Happy Jummah Campaign.

I thought I would post this as it is my favourite day and our Sabbath – Friday (or Jummah in the Muslim week). This is our day of community and coming together for prayer. My dad used to describe it as a mini-Eid, with its sunnan of bathing, applying perfume, wearing your best clothes and meeting and greeting your friends at the mosque. I also liked the way another brother put it - if we cannot stand together in prayer, than how can we stand together in the community and to defend ourselves. I believe that the Jummah prayer is central to this thinking.

Jummah is also my day for offering hadiyah (gifts). I usually pop round to see my mum and gran in the evening and take sweets, fruit or nuts depending on what I have in my purse (I believe in keeping this simple and cheap rather than putting a burden on myself). I also like to take something home for the family (I went and brought bags of banana’s, oranges and papaya at lunchtime from the pound-a-bowl stall).

I like the idea of making this day special, in Muslim countries this is a day off of work and school. Also since Little Lady doesn’t like school and I love the weekend, Friday is a promise of home and company, of family and fun.

Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, "When it is a Friday, the angels stand at the gate of the mosque and keep on writing the names of the persons coming to the mosque in succession according to their arrivals. The example of the one who enters the mosque in the earliest hour is that of one offering a camel (in sacrifice). The one coming next is like one offering a cow and then a ram and then a chicken and then an egg respectively. When the Imam comes out (for Jumua prayer) they (i.e. angels) fold their papers and listen to the Khutba." - Sahih Bukhari (Volume 2, Book 13, Number 51 )

Narrated Abu Huraira: I heard Allah's Apostle (p.b.u.h) saying, "We (Muslims) are the last (to come) but (will be) the foremost on the Day of Resurrection though the former nations were given the Holy Scriptures before us. And this was their day (Friday) the celebration of which was made compulsory for them but they differed about it. So Allah gave us the guidance for it (Friday) and all the other people are behind us in this respect: the Jews' (holy day is) tomorrow (i.e. Saturday) and the Christians' (is) the day after tomorrow (i.e. Sunday)." - Sahih Bukhari (Volume 2, Book 13, Number 1)

Narrated Salman-Al-Farsi: The Prophet (p.b.u.h) said, "Whoever takes a bath on Friday, purifies himself as much as he can, then uses his (hair) oil or perfumes himself with the scent of his house, then proceeds (for the Jumua prayer) and does not separate two persons sitting together (in the mosque), then prays as much as (Allah has) written for him and then remains silent while the Imam is delivering the Khutba, his sins in-between the present and the last Friday would be forgiven." - Sahih Bukhari (Volume 2, Book 13, Number 8)