Muslim Festivals and Ceremonies — Page 15
Prayer Service. Immediately before the commencement of the service the. Muedhin calls out the Adhan again, after which the Imam (the person who leads the Prayer service) stands up on the MINBAR (pulpit) and delivers a sermon. The sermon generally deals with the moral, spiritual, social and economic welfare of the society. It can also include any current problems facing the community or other matters of common interest. The sermon consists of two parts divided by a short interval, during which the Imam sits down for a few moments and then starts the second part. The first part, beside. Sura Fatiha, the opening chapter of the Holy Quran, can be delivered in any language, while the second part of the sermon is in. Arabic, the translation of which is as follows: ‘All praise is due to God, we laud Him, we seek help from Him and ask His protection, we confide in Him, we trust Him alone, and we seek protection against the evils and mischiefs of our souls and from the bad results of our deeds. Whomsoever He guides on the right path, none can misguide him; and whomsoever He declares misled, none can guide him into the right path. We bear witness that none deserves to be worshipped except Allah. He is alone and has no partner. We bear witness that Muhammad is His Servant and Apostle. O servants of Allah may Allah be merciful to you. Verily Allah commands you to act with justice; to confer benefits upon each other and to do good to others as one does to one's kindred and forbids evils which pertain to your own selves and evils which affect others and prohibits revolts against lawful authority. He warns you against being unmindful. Remember Allah, He too will remember you. Call Him and He will make a response to your call. . Verily divine remembrance is the highest virtue. . After the sermon the Imam takes his place in the Mihrab (niche) and faces towards the Ka'aba, and all the worshippers stand behind him in. Mihrab. 15.