Setting up your Jumuah Drive

Students

Downloads

Elders and others with access limitations

Parents should contact school administrator (principal), briefly explaining about Friday as a Holy Day in Islam and the significance of attending Jumua, along with the explanation of their intent to take their child out at least one Friday a month to attend this religious event.

They should follow-up this same communication with the child’s classroom teacher/homeroom teacher.

Request a discussion with the teacher on how to prepare for these scheduled absences. (Many districts have electronic classroom webpages where parents can access class work and assignments.)

Parents can google attendance policies about their child’s school (state/school district/ private school)

Parents should take into consideration as to which Friday afternoon coordinates with their child’s school schedule best. For example, if an ancillary class (i.e. art) falls on a particular Friday each month then it probably would be best to choose another Friday for attending Jumua so as to not affect the child’s grade in that class.

Parents should realize that they are NOT seeking the schools permission to take their child out for Jumua, but rather keeping the school informed of their actions. It is very important to keep the relationship and communication open between home and school, as each works together for the benefit of the child.

Download this Word document and distribute among your membership so they can inform school for student absences

Template letter for school

Check for people who are available, but not able to make it to Friday prayers

Check with others in the area to see if you can arrange transportation for such people

For families who are far from the Masjid and cannot get a ride to the Masjid, arrange Salat centers working with other families in the area.

The First Home Salat Center

(Hazrat Itbaan bin Malik) belonged to the Banu Salim bin Auf branch of the Khazraj tribe. The Holy Prophet (sa) established a bond of brotherhood between him and Hazrat Umar (ra). Hazrat Itbaan participated in the Battles of Badr, Uhud and Khandaq. He began to lose his eyesight during the lifetime of the Holy Prophet (sa) and passed away during the reign of Hazrat Muawiyah.

According to one narration, when Hazrat Itbaan bin Malik (ra) lost his eyesight, he sought permission from the Holy Prophet (sa) to be excused from attending the mosque for congregational prayer. The Holy Prophet (sa) asked him whether he could hear the Adhan [call to prayer], to which he replied in the affirmative. The Holy Prophet (sa) therefore did not grant him permission to be excused. This is a very well-known Hadith and is often quoted, however there are some more details related to this account. According to a narration from Sahih Bukhari, the Holy Prophet (sa) later granted permission to Hazrat Itbaan (ra) to offer his prayers at home. If people cannot get to the Mosque because of the extreme weather conditions and difficulties, it is permissible to offer prayers at home on the condition that the prayer should be offered in congregation and there is no excuse for this. Thus, this should always be borne in mind. Here in these countries, if the mosque is at a distance and there is also no means of transportation, then as I have said on many occasions, the Ahmadis should offer their homes as Salat centres where the local neighbouring Ahmadis can gather and offer their prayers in congregation. May God Almighty enable everyone to adhere to these injunctions.