OUR DIALOGUE

Q: Some people wonder why there are two calls, i.e. adhan, for Friday prayer, when there is only one call for all other prayers. A few people even think that only one should be enough, particularly when they learn that one call was added at the time of Uthman, the third Caliph. They maintain that since it was not done during the Prophet's time, there is no reason why it should be done later. Can you throw some light on this?

A: The following Hadith explains the reason for it. Al-Saib ibn Yazid says: “The call for Friday prayers was first as the imam sat on the pulpit. This was the case during the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him), Abu Bakr and Umar. When Uthman was the Caliph and people increased in number, he added the other call made at Al-Zawra.” (Related by Al-Bukhari). When the Prophet settled in Madinah and built his mosque, his companions came over to attend the regular prayers without there being any form of announcement. They simply came when they felt the time approaching. They waited until it was time. However, the Prophet and his companions felt that this was inconvenient, because people could be busy with their work and do not realize that prayers were due. The Prophet discussed the matter with his companions, and eventually the adhan was established as the form of announcement that prayer was due.

At the time of the Prophet, the adhan for Friday prayer was made inside the mosque, when he sat on the pulpit, ready to give his sermon. This continued to be the case during the reigns of Abu Bakr and Umar. However, the numbers of Muslims in Madinah continued to increase. Uthman felt that as people went about their business on Friday, they needed to be reminded of the time for prayer a short while before it started. Hence, he ordered that a fresh adhan be called outside the mosque, at Al-Zawra. What he added then is the new form of a call made a few minutes before the prayer. He did not add anything that was not part of the prayer. His reason for adding it was to make it easier for people to realize that the time of the prayer was due and to get ready for it. All the Prophet's companions living in Madinah at the time agreed that his action was sound and useful.

Al-Zawra, where the adhan was made was an elevated spot at the market place. Some people also said that it was a large stone close to the door of the mosque. Whichever was the case, it was an elevated spot to make the call better heard. When people gathered inside the mosque and the imam sat on the pulpit, a new adhan was made, to conform to the practice that was done during the Prophet's lifetime. Thus nothing of that practice was changed. The only addition was the new call, a short while before the prayer, to enable people to get ready.

Nowadays, the practice established by Uthman is followed throughout the Muslim world, and rightly so. Without it, many people are likely to miss out on Friday prayer, particularly because life in modern cities makes it difficult for people to be always mindful of the prayer times. All other prayers have an extended time range, so people can adjust their time easily to pray on time. Friday prayer does not have a similar range, because of its particular nature and the requirement that it should be prayed in the mosque, preceded by a sermon. The addition by Uthman ensures that people are reminded in good time and can easily put down whatever they are engaged in to go to the mosque and attend the prayer.

Q: People often claim that Islam takes a very negative view of non-Muslims. These days when much of the world media equates Islam with terrorism, we are often told that we should learn how to respect others who do not share our beliefs. Can you please throw some light on this?


A: There is no doubt that some Muslims tend to look down on other people and adopt a negative view of them. Such attitudes are always the result of oppression and injustice. Muslims throughout the world, particularly those who advocate Islamic revival, have suffered injustice over a very long period. Such injustice has been perpetrated by colonial powers which occupied much of the Muslim world at one time or another in the last three centuries. More injustice was dealt out to the advocates of Islam by tyrannical rulers after independence, particularly by military dictatorships in many Muslim countries. Islam wants its followers to have good relations with other people. We are required to advocate our faith and call on others to accept it, but we are strictly ordered to ensure freedom of belief. Compulsion is contrary to Islamic principles. The following Hadith gives us an idea of the sort of relation we should have with non-Muslims, even though its main theme is different.

“Umar was with the Prophet (peace be upon him) when he saw a suit made of silk being sold at the door of the mosque. He said: 'Messenger of God! Would you like to buy this suit to wear on Fridays and when you receive delegations?' The Prophet said: 'Such a suit is worn only by one who comes empty handed on the Day of Judgment'. Later, a few similar suits were sent to the Prophet. He gave one as a gift to Umar. Umar said to him: 'Messenger of God, you have given me this suit while earlier you spoke negatively about Utarid's suit'. The Prophet said: 'I have not given it to you to wear'. Umar sent it as a gift to a brother of his who lived in Makkah and was an unbeliever.” (Related by Al-Bukhari).

This incident must have taken place before silk was made forbidden for Muslim men to wear. Otherwise, Umar would not have suggested that the Prophet should wear a suit made of silk. Had it been forbidden at the time and Umar did not know of the prohibition, the Prophet would have stated that clearly. He only said that it was not the sort of garment Muslims should wear. When he later sent a silk suit to Umar, Umar was disturbed. He immediately went to the Prophet wondering why he was given a gift which Muslims are not permitted to use. The Prophet made it clear to him that he did not expect him to wear it. This left Umar with the choice of either selling it or giving it to someone who could wear it. He sent it to a half brother of his who at the time followed the faith of the pagan Arabs. Even though those pagans in Makkah tried hard to suppress Islam and waged war against the Muslims on several occasions, it was perfectly permissible for Muslims to send them gifts, like Umar did. By doing so, he hoped that his brother would start thinking about Islam. At least he would not think that Islam put a barrier between him and his brother.

From another point of view, the Hadith makes clear that when we go to the mosque for Friday prayer, we should wear good clothes. In another Hadith, the Prophet suggested to his companions that they should keep a suit for Fridays, if they could. At the time, most Muslims were very poor. Many did not have more than one suit which they wore all the time. Some of them would stay at home when their suits were being washed, because they did not have another. They would wait until their washed clothes have dried before they could go out again. Umar was aware of the Prophet's suggestion to have a suit for Fridays. Hence when he saw the silk suit being sold, he made his suggestion to the Prophet.