The Friday Prayer

The Salat in Islam is the greatest stimulus to faith and the high point in the life of a human being. A person who gives up reciting Salat has no faith in Islam and is far from humanity. While reciting Salat, we stand facing the Qiblah, ie. ka'bah which is the House of Allah in Makkah, and enter into discourse with our loving Creator. The Prophet (SA) has recommended that we should recite Salat in a mosque in Jarnah (congregation) with our fellow Muslims, for it has much more blessings and value.

The Almighty Allah accepts Salat fully if it is recited in Jarnaah in a mosque with perfect concentration. Among the congregational Salats, the Salt al-Jumu'ah (Friday Prayer) has a special status. for it can only be recited in Jamaah. It also has other characteristics. Can you say what are these? Do you know why the imam holds a weapon in his hand? Do you know on what topics the imam must speak before he can lead the Salat al-Jumu'ah?

The imam of the Friday prayer holds a weapon in his hand so as to warn the internal and external enemies of Islam that the Muslims are ever ready to defend the domain of Islam. By holding this weapon he reminds the Muslims that the freedom of reciting the Salat al-Jumu'ah depends upon jihad or struggle. He holds a weapon in his hand as he delivers his khutbahs (addresses) as a way of saying that the Salat and jihad are inseparable, and that the Muslims must always be vigilant against their enemies. The imam of the Friday prayer is selected by the leader of Islam. With a weapon in his hand he stands facing the Muslims and delivers two khutbahs. In the first khutbah, he speaks about the social and political needs of the people, and explains the general conditions of the State. He also talks about the problems society may be facing, and also about their useful solutions.

In the second khutbah, he invites the people to in crease their acts of virtue, self-sacrifices, and love for Allah. He calls them to righteousness, honesty. truth fullness, cooperation and all the other virtues. Meanwhile, the people sit in orderly rows, facing the Qiblah as if reciting salat, and thus benefit from such a practice in discipline, brotherhood and unity and also show the enemy their discipline and unity.

As soon as the imam begins the khubahss of the sakit it is obligatory for all the people taking part to sit still and listen quietly to the khutbahs. The great leader of the Islamic Revolution Imam Khumayni has told us that the salat al-Jumuah must be recited in the most awesome fashion possible.