Excellence of Jumu’ah (Friday Prayers)

Summary of Friday Sermon

delivered by the Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community

October 12^th, 2007

Huzur cited verses 10 – 12 of Surah Al Jumu’ah and gave a discourse on the excellence of Jumu’ah in his Friday Sermon.

Huzur remarked on the erroneous practice by the majority of Muslims around the world of only attending last Friday of the month of Ramadan – to seek forgiveness, as it were - while completely ignoring all other Fridays during the year. He explained that this Friday holds no specific significance in Islam, no where has it been stated in the Holy Qur’an or mentioned by the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him). Huzur said fortunately the Ahmadis are safe from this innovation in religion. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) enjoined continuous piety and his saying illustrates that regular Salat, regular attendance of Jumu’ah and regular fasting during the month of Ramadan is what leads to a sequence of atonement for any intermittent mistakes one might have made, all this on the condition that one evades great sins in the interim. Among other ‘recognised’ great sins Huzur laid emphasis on avoiding usurping others, creating friction between people and said these are just as grievous sins as theft, murder etc.

Citing Hadith Huzur said during the Friday prayer – specifically during the Salat – there comes a moment during which Allah accepts whatever good Muslims seeks. Such is the station of Jumu’ah of which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) informed us.

Elucidating the Quranic verses recited at the beginning Huzur said if one attends Jumu’ah disregarding worldly benefits and then returns to one’s trade/employment etc. Allah blesses that trade/employment. As for those who do not pay heed to this after been enjoined are called hypocrites in the verses. Huzur said in this day and age with rampant materialism majority of Muslims say their Salat only each Eid or perhaps the last Friday of Ramadan and these verses carry significant message for them. Huzur related a few further Ahadith to expound the excellence of attending Jumu’ah. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) who was most tender and compassionate of temperament laid so much emphasis on attendance of Jumu’ah that he said he wanted to burn down the houses of those who did not attend Jumu’ah. Huzur said this expression is borne out of the sympathy that he had for his people and his care for them that they should miss an occasion when God’s grace and beneficence is dispensed so profusely.

Huzur said even if a small number of Ahmadis tend to emulate the others and consider the last Friday of Ramadan any more significant in terms of pardon of sins, then they are in the extreme wrong. However, if they attend the last Friday because they wish to seek its beneficence to be regular in their attendance of Jumu’ah then that is excellent.

Huzur said this age is the age of the Messiah, in accordance with the prophecies of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and in accordance with the Quranic reference of verse 4 of Surah Jumu’ah which speaks of a latter-day group of people. Huzur said this is a glad-tiding about the people of the true and ardent devotee of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) that he will form a community; indeed his advent came to pass and we are fortunate that we responded and accepted him. Of course once we have come into this community our responsibilities and obligations have greatly increased, our Jumu’ah cannot be ordinary Jumu’ah, in that our efforts cannot be superficial, it is our task to ‘safeguard’ our Jumu’ah and that of our next generation for it is our undertaking to gather people under the banner of the true religion.

Huzur related that some ladies write to him seeking prayers for their husbands to be regular in Salat and Jumu’ah. While it pleases Huzur that there are such servants/maids of Allah in the Community, he feels concern that if their husbands do not reform their ways it might have a negative effect on the children. Huzur said there are so many types of ‘amusements’ available in the world today that it concerns him that God forbid the children of the Community are swept away to an extent that their ‘return’ is hard. Referring to the Hadith cited earlier Huzur said one should pray for one’s next generation during Jumu’ah anticipating to catch that blessed moment when prayers are granted acceptance.

Those Ahmadis whose ancestors were the companions of the Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) and who therefore attained the high spiritual station that the Qur’an equates to the station of the ‘earlier people’ may very well be proud of this, however this sense of pride is of no avail if their families do not bring about pure changes in themselves. This was a matter of grave concern, Huzur added.

Huzur said it is Allah’s promise that the world will gather under the banner of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) that is destined to happen, however, it our task to be mindful to overcome our weaknesses, fulfil the rites of Allah so that we can partake of this revolutionary transformation.

The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) said this is the age in which all the faiths are to be gathered on one point and the task of propagation of faith is to be accomplished. Huzur said this indeed is the age in which people of all religions and indeed those who do not have any religious beliefs are taking people away from faith. For Ahmadiyyat the challenge is from all direction, however, triumph also is in its destiny. The Promised Messiah (on whom be peace) also said that the greater number of inventions there will be in the world the more extensive will be the task of propagation. Huzur said in the current age MTA and the Internet have provided us with the facilities for this work.

Huzur followed this with a whole range of prayerful observations to enable us to carry out the task in a befitting manner, he said there are only a few remaining hours of Ramadan, spend them in remembrance of Allah and pray that Allah accepts all our endeavours made during Ramadan. Huzur counselled to pray for those who are ailing, who are helpless, those who serve faith, the Waqfeen e Zindagi (life devotees) children who do not have any parents, the Muslim Ummah and indeed humanity, may Allah keep everyone safe from all trouble and damage.

Next Huzur announced the passing away of Mullick Khalil ur Rahman Sahib last Friday. He was a devoted member of the Community and had provided the service of English translation for the discourses of Hadhrat Khalifa tul Masih IV (may Allah have mercy on him) and also of Huzur since the inception of MTA. Last Friday he was ready to leave home for Jumu’ah but suffered a heart attack and passed away. Huzur paid tribute to his humble disposition, his various services to the Community and his spirituality, Huzur prayed that he is granted a lofty station in Paradise that his children may follow in his piety and may the bereaved family be granted steadfastness.