Salat-ul-Jumu’ah

1. Salat-ul-Jumu’ah A weekly festival or Friday Prayers

2. Lesson objectives • To be able to explain why Muslims attend the mosque on Fridays • To identify how meeting regularly strengthens the Muslim community • To explain what the khutbah is and why it is important

3. So why Friday? • O ye who believe! When the call is proclaimed to prayer on Friday (the Day of Assembly), hasten earnestly to the Remembrance of Allah, and leave off business (and traffic): that is best for you if ye but knew! (Surah 62:9-10) • Because the Qur’an says so and it is the word of Allah.

4. So what happens? • It is not a day of rest. Business may continue as usual on Friday, as there is no religious reason against this. • In Muslim countries, the weekend is Thursday and Friday, or Friday and Saturday. • All Muslim males should attend prayers at the mosque. • The prayers are led by the Imam (leader) who knows the Qur’an and is well respected.

5. How do Muslims observe Friday prayers? • At the start there is time for personal prayers (du’a) • Then follows the khutbah (sermon) which is read in the language of the community • The Imam then leads two rak’ah fard (compulsory prayers). • At the end Muslims can make du’a if they wish.

6. An Imam

7. Ask the Imam: Imagine you are advising people in your community at the Friday prayers. A man comes to you with the following problem: • Yusuf Dergoub works on the London Underground - he's one of the electricians who keeps the entire network going - or at least tries to keep it going. A young man, he's got a small Islamic-style beard and sometimes dresses in fairly traditional Moroccan/Arabic clothes. • He's angry because he feels some people now look on him as a terrorist suspect. Unsurprisingly, while he wants to talk, he is reluctant to be photographed. The media have damaged the position of Muslims in British society, he feels. • Since the bombings journalists have come and gone from outside Al-Manaar and many of the congregation feel depressed with the way they have been treated. Many other mosques around Britain feel the same way. • "The media sometimes says the things it wants to say but blacks out the things that it does not want to talk about," says Yusuf. • "I'm British and was born in the East End within sound of the Bow Bells. But the way the media portray me I'm made out to be something different. All I am trying to do is follow something that I believe to be true."

8. Tasks • List 3 ways in which this Muslims life has been affected by extremists from their faith. • Imagine you are an editor of a magazine and you have received this letter write a response to try to encourage this young man and suggest ways of dealing with the problem. • Complete the ask the imam tasks.

9. Why might Friday prayers be good for a Muslim? • How do you feel when you get together with friends or family? • It creates a sense of unity and community (ummah). All Muslims are striving for one thing paradise with Allah. • What things do you do when you meet up with people? • Muslims can offer each other support and discuss everyday problems and get advice. As they stand side by side in prayer they see each other as equals.

10. Exam preparation • Explain the importance of Salat-ul-jumu’ah prayers on Friday (25 marks). • It is important to show the examiner that you understand this is the weekly gathering of male Muslims at the mosque for prayers. • Not a day of rest. • A sermon is delivered by the imam. • After the prayers have been said there is a discussion of topical issues. • Keywords to include: khutbah, ummah, unity, Qur’an, Day of Assembly.