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Unlock This CourseLast lesson you met Salah and the five daily prayers. This lesson looks at one special prayer, held on Fridays, and at the question of whether it is better to pray alone or together. Friday is the day when Muslims gather as a community. It is not a day of rest in Islam, as the Sabbath is in some religions, and Muslims may work before and after the prayer.
Key terms:
The Qur'an (62:9) tells believers that when the call to prayer is made on Friday, they should hasten to the remembrance of Allah and leave off trade. This is the main reason Muslims give for Jum'a. On Fridays, Jum'a takes the place of the Dhuhr prayer.
The khutbah is the sermon. The imam gives it before the prayer, usually from the minbar, the raised pulpit you met in the mosque lesson. It reminds Muslims of Allah, explains the teachings of Islam and often speaks about how to live today. In the UK it may be in Arabic, English or both.
After the khutbah the congregation stands in rows and prays two rak'ahs together behind the imam. This is shorter than the four rak'ahs of a normal Dhuhr prayer. Worshippers have also done wudu, the washing before prayer, and many wear their best clean clothes.
Jum'a is a duty for adult Muslim men. Women are not required to attend, but in most communities they are welcome to if they wish, and women who do not go pray Dhuhr at home as usual. Travellers and people who are ill are also excused.
In the UK, Friday is a normal working day, so many Muslims have to plan. Mosques often hold Jum'a at about one o'clock, and some hold more than one session so more people can come. The khutbah is often kept short. Some employers allow an extended lunch break, or let staff make up the time, and some colleges and universities provide a prayer room. Where this is not possible, a Muslim may pray Dhuhr instead. This shows that Muslims in the UK have to balance their faith with daily life, and different people choose differently.
Praying in a congregation is important to Muslims for several reasons:
Muslims hold different attitudes about how important individual and congregational worship are today.
Some Muslims stress that worship is a personal bond between a person and Allah. They say what matters most is sincerity, meaning truly meaning what you do. A Muslim can pray at home, or make du'a in quiet, without being seen. Illness, work or the lack of a nearby mosque can make this the usual choice.
Others stress that Islam is a community faith. They say the mosque gives teaching, discipline, support and a sense of belonging, and that this is hard to get alone. Praying with others can also help a person keep going on days when they feel less motivated.
Many Muslims say both are needed. Practice also differs between communities. Women's access to mosques is one example. Some mosques have good space for women, while others have little or none, so some women feel welcome and others feel left out. Some communities encourage women to attend, while others expect them to pray at home. Sunni and Shi'a Muslims both value the Friday gathering, but Shi'a scholars hold different views on whether Jum'a is compulsory, so practice can differ.
(a) Outline two features of Jum'a prayers. [4 marks]
(b) Explain why praying together in a congregation is important for Muslims. [6 marks]
(c) "Muslims should pray together rather than alone." Discuss this statement, considering the arguments for and against. In your answer you should include: reference to teachings; other (divergent) points of view; your opinion/point of view using reasoned arguments. [10 marks]
(a) One feature is the khutbah (1), a sermon given by the imam before the prayer, which teaches and guides the community (1). Another is that the congregation prays two rak'ahs together on Friday at midday (1), which takes the place of the normal Dhuhr prayer (1).
(b) Praying together shows the unity of the ummah, because all stand in rows facing the same way and making the same movements (1). It shows equality, because rich and poor stand shoulder to shoulder before Allah (1). A hadith teaches that prayer in congregation brings greater reward, which encourages Muslims to attend (1). It builds community, since people meet each week and support each other (1). The khutbah gives teaching on how to live as a Muslim (1). It also builds discipline, as regular attendance makes worship a habit (1).
(c) Plan: Agree: the Qur'an (62:9) tells believers to hasten to the Friday prayer; a hadith promises greater reward; rows show unity and equality; the mosque offers teaching and support. Disagree: Salah can be prayed in any clean place, and women are not required to attend the mosque; sincerity and a personal bond with Allah matter most, and can be found alone; work, illness or distance can make congregational prayer hard, and some women have limited access to a mosque. Some Muslims would say both matter. Possible conclusion: praying together has important benefits for the community, but since Allah values sincere prayer in any form, Muslims should aim for both rather than one only.
In a 10-mark "discuss" question, name a teaching (such as Qur'an 62:9) for one side, give a different Muslim viewpoint for the other, and end with your own reasoned conclusion.