28). VIRTUES OF FRIDAY

In The Name Of Allah The Compassionate Of Mercifull

Dear Socaable Muslim

Islam is a social religion, giving due attention to community affairs and providing opportunities to Muslims to come together and meet daily, weekly and annually.

The Daily meeting takes place at Mosques for group prayers and inspection of Islamic Family affairs in the neighbourhoods. The weekly meeting is held every Friday, the weekly holiday, at midday on the mass congregational prayers in major Mosques of various towns. PEople from all over the respective town assemble at mosques to hear the sermongiving them Islamic guidance and advice to follow the precepts of God and to avoid disgraceful deeds.

Friday is the most favourable day of the week as described by Al-Musthafa (peace be upon him) who said :

" Friday is a masterday considered by the God Almighty as much greater than the Fitr and Adha Days. In Friday there a certain hour when the Lord respond to calls for requests and favours by His servants provided they are not taboo, such as the call for God,s help to assist in the commitment of sins. Unconfirmed report says that the specific hour is the close of the day.

The wisdom behind the non-disclosure of this hour is to involve Muslims throughout the day in absolute concentration on worship and on sending increased blessings ang greetings to our prophet (peace be upon him).

The Holy Prophet advised us to pray for him on friday as much as possible in order to gain the special reward reserved for those who send increased blessing and greetings on this remarkable day. He said "Pray for me as much as possible on Friday by Day and Night."

to be continued....

27. THE SECOND REASON IN THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF GROUP PRAYER

In The Name Of The Compasionate The Mercifull

Lies in the threat, fear, and warning directed by the apostle to those fail to attend the regular group prayers at the Mosque. The Holy Prophet, Peace upon him, said :

" By He Who is beholding my, soul, ti was my intention to order a quantity of wood to be cu, tnstruct the Mu'azin to Call prayers, to assign a man to lead prayers, then to panish the absentees (in the related attribution) by burning their houses". This was confirmed unanimously by Hadits Recorders Our Prophet (God blessed and Offered him Mercy) didi not resort to such threats except o very serious matters.

In the further Hadis related by Aby Darda (God Blessed Him) the Messenger of God (upon whom may be peace) was quoted as having said:

"In a team of every three men in a village, a group prayer should be held no matter how remote, unless they are controlled by Satan. Stick firmly on worship in groups, as the wolf usually hunts goats scattered away in isolation."

Gruop Prayers cocern men alone. As for women, it is better for them to pray at home in order to avoid sexual appeal and attraction to men.

Our prophet advised women as follows :

"Your prayer at your room is beter than that at your people's Mosque, and prayer in your peoples is better than that in a common mosque."

Preference is, therefore, given to the individual prayer af a woman at home.