THE FRIDAY PRAYER (JUM'A) AN IMPORTANT WEEKLY EVENT

Jan 10, '13 11:24 AM for everyone

The Friday Prayer (Jum'a) is an important weekly event in the Islamic calendar, containing an important socio-religious aspect of the Muslim community. Ideally, it is a means of communication and interaction between the Islamic government and the Ummah. As such, the Imam of Jum'a plays a very important role in the community and thus, in an ideal situation, is to be appointed by the legitimate religious authority. The "call" should be sounded by the true representative of God, i.e., a Prophet, an infallible Imam, or someone who is appointed by the Imam. The obligation of attending the Friday Prayer depends on the Imam of the Jum'a. If an evil person like Ziyad bin Abih (who was appointed as the governor of Kufa by Mu'awiyah) leads the Friday Prayer and openly abuses Imam Ali (peace be upon him) during his sermon, surely attendance cannot be obligatory! Is It Wajib Ayni or Wajib Takhiyri? Therefore, according to Shia laws of Islam, if the Friday Prayer is led by the infallible Shia Imam or someone appointed by him – as would be the case after the reappearance of Imam Mahdi (may Allah hasten his reappearance) – attending Salatul Jum'a would be Wajib Ayni (absolutely obligatory on all). However, during the occultation of our Living Imam, the Friday Prayer isWajib Takhiyri, which essentially means there is a choice between two obligatory deeds – you must do one of them; you cannot miss both. In the present situation, it means we have the duty of doing either the Noon (Dhuhr) prayer or the Friday (Jum'a) prayer. Nonetheless, it is preferable to do the Friday Prayer even during the occultation of our Imam. This should be done with the Niyyat (intention) of Wajib, and thereafter it is not necessary to offer the Zuhr prayer. On Whom Is Salatul Jum'a Wajib? The Friday Prayer, whether in the form of Ayni or Takhiyri, is Wajib upon all men who are residents of the city, in good health and not elderly. Thus, it is not Wajib upon women, the traveler, the sick and the elderly. However, this does not mean that such individuals are not permitted to participate in the Friday Prayer; it only means they are exempt from the obligation. Considering the Friday Prayer as the most important weekly religious event in a non-Muslim country, it is preferable for women, the traveler and the elderly to participate, provided it does not cause any inconvenience to them. In the words of Ayatullah Sistani, "For women, it is better to pray at such places where they are best concealed from non-Mahram, regardless of whether that place is her home, a mosque or anywhere else." (Islamic Laws, #903) The Niyyat for these exempt people will also be that of Wajib, and they too are not required to offer the Dhuhr prayer after it. Question: "I am not able to come every week for the Friday Prayer; I come only occasionally. Do I still have to do the Niyyat of Wajib whenever I come for Friday Prayer?" Answer: Yes, you have to do the Niyyat of Wajib whenever you come for Friday Prayer. Friday Prayer Led by a Sunni Imam If there is no Shia center or mosque near your home or work place, you may participate in the Friday Prayer led by a Sunni Imam. However, in this case you must recite the Dhuhr prayer after it, as one of the conditions for the Imam of jama'at in Shia jurisprudence is that he must be Shia Ithna Ashari. (Editor's Note: This is according to the ruling of Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Sistani and most other current Maraja. However, according to Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei, it is permitted to pray congregationally behind a Sunni Imam.) SAYYID MUHAMMAD RIZVI