Fiqh
The weekly and yearly gatherings
Every Friday at midday, and twice a year, Muslims gather.
4 min, Intro, Draft written with AI help: awaiting scholar review
Part 1 of 3
On Friday at midday, the call to prayer summons Muslims to the mosque. A sermon, then two units of prayer led by an imam, in place of the usual noon prayer. The Qur'an says: leave trade and hurry to the remembrance of God.
Qur'an 62:9
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ إِذَا نُودِيَ لِلصَّلَوٰةِ مِن يَوۡمِ ٱلۡجُمُعَةِ فَٱسۡعَوۡاْ إِلَىٰ ذِكۡرِ ٱللَّهِ وَذَرُواْ ٱلۡبَيۡعَۚ ذَٰلِكُمۡ خَيۡرࣰ لَّكُمۡ إِن كُنتُمۡ تَعۡلَمُونَ ٩
9 O you who believe, when the call for prayer is made on Friday, then hasten to the remembrance of Allah and leave off trading. That is better for you, if only you knew.
Lesson
On Friday, the Qur'an calls Muslims away from trade and to prayer.
Part 2 of 3
Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan. Ideally before the Eid prayer, each Muslim who can afford it gives zakat al-fitr for their household, so the poor can celebrate too. Then a two-unit prayer, new clothes, visits and food.
Lesson
Eid al-Fitr begins by making sure the poor can celebrate too.
Part 3 of 3
Eid al-Adha falls during the Hajj and recalls Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son. Families who can afford it sacrifice an animal (qurbani) and share the meat with the poor. The Qur'an says its meat does not reach God; your devotion does.
Qur'an 22:37
لَن يَنَالَ ٱللَّهَ لُحُومُهَا وَلَا دِمَآؤُهَا وَلَٰكِن يَنَالُهُ ٱلتَّقۡوَىٰ مِنكُمۡۚ كَذَٰلِكَ سَخَّرَهَا لَكُمۡ لِتُكَبِّرُواْ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ مَا هَدَىٰكُمۡۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ ٣٧
37 It is neither their flesh nor their blood that reaches Allah, but it is your piety that reaches Him. This is how He has subjected them to you, so that you may proclaim Allah’s greatness for having guided you. And give glad tidings to those who do good.
Lesson
What reaches God is devotion, not meat.
Reflect, just for you
Seen by lamplight. It gives more each time.
Every Friday at midday, and twice a year, Muslims gather.