| Of all the
religious obligations of a Muslim, the most important is
Prayer of Salat. It is compulsory for all Muslims, men and
women equally. The Holy Quran states: |
| "Observe
Prayer in the prescribed form. It is enjoined on the believers
to be performed at its appointed times." (4:104)
|
| |
| All the
compulsory Prayers should be performed in congregation if
possible. On Friday, however, a special mid-day Prayer Service
is held in place of Zuhr Prayer. This is called Jum'a Prayer.
Of all the Prayers, none is so essential to be offered in
congregation as the Jum'a Prayer. The Jum'a, in fact, is the
greatest Muslim festival. |
| |
| Muslims are asked
to leave all their worldly pursuits when they are called tothe
Friday Prayer, and assemble in mosque to offer this Prayer
with due observence of all its requirements. The Holy Quran
states: |
| O ye who
believe, when the call is made for Prayer on Friday, hasten to
the rememberance of God and leave off all business, that is
better for you, if you only knew. (62:10) |
| |
| The Holy Prophet
(peace be upon him) said: |
| "Your best day
is Friday, so you should be diligent on that day in calling
down blessings on me, for your blessings are conveyed to me."
(Sunan Abu Daud) |
| "The best of
days on which sun rises is Friday; on that day was Adam
created, on that day he was admitted to the Garden and on that
day was he expelled therefrom." (Muslim) |
|
|
| In regards to the
preparation for Friday Prayer Service, the Holy Prophet (peace
be upon him) said: |
| "A Muslim
takes a bath on a Friday, makes himself thoroghly clean, and
uses scented oil or just some perfume. Having thus freshened
up, he goes to the mosque. He occupies a place without
disturbing people sitting on his right and left. He offers the
prescribed prayers, and when the Imam appears, he listens to
him in silence. May God forgive his sins between that Friday
and the last." (Bukhari) |
| |
| Abu Hurairah, may
Allah be pleased with him, relates that concerning Friday the
Holy Prophet, peace be upon him, said: |
| "There is on
that day a brief period of time during the service when
whatever supplication a Muslim servant of Allah makes is
granted." He indicated with his hand that the period is very
short. (Muslim) |
| |
| Abu Said Khudri,
may Allah be pleased with him, relates that hte Holy Prophet,
peace be upon him, said: |
| "Bath on
Friday is obligatory on every adult Muslim." (Muslim)
|
| |
| Ammar bin Yasir,
may Allah be pleased with him, relates that he heard the Holy
Prophet, peace be upon him, say: |
| "The length of
a person's Prayer and the brevity of his sermon testify to his
intelligence. Make your Prayer long and your sermon short."
(Muslim) |
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