4. It shows how the Muslims give preference to the call of God over and above any other concern Muslim of the Daylight Saving time zones seem to run into some difficulties and confusion over the proper time for the Friday Congregational Prayer (Jum’ ah). The problem can be solved easily by setting the prayer time between 1:15 to 2.30 p.m. throughout year. In this way there will be no need to change the time from winter to summer. We strongly recommend this to our brethren so that they may work it into their weekly schedules as a permanent arrangement.

The Highlights of the Friday Prayer

This prayer of Friday is marked by these features:

1. Its time falls in the same time as that of the noon prayer (Salatu-z-Zuhr), and it replaces the very same prayer.

2. It must be said in a congregation led by an Imam, no single person can offer it by himself.

3. If any person misses it, he cannot make up for it; Instead, he has to offer the noon prayer, the original prayer which this service normally replaces.

4. All kinds of normal work are allowed on Friday as on any other week day. For Muslims there is no Sabbath. They can carry on with their usual duties and activities provided they come to the congregational service in time. After the service is over, they may resume their mundane activities.

5. This Friday prayer must be performed in a mosque, if there is one available. Otherwise, it may be said at any gathering place e.g. homes, farms, parks. Etc.

6. When the time for prayer comes, the Adhan is said, the Imam stands up, facing the audience and delivers his sermon (khutbah) which is an essential part of the service. Muslims are recommended to offer Sunnah prayers before the sermon. As for those who will arrive at the Mosque during the sermon they should offer the two brief units of the Sunnah prayer “Tahiyatu al Masjid” (Mosque greetings) and then sit down to listen. While the Imam is talking nobody should talk, everyone present should take a sitting position and listen to the sermon quietly to the end.

7. The sermon (khutbah) consists of two parts each beginning with words of praise of God and prayers of blessing for Prophet Muhammad. In the first part some Qur’anic passage must be recited and explained for the purpose of exhortation and admonition. At the end of the first part the Imam takes a short rest in the sitting posture, then stands up to deliver the second part of his sermon. General affairs of the Muslims may be stated in either or both parts of the sermon. In the second part, especially, the Imam prays for the general welfare of all Muslims.