Friday Prayers, Saying Prayers in English, Adhan before Prayers, the Nature of Allah

We have a Muslim Student Association and since a couple of years we have been saying our Friday prayers in a makeshift mosque provided by the college. Many questions on this subject have come across here. (Muhammad Ali)

Q 1. Are we allowed to say Friday prayers anywhere beside the Jami’ Masjid, like our mosque at campus?

A 1. There is some difference of opinion among the jurists about the place where Friday prayer can be held. But according to most of the jurists it can be held any place where there are three or more Muslims. It can be held at a Masjid, at a school, university or college. It can be held at a hotel, at a rented place etc. However, it is important to keep in mind that Jumu’ah means gathering. Friday should be organized, as much as possible, in a place where a large number of Muslims can come and pray together. People should try to choose a central place where people of various Masajid and communities can come and pray together.

In America, Friday is not a holiday or a day off from work for many people. Many people go to Friday prayer in their lunch break. If it is convenient for people to pray at some place closer to their work or school, it should be encouraged. Otherwise many people will neglect this prayer. When the Prophet -peace be upon him- came to Madinah, there was a very small Muslim community there. He offered his prayer in the area of Bani Malik bin Najjar. Later a Masjid was built there. Ibn Khuzaimah has mentioned that when Abu Hurairah went to an area near Bahrain, he wrote to the Caliph Umar -may Allah be pleased with both of them- whether he should hold the Friday prayer there. Umar -may Allah be pleased with him- responded that he should offer Friday prayer wherever he happened to be.

Q2. Is it mandatory to have Khutba before the actual prayers? Most students here have very limited time due to the classes and the timing of the Jumu’a prayer.

A 2. The Friday Khutbah is an important part (rukn) of Friday prayer. The prayer will not be valid without the Khutabh. But if the congregation does not have much time, the Khutbah can be short.

Q 3. We have a Muslim convert among our ranks. Is it all right for him to say his prayers in English? How soon should he start learning Arabic to read the Qur’an and prayers in Arabic?

A 3. The Salat should be done in the same way as the Prophet -peace be upon him- did it. The Prophet said, “Pray as you have seen me praying.” (al-Bukhari 595 and many other Ahadith). This means that the timings, the rak’ahs, the positions, the language, the readings, the special adhkar etc. all of them must be according to the way of the Prophet. A new Muslim can begin with few words and should learn the whole prayer in Arabic as soon as possible. It is not very difficult. We recently had few people who accepted Islam at the Islamic Society of Orange County and within a week they learned their full prayers in Arabic. You should encourage the new Muslim to learn the prayer. It is the duty of the Muslim community to help new Muslims learn how to practice Islam.

Q 4. How knowledgeable should the Imam be in order to lead the prayers?

A4. Muslim should select a qualified and pious Imam. But in order to hold any prayer in Jama’ah do not wait until the most qualified person comes, or do not neglect the Jama’ah prayer until you find a most qualifies Imam. Imam can be chosen from amongst the people. You should select the person who is more knowledgeable and pious among you. The Prophet -peace be upon him- said,

“The Imam of the Muslims should be the one who knows the Qur’an more. If they are all equal in this then the one who has more knowledge of the Sunnah. If they are all equal in this, then the one who made the Hijrah first. If they are all equal in this, then the one who is more senior in age… (Muslim, 1078)

Q 5. Is Adhan mandatory before prayers? I ask since it is meant to be a call for Muslims to pray and those who wish to pray show up at the mosque anyway. Can saying the Takbir suffice?

A5. Adhan is a symbol of Islam. It is not only to summon people for prayer, but it also brings the blessings of Allah on the community where the Adhan is called. It is compulsory (Sunnah Mu’akkadah) to call the Adhan for the Fard prayer when Muslims are offering it in Jama’ah. However, in journey if all the people who are praying together are present together, then it is not required to give Adhan, although it is still recommended (Mustahabb).

Q 6. I am curious about the nature of Allah. I know Allah is not a person, nor anything like a man, but the Qur’an always refers to Allah as he or him and even sometimes to my vexation, we. Is this just for our understanding, or maybe something that is lost in the translation? I see Allah as an unfolding, never ending source of power, but without any emotion or the same kind of thought process as mortals. I was wondering if you could help me on this... I hope you are doing well. (Thomas)

A 6. According to the teachings of the Qur’an and Sunnah, we say Allah is the Most Powerful (al-Qawiyy). We may say that Allah’s power is unfolding and never ending, but we do not say that Allah is “an unfolding never ending power.” In Islam we believe that Allah has many Names and Beautiful Attributes. Allah sees, hears, speaks, likes, dislikes. Allah listens to our prayers and blesses those who believe in Him and obey Him. It is correct that “Allah is not a person like a man”, but this does not mean that Allah is some kind of abstract being, or mere energy or power. If you read the Qur’an you will see that there are many personal qualities of Allah. But the Qur’an reminds us that “Nothing is like Him and He hears and sees all things.” (al-Shura 42:11) This is a very profound statement. On the one hand it denies all anthropomorphism (tashbih), and on the other hand it rejects all kind of nihilism (ta’til).

Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala also loves, hates, is pleased and gets angry, wishes us to do certain things and does not like us to do some other things. But in the case of Allah these are not emotions like those of mortals. These are according to His own Majesty and Greatness. We cannot fully grasp His attributes, because He is infinite and we are finite. We have no other way of knowing Him, except what He tells us through His Book and His Prophets. In the Qur’an Allah says about Himself in the famous Ayat al-Kursi: Allah! There is no god but He, the Living, the Self-subsisting, Eternal. No slumber can seize Him nor sleep. His are all things in the heavens and on earth. Who is there can intercede in His presence except as He permits? He knows what (appears to His creatures as) Before or After or Behind them. Nor shall they compass aught of His knowledge except as He wills. His Throne does extend over the heavens and the earth, and He feels no fatigue in guarding and preserving them for He is the Most High, the Supreme (in glory). (al-Baqarah 2:255)

The pronouns “He”, “Him” or “We” are to indicate that Allah is a Being, not a thing. We do not use the pronoun “It” for Allah. If it were our belief that Allah is “power” or “energy” then we could have used the expression “It”, but this is not acceptable in Islam. We do not believe that Allah is a male or a female. Allah is beyond the maleness and femaleness. Allah is the Creator of both males and females. Muslims do not make an image of Allah. Even if an image comes to their mind they say, “Allah akbar,” Allah is Greater and transcends this particular image. In the Qur’an Allah speaks sometimes as I and sometimes as We. This is to describe His power and His closeness. But Allah is never referred to as “They” or “You” in the plural (hum or antum).

I suggest you read the Qur’an carefully and see yourself what Allah says about Himself. There is no book in which you can find a more authentic and direct word of Allah better than the Qur’an.