Friday, March 23, 2012
Importance Of Jummah Prayer
Jummah prayer or Friday congregational prayer:
You might hear many modernists say that the Quran does not mention anything about Friday congregational prayer. But they are wrong. They say this because they read the Quran without understanding it, or by purposely distorting the translations.
"O we who believe! When the call is heard for the prayer of the day of congregation, haste unto remembrance of Allah and leave your trading. That is better for you if we did but know."[62:9](Surah Al-Jumu'ah)
As we can see ourselves, in the above Verse the Noble Quran doesn't only refer to the Jummah prayer but also gives a lot of importance to it. The Arabic word "Jumu'ah" or :Jumm'ah" means 'congregation'. This congregational prayer is offered once a week in the afternoon and it replaces the regular Zohr(or Dohr) prayer offered on other days. It's known as salaat-al-Jummah. It comes on the day known as 'Friday' in the list of the 7 christian week names.
The Jummah prayer is an obligation (fard) for men and is recommended for women to be performed at a mosque along with the congregation (Jamm'ah or jamm'at). Women also have the option of performing the Zohr prayer instead, either privately or in a mosque. Anyone who is unable to join a congregation for jumm'ah is required to make up the prayer with a regular Zohr prayer. The purpose of this weekly congregational prayer is to give believers a chance to offer prayer together once a week, so that they can see and meet the people of their community at a common venue. And indeed the masjid is the best common venue for believer.
For Muslims living in the West it might be harder to attend congregational prayer in the afternoon, even though it's only once a week, primarily because of the long distances, the absense of masjids in all neighborhoods and no additional breaks on Friday at workplaces. That's indeed unfortunate. But let such folks try to attend the Friday prayers to the best of their abilities. After all, Allah sees our efforts and intentions a lot more than what we actually achieve. He is infinitely Merciful.
The method of offering Jummah prayer is exactly the same as all other prayers, except that it's shorter than the regular Zohr prayer and consists of only 2 rakats like the Fajr prayer. The Jummah prayer is preceded by a sermon known as "Khutba" in Arabic. The sermon can be in any language which is understood by majority in the congregation.
By reading Verse 62:11 of the same Surah Al-Jumm'ah, it seems very possible that the system of delivering the khutba (sermon) was done by the Prophet (SAW).
"But when they spy some merchandise or pastime they break away to it and leave thee standing. Say : That which Allah hath is better than pastime and than merchandise, and Allah is the Best of providers." [62:11](Surah Al-Jumm'ah)
The above Verse is said to refer to an incident when the Prophet (saw) was explaining and talking to the people of congregation during the Jummah prayer (which was very likely the sermon) when most people of this congregation got distracted by the noise of celebration going on outside and ran to see it, leaving the Prophet (SAW) by himself.
You might hear many modernists say that the Quran does not mention anything about Friday congregational prayer. But they are wrong. They say this because they read the Quran without understanding it, or by purposely distorting the translations.
"O we who believe! When the call is heard for the prayer of the day of congregation, haste unto remembrance of Allah and leave your trading. That is better for you if we did but know."[62:9](Surah Al-Jumu'ah)
As we can see ourselves, in the above Verse the Noble Quran doesn't only refer to the Jummah prayer but also gives a lot of importance to it. The Arabic word "Jumu'ah" or :Jumm'ah" means 'congregation'. This congregational prayer is offered once a week in the afternoon and it replaces the regular Zohr(or Dohr) prayer offered on other days. It's known as salaat-al-Jummah. It comes on the day known as 'Friday' in the list of the 7 christian week names.
The Jummah prayer is an obligation (fard) for men and is recommended for women to be performed at a mosque along with the congregation (Jamm'ah or jamm'at). Women also have the option of performing the Zohr prayer instead, either privately or in a mosque. Anyone who is unable to join a congregation for jumm'ah is required to make up the prayer with a regular Zohr prayer. The purpose of this weekly congregational prayer is to give believers a chance to offer prayer together once a week, so that they can see and meet the people of their community at a common venue. And indeed the masjid is the best common venue for believer.
For Muslims living in the West it might be harder to attend congregational prayer in the afternoon, even though it's only once a week, primarily because of the long distances, the absense of masjids in all neighborhoods and no additional breaks on Friday at workplaces. That's indeed unfortunate. But let such folks try to attend the Friday prayers to the best of their abilities. After all, Allah sees our efforts and intentions a lot more than what we actually achieve. He is infinitely Merciful.
The method of offering Jummah prayer is exactly the same as all other prayers, except that it's shorter than the regular Zohr prayer and consists of only 2 rakats like the Fajr prayer. The Jummah prayer is preceded by a sermon known as "Khutba" in Arabic. The sermon can be in any language which is understood by majority in the congregation.
By reading Verse 62:11 of the same Surah Al-Jumm'ah, it seems very possible that the system of delivering the khutba (sermon) was done by the Prophet (SAW).
"But when they spy some merchandise or pastime they break away to it and leave thee standing. Say : That which Allah hath is better than pastime and than merchandise, and Allah is the Best of providers." [62:11](Surah Al-Jumm'ah)
The above Verse is said to refer to an incident when the Prophet (saw) was explaining and talking to the people of congregation during the Jummah prayer (which was very likely the sermon) when most people of this congregation got distracted by the noise of celebration going on outside and ran to see it, leaving the Prophet (SAW) by himself.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Hadeeth About Peace
The teachings of the Prophet (saw) on how you and I should treat our Non-Muslim friends and neighbours on a day to day basis as well as how to government should treat a Non-Muslim citizen of a Muslim state.
"He who believes in God and the Last Day should honour his guest, should not harm his neighbour, should speak good or keep quite." (Bukhari, Muslim)
"Whoever hurts a Non-Muslim citizen of a Muslim state hurts me, and he who hurts me annoys Allah." (Bukhari)
"He who hurts a Non-Muslim citizen of Muslim state, I am his adversary, and I shall be his adversary on the Day of a Judgement."(Bukhari)
"Beware on the Day of Judgement; I shall myself be complainant against him who wrongs a Non-Muslim citizen of a Muslim state or lays on him a responsibility greater than he can bear or deprives him of anything that belongs to him."(Al-Mawardi)
"Anyone who kills a Non-Muslim who had become our ally will not smell the fragrance of Paradise."(Bukhari)
"He who believes in God and the Last Day should honour his guest, should not harm his neighbour, should speak good or keep quite." (Bukhari, Muslim)
"Whoever hurts a Non-Muslim citizen of a Muslim state hurts me, and he who hurts me annoys Allah." (Bukhari)
"He who hurts a Non-Muslim citizen of Muslim state, I am his adversary, and I shall be his adversary on the Day of a Judgement."(Bukhari)
"Beware on the Day of Judgement; I shall myself be complainant against him who wrongs a Non-Muslim citizen of a Muslim state or lays on him a responsibility greater than he can bear or deprives him of anything that belongs to him."(Al-Mawardi)
"Anyone who kills a Non-Muslim who had become our ally will not smell the fragrance of Paradise."(Bukhari)
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
The Meaning Of Jihad
Within Islam the term jihad refers to a large category of meanings. Today, however, there are attempts to isolate this term to only one form of jihad to the exclusion of all others. This includes a conception of jihad that at best refers only to armed struggle, and at worst to a barbaric form of warfare that seeks to destroy whatever peace may still remain in the world. This could not be farther from the concept of jihad as understood by Muslims throughout history and the world over. For Muslims, jihad is much more than armed struggle against an enemy from the outside for it includes constant struggle within both oneself and one's own society. When Jihad actually does take the form of armed struggle, Muslims are aware that it can only be done for the sake of a just cause.
Once upon returning from a battle, the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said to his companions, "We have returned from the lesser Jihad to the greater Jihad; the Jihad of the soul." Here the term Jihad refers to the spiritual exercise of opposing the lower self. This referred to as the greater Jihad since people spend their lives struggling against the base desires within them that can harm both themselves and those around them.
Jihad is also used to refer to the pilgrimage to Mecca. When Aishah, the wife of the Prophet (SAW), was asked about the Jihad of women, she said, "Your Jihad is to make the pilgrimage." Here the pilgrimage is the lesser Jihad of women and the elderly who are not members of the armies that fight in defense of the country, so pilgrimage, which is a journey that is comprised of great difficulties due to the crowds and the physically demanding nature of its practices, is called Jihad. The term Jihad is also used to refer to speaking truth to those in power, so in Islam government oversight is a form of Jihad.
In addition to these meanings, the term Jihad refers to the defense of a nation or a just cause. This is what Jihad was legislated for, and it must be differentiated from indiscriminate killing by the condition that it be "in the way of God" meaning to struggle in self-defense, to alleviate tyranny, or to prevent aggression. These are the characteristics that differentiate Jihad from killing, which is a crime. These characteristics that amount to "in the way of God" are summed up in the Quran, " Fight in the way of God against those who wage war against you, but do not commit aggression - for, verily, God does not love aggressors," [Quran, 2:190]. This verse summarizes everything that has been agreed upon concerning guidelines of warfare, including the first and second Geneva Conventions.
As for suicide bombing, Islam forbids the taking of one's life. Ind addition, Islam forbids aggression against others. Attacking civilians, women, children and the elderly by blowing oneself up is absolutely forbidden in Islam. No excuse can be made for the crimes committed in New York, Spain and London and anyone who tries to make excuses for these acts is ignorant of Islamic law (shari'ah), and their excuses are a results of extremism and ignorance.
Once upon returning from a battle, the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said to his companions, "We have returned from the lesser Jihad to the greater Jihad; the Jihad of the soul." Here the term Jihad refers to the spiritual exercise of opposing the lower self. This referred to as the greater Jihad since people spend their lives struggling against the base desires within them that can harm both themselves and those around them.
Jihad is also used to refer to the pilgrimage to Mecca. When Aishah, the wife of the Prophet (SAW), was asked about the Jihad of women, she said, "Your Jihad is to make the pilgrimage." Here the pilgrimage is the lesser Jihad of women and the elderly who are not members of the armies that fight in defense of the country, so pilgrimage, which is a journey that is comprised of great difficulties due to the crowds and the physically demanding nature of its practices, is called Jihad. The term Jihad is also used to refer to speaking truth to those in power, so in Islam government oversight is a form of Jihad.
In addition to these meanings, the term Jihad refers to the defense of a nation or a just cause. This is what Jihad was legislated for, and it must be differentiated from indiscriminate killing by the condition that it be "in the way of God" meaning to struggle in self-defense, to alleviate tyranny, or to prevent aggression. These are the characteristics that differentiate Jihad from killing, which is a crime. These characteristics that amount to "in the way of God" are summed up in the Quran, " Fight in the way of God against those who wage war against you, but do not commit aggression - for, verily, God does not love aggressors," [Quran, 2:190]. This verse summarizes everything that has been agreed upon concerning guidelines of warfare, including the first and second Geneva Conventions.
As for suicide bombing, Islam forbids the taking of one's life. Ind addition, Islam forbids aggression against others. Attacking civilians, women, children and the elderly by blowing oneself up is absolutely forbidden in Islam. No excuse can be made for the crimes committed in New York, Spain and London and anyone who tries to make excuses for these acts is ignorant of Islamic law (shari'ah), and their excuses are a results of extremism and ignorance.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
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