Jumaa: A running Joke!

In the Name of Allah, the most Merciful, the most Beneficient.

All praise is due to Allah, the focus of all true worship.

If I say something wrong, it is from my ego, and if I say something good, it is from Allah.

عن عبد الله بن عمرو بن العاص أن النبي صلّى الله عليه وسلّم نهى عن التحلّق قبل الصلاة يوم الجمعة


صحيح أبي داود 991، صحيح الجامع 6885


From Abdullah bin Amr bin al-Aas that the Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) forbade making circles [for knowledge or remembrance] before prayer on Friday. (Saheeh Abu Dawud #991, Saheeh al-Jami’ #6885)

I walk in the Islamic Center of Orlando on fridays, and it breaks my heart to see Imam speaking before the khutbah. It is a direct violation of the command of the Prophet (PBUH) above. After the english speech, Imam will sit down, thinking that a good message has been delivered, but the true message that was delivered is that it is more important for us to follow the culture then follow the Prophet (PBUH).

The whole day of Jumaa has become a joke which repeats like an old comedy film. Some come for Biryani that is sold outside. Some come to meet friends. Some come to add their name to the list of 1 billion Muslims. Some come to just hang out. Some come because other Muslims won't call them names. Some come to increase business contacts. Some come in a box, and have no say in it. Some come through a back door in a closed room thinking why are they second grade citizens. Some Come to remember how it was in their childhood to go to masjid once a week...

Even Angels are confused. Allah told them to write the names of every person who enters before Imam stands up. So, Angels are sitting outside writing the names, and all of a sudden they hear the Imam stood up and start making Zikr of Allah (speaking good). At that moment, they closed the books and came inside to listen the zikr. As they enter, they see only a few people in, and some are reclining to past time. Angels thought that it must be a tough town. After 20 minutes people streaming in, but everyone starts sitting at the back like women or like scared of coming close to Allah that may be he will ask about their deeds today.

Finally, Imam ends the zikr (english speech), and sits down, and the maudhin gives the adhan. After a few minutes, instead of starting the salah, Imam stands up and starts the Arabic zikr. At that moment Angels are completed caught off-gaurd, and rush to their books and start writing peole's names who are already in the masjid. They don't know what to do. What is happening? They don't know who should be counted as on time and who should be absent from the list. They sit down once agains for the zikr of Allah.

One thing for sure, they will ask for a re-assignment to another masjid where it is less confusing. However, they don't realize that this forbidden format has been adopted by many masajid, and now part of the culture.

After the Jumaa, people streaming out like christians stream out of church on Sundays. One thing for sure that most of them will not come back to the masjid until next Jumaa, and that is if there is no meeting conflict. Of course, they can see the boss so can't make the boss angry, but Allah is unseen, so "out of sight, out of mind" method is employed.

On Fridays, there are more than 600 people, but at Asar only a handful return. May be we need a permanent Biryani stall outside? Just a thought.

On top of all this, some are rude to the non-muslim cops who are helping with parking. One woman cursed the policeman and this grown man cried because of that. So much ignorance. So much pride. So much disobedience. If I didn't know that Islam is truth, I would have left Islam in a heartbeat.

Wallah! We deserve the leaders we got who opress us, and press us, and kill us, and then rape us, and then plunder our wealth. All the duas at the end is useless, because the inside of us have died. Jumaa is nothing but a tradition now, and in the next generations, these kids are learning from us will not know how the companions felt when Prophet (PBUH) would mount the pulpit once on Jumaa with the purpose of mentioning Allah's name and teaching people. How many of us can feel the tears during the khutbah, or start shaking, or so ashamed that heads touch the ground. This is Jumaa. Have the soul absorb the knowledge and blessing and ready for the whole week. Rust is removed for a week. This is how the companions felt. I am sorry but between an early english speech and same Arabic Khutbah, it is very hard to feel this way.

There is no hope until we have the courage to go against the traditions that defy Allah and his messenger.

I pray to Allah to destroy me if I am wrong, or destroy this tradition that branches out away from the Sirat ul Mustaqeem.

JazakAllah Khairin

An observer to the demise of Muslims
Abu Arman