By Arman Neyazi, New Age Islam
9 April 2021
The importance of Friday for Muslims can be gauged from the fact that the Islamic world celebrates it like an Eid. All the customs of taking bath, wearing the best possible clothes, using perfumes and visiting the graveyards of relatives and friends is maintained. On Fridays, Muslims congregate in the mosques on the time of Zuhr, for Friday prayers.
Photo courtesy/Kolkata Duroos
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Like Eids, on Fridays also Imam delivers Khutbah from the pulpit of the mosque. As per the Islamic custom, specific addresses in the Arabic language are delivered to the faithful and they have to listen to it with all their attention. Every kind of movement during the Khutbah, even offering Namaz is prohibited. The importance of Friday and Friday prayer is authenticated by the following Ayat of Surah Al-Jama’ah:
O believers! When the call to prayer is made on Friday, then proceed ˹diligently˺ to the remembrance of Allah and leave off ˹your˺ business. That is best for you, if only you knew.
Surah Al-Jumu'ah - 62:9 - Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran
And the following Ahadees authenticate the importance of Friday Khutbah, which is considered a part of the Friday prayer:
“Because when the Imam comes out (to deliver Khutbah), the angles come to listen to the Dhikr.” [Bukhari]
The Messenger of Allah (saw) said, ’We (Muslims) are the last (to come) but (will be) the foremost on the Day of Resurrection, though the former nations were given the Scriptures before us. Then, this was their day (i.e. Friday) that was prescribed for them, but they differed about it. So Allah gave us the guidance for it (Friday) and all the other people are behind us in this respect: the Jews’ (holy day is) tomorrow and the Christians’ is the day after tomorrow’. [Bukhari and Muslim]
Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
“The best day on which the sun has risen is Friday; on it Adam was created and on it he was made to enter Paradise.
Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
“The five [daily prescribed] Prayers, and Friday [prayer] to the [next] Friday [prayer], and Ramadan to the next Ramadan, is expiation of the sins committed in between them, so long as major sins are avoided.” (Muslim)
Aws ibn Aws (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
“Among the best of your days is Friday. So, pray to Allah frequently on it to bless me, for such supplications of you will be presented to me.” (Abu Dawud)
The Arabic word ‘Al-Juma’ah’ means ‘the day of the congregation’. Muslims take this day as a special day chosen by God, a day dedicated to worship. Friday sermons are generally, religious and are delivered to the believers as a Zikr of Allah, His Prophets and Islam describing historical happenings of the religion.
Friday Sermon and the Issues of Social Importance
Mosques every Friday are full so much so that on the Last Friday of Ramazan Muslims have to offer prayers on the rooftops and roads linking to the mosques. So these are special days, no doubt.
Friday sermons can be used to spread the message of civil nature important for the believers to know, from the pulpit of the mosques. Various countries around the world, such as the USA, UK, UAE, Malaysia and Jordan are using Friday sermons to teach the Namazis about the issues and solutions of civil nature.
Friday sermons, especially in the Muslim minority countries should be used to deliver sermons to communicate with the attendees of Friday prayer on the prevailing social and civil issues. Almost every country has some type of Islamic associations, which can be used to distribute Friday sermons of the same kind. For example, they should be taught about gender equality, Family Planning, Covid vaccination, the importance of education and love for nations, etc. as various countries are practising.
The mosque pulpit is a powerful platform to communicate on the issues of public concerns promoting peace and harmony in the country along with religious ideologies, themes and guidelines for the collective awakening of the masses. If conservative Imams are unable to do this they can be trained for communication.
Friday Sermons and Radical Extremists
Islamic world in general and Muslims, in particular, have been the targets of Islamophobes and Islam haters for decades. Radical and extremist Muslims have been used by the powers that be, for their benefit. And these misguided Muslims have used mosque pulpits to spread poison in Muslim society.
It will be no exaggeration to say that mosques have been used by radicals and extremists, both religious and political, for spreading hatred and misunderstanding between communities and nations by selecting and propagating certain parts of the verses and Ahadees which suits their evil intention while hiding the actual context and historical background of the concerned Ayats and Ahadees.
We, the Muslims all over the world where mosques are being used by radical clerics must come forward and use the Friday sermons for educating our brethren the real Quran and Ahadees so that they could identify the enemies within themselves.
And Allah knows the best.
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