How sacred is Friday?

[Outcider]

I first assumed that this Forum would be quieter on Fridays, but that may not be the case. For Christians Sundays are ideal for all sorts of hobbies, but orthodox Jews appear to do nothing on their holy day, i.e. Saturdays.

Does anybody, like the Admins, have any statistics about the popularity of certain days on this Forum?

What restrictions do the Muslims have on Fridays?

[jamila]

Originally posted by Outsider
I first assumed that this Forum would be quieter on Fridays, but that may not be the case. For Christians Sundays are ideal for all sorts of hobbies, but orthodox Jews appear to do nothing on their holy day, i.e. Saturdays.

Does anybody, like the Admins, have any statistics about the popularity of certain days on this Forum?

What restrictions do the Muslims have on Fridays?

None that I know of. The market place can still function, but usually business ceases at 11, when the first Adhaan is called there. This gives the stall keepewrs and shoppers time to get ready for Jumuah Salat.

There are several things recommended for jumuah.
1. A full bath (gusl)
2. Trimming finger nails and toe nails.
3. Unplaiting the hair and washing it.
4. If a man, trim the mustache and wash the beard thoroughly.
6. If a man, put on perfume.
7. Wearing your best clothes for Jumuah salat.
8. Going to Jumuah salat early to make plenty of nafl salat
9. Read surat Al kahf (the cave) [and inwardly digest it].
10.Listen to the Khutbah (sermon)
11.Make plenty of duah (supplications) before and after Salat, and in the last hour before sunset (to catch the favor of Allah).

After salat al Jumuah, businesss can open again, but generally speaking people take a siesta in the tropics - coming alive after Asr.

The only thing special about the day is that special favor of Allah if you can catch it, and preparing for and attending the Jumuah Khutbah and salat. The rest of the day is like any other - but often people make it the eid (holiday) of the week.
:)
jamila

[Ruqayyah]

Jews and Christians use sabbath as a day of rest, because the y believe that God made the universe in 6 days then, rested on the seventh. Muslims believe that God has no need for rest, to eat or any other needs like man. It is preferable for a Muslim not to work on Friday mornings, but prepare for the congregational prayer, and do all those things sister Jamila mentioned. As Allah recognises the need to earn a living, after prayers all may return to work.
Allah! there is no God but him. The Ever-living. The Eternal.
No slumber can seize Him nor sleep.
Unto Him belongs all that is in the heavens and the earth.
Who is there that can intercede with Him, except with His permission?
He knoweth what will happen to them (His creatures), in this world, and in the hereafter.
And they will never encompass anything of His knowledge, except what He wills.
His throne extends over the heavens and the earth.
And he feels no fatigue in guarding and preserving them.
He is The Sublime The Tremendous.
(2:255)

[Outcider]

Thank you, Jamila and Rukaya, for your answers. They helped me a lot. I'd like to ask one more question, which may come into question in a country where Sundays are usually rest days for the majority.

Do Muslims in such a country have both Friday mornings and entire Sundays off? A colleague of mine is a Muslim and she always volunteers to work on Christmas Day, but in many offices nothing is done on public holidays or even Sundays. So a Muslim in a way is forced to rest, too.

Did you know, by the way, that the Soviets tried to introduce a 10-day working week at one stage? Nine days of work and one day of rest. I suppose it was not very popular.

[sajid]

AA

here are the stats below the arrow shows Friday Posting counts



May 27th, 2002 101
May 26th, 2002 319
May 25th, 2002 324
>>>>>>>>>>>>>May 24th, 2002 282
May 23rd, 2002 295
May 22nd, 2002 330
May 21st, 2002 370
May 20th, 2002 281
May 19th, 2002 298
May 18th, 2002 236
>>>>>>>>>>>>>May 17th, 2002 382
May 16th, 2002 237
May 15th, 2002 217
May 14th, 2002 157
May 13th, 2002 195
May 12th, 2002 373
May 11th, 2002 242
>>>>>>>>>>>>>May 10th, 2002 539
May 09th, 2002 543
May 08th, 2002 302
May 07th, 2002 461
May 06th, 2002 413
May 05th, 2002 344
May 04th, 2002 418
>>>>>>>>>>>May 03rd, 2002 518
May 02nd, 2002 509
May 01st, 2002 375
April 30th, 2002 369

[Ruqayyah]

I live in the UK and many places are closed on a Sunday or only poen half day. So Muslims working in those places, I guess can not go in. Mostly the lads go to play football. My husband teaches kickboxing on a Friday. Also he's a taxi driver so he could work if he wanted to. The sisters I know generally meet up and go to the park with their kids. I like to catch up on marking my students work. Yesterday, a Sunday, was so quiet in the forum. Today ive got loads to catch up on.

[sajid]

salams

gosh sometiems i dont know how people can put up with sundays!!! its sooo boring....

i cant stay at home...thankfully its good that i work on sundays..cos i cnat stay at home i get soo bored

but i suppose it may be different if ur married..dont think u will get that bored!:D

[Outcider]

Thanks, Sajid, for the stats. If I interpret the figures right, Friday certainly is not a quiet day at all. Perhaps one of the liveliest!