Theory and Practice of Muslim State in India c7.s3.3

c7.s3.3

Friday, the day chosen for the congregational prayer, had a special significance. According to many *ahadis* Friday is the best day on which the sun rises, the day on which Adam was taken into Paradise and turned out of it. On Friday his sins were pardoned. He died on Friday. It will be the day of Resurrection (*Qiamat*). The Prophet made his first entry into Madinah on that day, and he appointed it as the day of public worship. A Muslim saying namaz on Friday has his supplication granted by Allah.¹⁰⁵ According to a conservative interpretation, "Friday was not indeed to be a Sabbath; for that institution he (the Prophet) had no desire to imitate, but it was to correspond with the sacred week-day of the other communities, and since the Christians had seized the day after the Saturday, he had no choice but to take the day before it."[106] The origins of Friday service may be traced to the early problems of Islam. in the beginning, Muslims were few. They were advised to remain together, in groups, in company, and in prayer to have a feeling of the strength of unity. It was decided to call them all to pray together in congregation.[107]