Is it permissible for a Muslim

Q 3: What is the ruling on taking Saturdays and Sundays off and working on Thursdays and Fridays at a certain school? Is it permissible for the person who does so to lead Muslims in Salah (Prayer)?

A: It is not permissible to take Saturday or Sunday off or both of them as a holiday because this is the practice of the Jews and Christians. (Part No. 12; Page No. 212) The Jews take Saturdays off and Christians take Sundays off; and they consider them as sacred days. It is authentically reported on the authority of Ibn `Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: I was asked to fight people with the sword closely before the Day of Judgment so that Allah Alone is worshipped. My sustenance has been made under the shadow of my spear; and whoever disobeys me shall be humiliated. He who copies any people is one of them. Related by Ahmad, Abu Ya`la, Al-Tabarany, Ibn Abu Shaybah, and `Abd ibn Humayd. Al-Haythamy said: Its Sanad (chain of narrators) includes `Abdul-Rahman ibn Thabit ibn Thawban who is regarded as a trustworthy narrator by Ibn Al-Madiny and Abu Hatim and regarded by Ahmad as a weak narrator and the rest of its narrators are trustworthy. Al-Bukhari mentioned it as a Hadith Mu`allaq (a Hadith missing a link in the chain of narration, reported directly from the Prophet) in the Chapter on Jihad. Ibn Taymiyyah said: Its Sanad (chain of narrators) is good. This Hadith prohibits acting like non-Muslims. It applies to acting like the Jews and Christians in all that is peculiar to them in general. This includes taking Saturdays off like the Jews and taking Sundays off like the Christians. However, there is no harm if a person who observes these days off leads the Muslims in Salah (Prayer) unless there is a legal reason to forbid him from doing so.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.