18
THIS is in response to letters ‘Plea for Friday as holiday’ (May 22, 24). I do not agree with the writers.
I will discuss the topic under two contexts. One is the Islamic point of view and the second is worldly and materialistic.
First, keeping in view the present situation of the business world, it can be observed that most of the countries and business communities enjoy Saturday and Sunday as holidays.
If we have to have Thursday and Friday as holidays, it means that only three days (Monday to Wednesday) will be available for working collaboration with international business entities.
This is obviously not good for our fragile economy. Now what are the teachings of our religion for Jumma.
There are clear instructions in the Holy Quran in Sura Jumma: “O you who believe when the ‘Slaat’ is announced on Friday, you shall hasten to the commemoration of God, and drop all businesses. This is better for you if you only knew. Once the prayer is completed, you may spread to the land and seek God’s bounties and continue to commemorate God frequently that you may succeed.” (Jumma: 62)
The above reference shows that there is no concept of holiday on Friday in Islam.
Keeping in consideration the above discussion, it is not fruitful to have Thursday and Friday as holidays.
MALIK ASIF AWAN Talagang
Read more
On DawnNews
Comments (18) Closed
May 29, 2013 06:02am
Everyone in the country is not concerned with the international trade. So those whose presence at work dealing with the international trade is essential should work and the majority of the population who are not, should take Friday off and work rest of the days.
In any case if the majority of the people want Friday a day of holiday, it is their democratic right which they should observe. Do the majority of people in a democracy need permission to do something licit from anyone?
Recommend
0
May 29, 2013 06:29am
Agreed
Recommend
0
May 29, 2013 07:04am
I think we need to have all days as holiday so that we can perform our religious duties.
Recommend
0
May 29, 2013 07:56am
I note the sarcasm but you are not far off.
In some ME countries they prefer to have non-Muslim employees so that time is not wasted during the working hours in performing prayers or taking time off for hajj and umrah as a routine.
In general I agree with Mr Awan but the national interest should come first before anything else.
Recommend
0
May 29, 2013 12:06pm
Was there a day called a Friday during the days of the Prophet ?
Recommend
0
May 29, 2013 12:15pm
No concept of holiday in Islam. Now . . . that is the other extreme. Why can't we be just normal like the rest of the world?
Recommend
0
May 29, 2013 01:04pm
Those who have nothing constructive to do, they indulge in useless discussion. Today it is weekly holidays are being discussed, tomorrow it will be whether wearing beard for men and veil for women should be made compulsory and thereafter wearing of Jeans and trousers for women be banned. Have a heart, think positive and do positive.
Recommend
0
May 29, 2013 01:25pm
I believe the concept is misunderstood by people, having holiday on Friday means seamless work during the rest of the week, currently majority of people are either observing half day off or do return from Juma break, and some institutions observe full day off . Thus a chaos and loss of valuable business for the country which is already striken with economic crunch...
Recommend
0
May 29, 2013 01:30pm
if i was at helm of affairs, i would ask people to work for all 7 days a week and take 4 hours on friday for praying. why full day on friday should be holiday when QURAN is ordering you to work immediately after salah(jumma prayers). for doing personal things for domestic purposes everybody should be allowed one day optional holiday per week(for which day he will not get salary). who works all 7 days would get salary for all 7 days. that way domestic liabilities will also be fulfilled. SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO DO IT FOR NATION BUILDING. EXTRA WORK, NO PROBLEM.
let us create our own system for the purpose of nation building. WEEKEND DAYS ARE WASTED BY OUR PEOPLE USUALLY IN BACKBITING, GHEEBAH, USELESS THINGS. let us plegde to use our time fruitfully.
Recommend
0
May 29, 2013 02:36pm
Nonsense. It does not matter whether "every one is concerned with foreign trade" or not. What matters is the country as a whole to be CONCERNED, of course if we want to have a relationship, business or other wise, of being in unison with the rest of the world. Just because Saudi Arabia has Friday off (here it should also be mentioned that those Arabs have literally every day off because they can afford it, given their immense wealth) should we jump into that practice whether our country can afford it or not?
Recommend
0
May 29, 2013 03:03pm
Please read the letter again. No concept of holiday on "friday" in Islam.
Recommend
0
May 29, 2013 04:16pm
For your information whole world does banking on Friday. Pakistan will be closed for three days.
Recommend
0
May 29, 2013 06:51pm
Indeed it was Unless your question is sarcastic dear VGP , Friday was there even before he proclaimed his prophet hood ( at the age of 40 ) but the concept of Friday for the afternoon prayers , were revealed in the divine message in Surah Jummah . But neither he (PBUH) nor his 4 caliphs , had ever declared Friday as a day off / holiday . Its an interpolation into the Muslim society decades later on after the death of the 4th caliph ( Ali bin abi taalib RTH ) , when personal kingdoms/sheikhdoms/ameerdons/sultandoms , were operating
Recommend
0
May 29, 2013 07:21pm
if you are eluding to that in a democracy , the majority can dictate and the rest must follow or no one need permission to do illicit thing in a democracy , then perhaps that is a good thing for you , good luck , If you are living in a democracy which has legalized Sam,e sex marriages ( as per your stance , a democratic right to do ! ) and tomorrow your offspring ( Children ) when coming of age , come and introduce to you , their same sex life partners with whom they want o live their life , The Good luck to your democratic principle ...... We certainly do not envisage such democratic right for us
Recommend
0
May 29, 2013 09:49pm
The real problem is those who propose and others who oppose, both end up seeking advice from the religious texts, as if common sense counts for nothing. To balance out such discussions, can we propose that beards be made mandatory for women and veils for men...
Recommend
0
May 30, 2013 12:33am
Those who need Friday as a holiday are more than welcome to move to Saudi Arabia.
Shahryar
Recommend
0
May 30, 2013 07:29am
Very positive thinking from the writer.
Recommend
0
May 30, 2013 08:11am
RELIGIOUS
When we must have one day off in a week, for Muslims, it is better to have it on Friday because of many good reasons. Friday, as stated in Ahadiths, is declared to be of more worthiness than Eid day, so it is better for a person to be with his family on a celebration day. Ample time is available for bathing, wearing neat clothes, and performing Jumma prayer peacefully with children at ease.
Although a full working day is not prohibited on Friday, it is by no means compulsory to do work on Friday.The business referred to in the holy verses is sale and purchase of daily items around the mosque and must not be confused with a full working day in which it is difficult to offer prayer peacefully.
ECONOMIC
In practice, offices, schools starts closing at 12 on Friday leaving their jobs incomplete, creating traffic jams in full heat. Instead of one hour break, in the name of prayer, two and half hour time is spent. THEREFORE, AS COMPARED TO HOLIDAY ON SUNDAY, 50 WORK HOURS ARE LOST ANNUALLY.
In international scenario, it is work itself, and not the working day, that matters most.
Recommend
0
