3A: The extent to which prayer is simply a ritualistic act of piety.
For Against
- Muslims perform the same actions five times a day, - Praying together unites the muslim ummah and brings
every day, so it is easy to fall into subconscious habit. people together - creates a sense of identity and
- All muslims perform the same things and say the same cements faith in God.
words, there’s nothing unique or special about prayer. - Prayer may be ritualistic at some points, but its role is to
- It is obligatory in order to demonstrate faith. help muslims and remind them of religion.
- Without intention, prayer is nothing and becomes - Prayer is a sacrifice of submission and worship - the act
ritualistic. itself demonstrates submission to God
- Recite in Arabic so those who don’t understand cannot - We cannot know someone’s true intention, and it is
empathise with what they are saying. dependent on that - Allah knows.
Elias - “as such, Salah is not a prayer in the sense of a personal conversation with God, but rather a ritual obligation.”
Quran - “establish regular prayer for celebrating my praise.”
Hadith - “prayer is the pillar of religion; to neglect it is to prepare the downfall of religion.”
Esposito - “strengthens the conscience” and “reaffirms total dependence on God”
Quran - “He will tell them the truth of what they did: for Allah doth know all things.”
Conclusion:
Prayer is simplistically a ritualistic act of piety than a personal connection with God as it primarily serves as a form of
submission and humility before Him, rather than serving the individual. Still, it is important to remember that the significance of
prayer is dependent upon the individual and God.
, 3A: Whether or not jummah prayers are the most important of all prayers.
For Against
- Compulsory - It is compulsory for men to pray Jummah - Compulsory - Excludes women whereas normal prayer
at the mosque unlike other prayers. doesn’t.
- Activities - All activities must be paused to pray. - Individual - Every prayer is an individual prayer,
- Khutbah - After prayer, the khutbah provides additional requirement from God upon individuals.
religious instruction as well as updates on the - Niyyah - The importance of a prayer hinges on other
community. things, like intention.
- Social benefits - 5 pillars - One of the five pillars is Salah.
- Reward - Praying communally gives more reward.
Quran - “When the call is proclaimed to prayer on Friday, hasten earnestly to the Remembrance of Allah, and leave off
business.”
Hadith - prayer in congregation “is twenty-some levels higher”
Quran - “I listen to the prayer of every supplicant when he calleth upon me.”
Quran - “establish regular prayer for celebrating my praise.”
Conclusion:
Jummah prayers are nowhere near as important as establishing the regular five prayers in terms of reward in the eyes of God.
Nevertheless, the personal benefits of praying together within a community have immediate effects that do make them
somewhat important.
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller nuha432. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for £3.49. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.