(5) Jum’a – Friday
Friday, the day of congregation (jum’a), is the special day of the week for Muslims (See AR 12). It distinguishes them from Jews who observe the Sabbath, and from Christians who keep Sunday as their particular day of worship.
For Muslims, on Fridays there is a special congregational prayer at mid-day together with a sermon. This prayer is mentioned in the Qur’an:
Believers! When the call to prayer is made on the day of congregation, hurry towards the reminder of God and leave off your trading – that is better for you if only you knew – then when the prayer has ended, disperse in the land and seek out God’s bounty. Remember God often so that you may prosper (Q 62:9-10).
It can be understood from this that Friday is not necessarily a day when there is no work – though in point of fact, in many Muslim majority countries Friday is the weekly day of rest - but that at the time of the Friday prayer all work should cease.
The passage from the Qur’an quoted above continues:
Yet they scatter towards trade and entertainment whenever they observe it, and leave you [Prophet] standing there. Say, “What God has is better that any entertainment or trade. God is the best provider” (Q 62:11).
The translator, Abdel Haleem, explains this verse in an amusing note: “During congregational prayer at a time of famine, a caravan arrived and some of the worshippers rushed out, leaving the prophet standing on the minbar [pulpit]. On another occasion, worshippers rushed out because there was a band playing for a wedding.”
Make A Comment
Comments (0)