3.19. EXCELLENCE OF FRIDAY PRAYER

God says

And when the prayer [of Friday congregation] is ended, disperse freely on earth* and seek to obtain [something] of God’s bounty; but remember God often**, so that you might attain to a happy state! -- Q.62:10
* I.e., “you may devote yourself to worldly pursuits”. As the sequence shows in the above verse, Friday is not the day of complete rest in Islamic Law.
** So that we may not overlook religious and moral obligations in our worldly pursuits.
(In devoting ourselves to worldly pursuits do we remember God often?)


Prophet said

“To God Friday is a greater day* than the day of Sacrifice Idd-ul-Azha and the day of Fitr (Idd-ul-Fitr)’” – H: Ibn Majah. Narrator: Abu Hobabah.
*Because, in the system of Islam Friday congregation brings the community together every week and perhaps it is because of that it is Farz, whereas the two Idd are not.

“Verily there is an hour on Friday in which, when a Muslim servant (of God) seeks good from Him, He grants it” -- H: Bukhari and Muslim. Narr: Abu Hurairah.
There are nearly thirty three Traditions relating to the special hour on Friday.

“Seek the hour which is so hoped for on Friday after Asr prayer till the setting of the sun.” —H: Anas. N: Tirmizi.

“Obligatory prayers five times a day, and one Friday prayer upto (the next) Friday prayer, and fasting (during a) month (of Ramadan) upto (the next Ramadan) fasts cause expiation (of sins) which come to pass in their midst provided the major sins are avoided.” -- H: Bukhari and Muslim. Narrator: Abu Hurairah.

“Increase blessings on me on Friday, because it is witnessed; angels witness it. And nobody sends blessings on me but it is presented to me till he is free from it.” Abu Darda’a said that he asked: and after death? The Prophet replied, “Indeed God has made unlawful for the earth that it should consume the bodies of the prophets”; so the Prophet of God is alive and is given provision. – H: Ibn Majah. N: Abu Darda’a.

3.18. CONGRAGATION PRAYER ON FRIDAY

God says

O you who have attained to faith! When the call to prayer is sounded on the day of congregation hasten, to the remembrance of God and leave all worldly commerce:* this is for your own good, if you but knew it. – Q.62:9
*I.e., on Friday, when congregational prayer at noon is obligatory.


Please always remember to use the honorifics:

After name or title of the Prophet say: “Sal-lal- lahu ‘Alaihi wa Sal-lam”; (peace and blessings be upon him)
After the name or the title of every prophet (nabi) and apostle (rasul) say:
“ ‘Alai hissalaam” (peace be upon him or them)
After the name of their family member, as well as a companion, say:
“Radi Allahu ‘Anhu—or ‘Anha—or ‘Anhum ”
(may God be pleased with him--or her--or them)
And for others, say: “Rahmat-Allah-e-‘Alaih”
(God’s mercy be upon him)


Prophet said

“Friday (prayer) is binding upon every Muslim except upon four: a slave, a woman, a (small) boy, and a sick man.” – H: Abu Daud. N: Tariq-b-Shehab.
It is optional for these four categories.

“Whoever gives up three Friday prayers by way of neglect, God will seal up his heart.’ – H: Abu Daud, Tirmizi, Nisai, Ibn Majah. N: Abu Ja`ad-az-Zumairi.

“Whoever holds conversation on Friday, while the Imam is delivering the Sermon, is like an ass who carries books; and one who tells him, ‘Be silent’, there is no Jumah for him” – H: Ahmed. N: Ibn Abbas

“When any of you feels drowsy, (in the mosque before the prayer,) on Friday, let him change his place.” -- H: Tirmizi. N: Ibn Omar

Mu`az-b-Anas reported that the Prophet prohibited from sitting with legs raised on Friday while the Imam delivers the sermon (Khutba) – H: Tirmizi.

3.17. PRAYER: FACILITIES

God says

But if you are in danger [pray] walking or riding;* and when you are again secure, bear God in mind – since it is He who taught you what you did not previously know. – Q.2:239
* This relates to any dangerous situation – for instance, in war – where remaining for any length of time at one place would only increase the peril: in such an event, the obligatory prayers may be offered in any way that is feasible, even without considering the direction to qiblah.

…. And know that God intervenes between man and [the desires of] his heart,* and that unto Him you shall be gathered. -- Q.8:24
*I.e., between a man’s desire and the outward action that may result from those desires: indicating that God can turn man away from what his heart urges him to do (Raghib). In other words, it is God-consciousness alone that can prevent man from being misled by wrong desires and, thus, from becoming like “those deaf, those dumb ones who do not use their reason” (verse 8: 22); and it is God-consciousness alone that enables man to follow the call “unto that gives life” – that is spiritual awareness of right and wrong and the will to act accordingly.


Prophet said

“Pray standing; if you are unable, then sitting; if (still) unable then (lying) upon a side” – H: Bukhari and Muslim.

When travelling Apostle of God used to combine Zuhr with Asr, and Maghrib with Isha – H: Bukhari. N: Ibn Abbas.

It seems, however, that a traveler is free to choose his own line of action for his prayer in a journey depending upon the convenience or problem in performing his prayer.

God made the prayers obligatory through the instruction of your Prophet (thus): four “Rakats” when resident, two “Rakats” in journey, and one “Rakat” when in danger – H: Muslim. N: Ibn Abbas

Ramadhan Special

GOD RESPONDS TO THE PRAYER!
[Example: Soorat al Fatihah]

In a hadith qudsi,* the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) said: “Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, has said: I have divided the prayer between Myself and My servant, and My servant shall have what he has asked for.
When the servant says: Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds,
Allah the Exalted says: My servant has praised Me.
When the servant says: The, Ever Graceful the Most Gracious,
Allah the Exalted says: My servant has Exalted Me.
When the servant says: Master of the Day of Judgement,
Allah the Exalted says: My servant has glorified Me.
When the servant says: It is You alone do we worship and it is You alone we ask for help,
Allah the Exalted says: This is between Me and My servant, and My servant shall have what he has asked for.
When the servant says: Guide us to the straight way, the way of those on whom You have bestowed Your grace, those whose portion is not wrath, and who go not astray,
Allah the Exalted says: All these are for My servant, and My servant shall have what he has asked for.”-- Saheeh Muslim.

*hadith qudsi: ‘sacred hadith’: a hadith communicated to Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessing be upon him) by Allah, but it is not part of the Qur’an.
(Adapted from Al- Khushoo‘ by Muhammad Salih Al-Munajjid)

How wonderful! God the Exalted responds the prayer, and says in verse 4 of Surah 73: “ recite the Quran calmly and distinctly with thy mind attuned to its meaning.”

What could be better ‘ibadat in Ramadhan than to spend affordable time in understanding the Qur’an, its meanings and explanations, rather than reading God’s Message without understanding!

3.16. PRAYER: THE ASCENT OF MAN (concluded)

God says

So remember Me and I shall remember you; … Q2:152

And if My servants ask thee about Me, I am near; I respond to the call of him who calls, whenever he calls unto Me: let them, then, respond unto Me, and believe in Me, so that they might follow the right way. -- Q2:186

And bring your Lord to remembrance in your very soul, with humility and
reverence,…. Q.7:205


Prophet said

“Worship God as if you see Him, and if you don’t see Him, He certainly sees you” – H: Muslim. N: Omar-bin-al-Khattab

“A servant becomes nearest to his Lord while he is in prostration; …” – H: Muslim. N: Abu Hurairah

Prayer is a living experience for those who turn to God with the whole mind turned towards Him, inspired by the awe of Him, and reflecting upon His word with devotion while praying, extolling His glory and praising Him

confirming their relationship with Him : IYYAKA N`A BUDU WA IYYAKA NASTA’EEN ; asking for His guidance : IHDINAS SIRATAL MUSTAQEEM; and listening to Him in the recitation from Quran that follows; bowing down, extolling His glory; and standing up from the “ru’ku” listening to: “God heard him/her who praised Him” and, thereupon, with a deep sense of gratitude and humility touching the ground with their foreheads – drawing closer, still closer: the ascent of the humans to God!

3.16. PRAYER: THE ASCENT OF MAN (to continue)

God says

[true servants of the Most Gracious are (only) those] and who remember their Sustainer far into the night, prostrating themselves and standing; -- Q.25:64

“Your Sustainer says “Call unto Me, [and] I shall respond to you! …” Q.40: 60

Prostrate yourself [before God] and draw close to Him.* -- Q96:19
* Prostration is the climax of each rakat, repeated twice, drawing one close to God again and again.



Prophet said

“There is concentration* in prayer” – H: Bukhari and Muslim. N: Abdullah-b-Masud
* I.e., prayer is performed with concentration.

“Recite the Qur’an morning and evening, recite in a good voice and reflect upon it,* so that you may be rewarded” – H: Mishkat. N: Ubaidah.
*The Tradition is directing us to understand the verses when we perform our prayer because it is only then we can “reflect” upon it.

God says about the Quran in 38:29 “[This is] a Book which We have sent down to you, full of blessings that they may ponder over its verses, and that people of understanding may remember.” Quran with Tafseer i.e., commentaries and explanations are today available to help us to understand. God also says in 25:73 “And those who, when they are reminded of the verses, do not fall deaf and blind at that.” Hence, necessary to gradually learn the meanings of what we recite in the prayer and understand it. The matter needs urgent attention, as it will be in the direction of performing the prayer in communion with God.

3.15. PRAYER AND HEEDFULNESS

God says

Be ever-mindful of prayers and of praying in the most excellent way,* and stand before God in devout obedience. -- Q.2:238
* Lit., “the mid-most” (or “the most excellent) prayer. According to Muhammad ‘Abduh, it may mean “the noblest kind of prayer—that is, a prayer from the fullness of the heart, with the whole mind turned towards God, inspired by the awe of Him, and reflecting upon His word, ( manar 2).


O you who have attained to faith! Be conscious of God with all the consciousness that is due to Him,… Q.3:102


... those who believe in the life to come do believe in this [Book]; and it is they who are ever-mindful of their prayers. -- Q.6:92


… and do not allow yourself to be heedless [in prayer]. – Q.7:205


Woe to praying ones who are heedless* in their prayer -- Q.107:4
*I.e., knowingly unmindful of prayer.


Prophet said

“Prayer performed in the early time is to please God and performed later in time is to ask His forgiveness.” – H: Tirmizi. N: Ibn Umar

“…The person, who does not bow down (properly in prayer) and does not prostrate well, in fact steals in prayer.” – H: Ahmed. N: Abu Qatada

“Whoever becomes Imam of a people, let him make the prayer easy because among them are the old, and the sick, and the infirm, and among them there are those who have (to attend to) other needs” – N: Osman-b-Abil`Aas