Studying Islam

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[quote][quote]
Good questions.  I'll try and throw out whatever limited knowledge i have on this issue, plz add in or correct me if i'm wrong.

1. The Friday prayer generally isn't required in a non-muslim country, but i can't see any reason for it to be "wrong" or "not allowed" in a non-muslim country. There is nothing to keep it from being done, but it isn't compulsory.

2. I don't recall the prophet ever saying a "state representative" should be the imam or that the imam had to have anything to do with the state. Also, you must realize that the first modern state was created in the year 1600AD, so you cannot compare the type of community which they lived in at the time with our modern state structure today.

The only part which i can recall from the hadith that talks about who should lead a prayer is one where it says something like "the best Muslim between you should lead you." I don't know the exact words to it, but that's how it went, and it has nothing to do with politics.

Also, if the gov't is corrupt and does not follow Islamic law, then i surely wouldn't want it to be my representative infront of God every friday prayer. I'd rather have a good Musim with no connections to the state.[/quote]

I do not know for sure what criteria you observe when you declare something allowed or disallowed in Islam. As for me, I see when a particulare practice has been set in a defined format, it would be wrong to do it otherwise. We do not need any directive to prohibit the changed practice. The fact it has been changed is enough evidence that it is not allowed in Islam. For instance, in Jumu Prayer, the Sunnah is to recite the Khutabah before the Prayer, if someone dares to say it after the prayer, that will stand invalid merely for this change. The Holy Prophet instituted Jumua and took care for it to be held where his representatives are is enough evidence for me to preclude non-Muslim countries. We should also appreciate the fact that the Holy Prophet (pbuh) did not conduct the Friday Prayer as long as he remained in Makkah, where he had no political authority. Furthermore, after the establishment of a Muslim state in Madinah, the Holy Prophet still did not enjoin upon other Muslims, living outside the city, to offer the Friday Prayer. The obvious reason for this is that the Friday Prayer is solely meant to be conducted under the authority of a state representative and has political significance in Islam.

Ibn Rushd, in his book, Bidayatul Muqtasid Waw Nihayatul Muqtasid, records:

Abu Hanifah described two further conditions [for the Friday Prayer], Al-Misar (ie to be held within a city in contrast to a village) and Al-Sultan (ie to be held under a Sultan, ruler). (Bidayatul Muqtasid Waw Nihayatul Muqtasid, Al-Fasal: Fee Shoroot il Jumu’, page 115).[/quote]

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