wasail al-Shia”, vol. 25, p. 329.
3. Karajaki, “Kanzul Fawaid”, vol. 1, p. 199.
4. H. T. Nuri Ṭabarsi, “Mustadrak al-Wasail”, vol. 16, p. 458.
5. M. B. Majlesi, “Bihar al-Anwar”, vol. 63, p. 72.
6. N. Makarem Shirazi, “Tafsir Nemooneh”, vol. 6, p. 153.
7. “Ghurar al-Hikam wa Durar al-Kalim”, p. 222.
8. Ibn Babawayh, “Man la yahduruhu al-Faqih”, vol.4, p. 366.
9. Ibn Babawayh, “Al-Khisal”, p. 228.
10. M. al-Kulaynī, “Al-Kafi”, vol. 2, p. 300.
11. M. al-Kulaynī, “Al-Kafi”, vol. 4, p. 168.
12. Sheikh al-Mufid, “Al-Amali”, p. 83.
13. stress in islam
14. M. Reyshahri, "Mizan al-Hikma," T. 6141".