Q.1. It is said that prayers in the two sacred mosques of Makkah and Madinah earn greater reward than prayers in any other mosque, in the Kingdom or elsewhere. Is this true? Is it also true that prayer in the Rawdhah earns more reward than prayer in the rest of the Prophet’s mosque?
Q.2. In some countries, people who offer the pilgrimage give themselves the title Haji, or Al-Haj, by which they become known for the rest of their lives. Is it necessary?
T.H. Samath, Makkah
A.1. The Prophet has told us that there are three mosques to which we may travel for the purpose of worship. These are the Haram in Makkah, the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah and Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. This shows the special status of these three mosques. In another Hadith, he tells us that a prayer in Al-Aqsa Mosque is given the reward of 500 prayers elsewhere, while a prayer in the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah earns the reward of 1000 prayers, and in the Haram in Makkah a prayer is given a reward equal to that of 100,000 prayers. This tells you much about the importance of these three places of worship.
The Prophet also says that the area between his home and the place where he stood to address the people is "a garden of heaven", but he did not say that a prayer there is better rewarded than in the rest of his mosque.
A.2. It is true that people give themselves such titles, which means that they have offered the pilgrimage. But this is wrong. A person who does the pilgrimage simply offers what is his duty to offer. He does not qualify for a position of honor as a result. There is no title given to a person who offers the duties of prayer or fasting. Why should there be one for a pilgrim?
Different methods of Friday sermon
Q. Back home, the sermon before Friday prayers is read from a book in Arabic, which practically nobody in the congregation understands. The book has 52 sermons for the whole year, and these are repeated year after year. Here the sermon is different. It tackles practical issues, or even some events that have an impact on the Muslim community. May I ask whether the sermon should always be in Arabic? Should it address present- day problems? Does it have to conform to certain rules? How long should it be? What do you think of the method I have described?
Anvardeen
Riyadh
A. I know the method you have described. It is very depressing and misses the whole purpose of the Friday sermon or khutbah. It is often the case that the imam himself does not understand the meaning of what he is reading. Some imams read the sermon so fast that even Arabs would not be able to follow. Hence, it deprives the Friday prayer of its real significance.
The Friday prayer is meant to discuss problems and issues faced by the Muslim community, and to remind the people of God and the hereafter. Thus, if you are speaking to people in a language they do not understand, then there is no benefit in it. There is no rule which requires that the Friday sermon should be given in Arabic. The Arabic language does not have any inherent distinction which makes its use an aspect of worship. What the imam should do is to give the sermon in the language of the community. When he quotes a verse of the Qur’an, or a Hadith, he may read it in Arabic but should also give its meaning in the language of the congregation. This enables the imam to discuss in his sermon some practical questions and issues which the Muslim community needs.
Scholars mention many rules concerning Friday prayer and the sermon that precedes it. Later scholars, like Al-Shawkani, have verified these rules and looked for their basis. Al-Shawkani states that none of these rules has any solid basis. However, the purpose of the khutbah is to remind people of their faith and of the hereafter. If it does, well and good. The language used is of little importance.
