Muslim Festivals and Ceremonies — Page 9
All the compulsory Prayers should be performed in congregation if possible. On Fridays, however, a special mid-day Prayer. Service is held in place of the Zuhr Prayer. This is called Jum'a. Prayer. Of all the Prayers mentioned above, none is so essential to be offered in congregation as the Jum'a Prayer. The Jum'a, in fact, is the greatest Muslim festival. . Muslims are asked to leave all their worldy pursuits when they are called to the Friday Prayer, and assemble in mosques to offer this Prayer with due observance of all its requirements. The Holy. Quran says:. O ye who believe, when the call is made for Prayer on Friday, hasten to the remembrance of God and leave off all business, that is better for you, if you only knew (62:10). . The Holy Prophet of Islam remarked: 'Your best day is Friday, so you should be diligent on that day in calling down blessings on me, for your blessings are conveyed to me. ' (Sunan Abu Daud). On another occasion he said: "The best of days on which the sun rises is Friday; on that day was Adam created, on that day he was admitted to the Garden and on that day was he expelled therefrom. ' (Muslim). It is on account of this importance of the Friday Prayer that in. Muslim countries, most of the offices and businesses are closed for the day so that people can attend the Prayer Service. . Preparation for Prayer Service. The Holy Prophet of Islam is reported to have said: "A Muslim takes a bath on a Friday, makes himself thoroughly clean, and uses scented oil or just some perfume. Having thus freshened up, he goes to the mosque. He occupies a place without disturbing people sitting on his right and left. He offers the prescribed prayers, and when the Imam appears, he listens to him in silence. May God forgive his sins between that Friday and the last. " (Bukhari) 9