Friday Prayer: Difference between revisions

The Friday prayer gradually spread in the Shi'a [[Iran]], by the time of [[Shah Isma'il I]] (r. 905/1499-930/1523). This was because of the efforts of Shi'a scholars especially [[al-Muhaqqiq al-Karaki]] (d. 940/1533) for the spread of the Friday prayer.<ref>Muntaziri, ''al-Badr al-zahir'', p. 7; Ja'farian, ''Namaz-i jum'a'', p. 26-27</ref> Despite the agreement of many of [[jurist]]s, including some scholars of [[Jabal Amel]], with al-Muhaqqiq al-Karaki, and the support of the [[Safawid]] government, the Friday prayer spread gradually in Iran, as saying the Friday prayer wasn't very common among Shi'a, and some scholars were against the holding of the Friday prayer in the time of [[Occultation of Imam al-Mahdi (a)]].<ref>Jabiri, ''Salat al-jumu'a'', p. 50-54; Ja'farian, ''Namaz-i jum'a'', p. 28</ref> Discussions and debates between scholars, about holding the Friday prayer in the time of the occultation of Imam al-Mahdi (a), came to the extent that [[Shah Sulayman I]] (r. 1077/1666-1105/1693) arranged a meeting of jurists, so they could reach a result.<ref>Al-Qazwini, ''Tatmim amal al-amil'', p. 172-173</ref>

[[Shah Tahmasb I]] (r. 930/1523-984/1576) assigned an Imam of Friday prayer for each city, by the advice of al-Muhaqqiq al-Karaki.<ref>Agha Buzurg, ''Tabaqat a'lam al-Shi'a'', Chapter. 1, p. 176; Jabiri, ''Salat al-jumu'a'', p. 50-51</ref> In the time of [[Shah 'Abbas I]] (r. 996/1587-1038/1628) the official title of "Imam al-jumu'a" became established.<ref>Agha Buzurg, ''al-Dhari'a ila tasanif al-Shi'a'', vol. 25, p. 28</ref> Usually the [[Shaykh al-Islam]] of each city had the title of imam al-jumu'a but sometimes scholars who were not Shaykh al-Islam became imam al-jumu'a, for example [[Mulla Muhsin Fayd Kashani]] (d. 1091/1680).<ref>Ja'farian, ''Safawiyya dar 'arsa-yi din'', vol. 3, p. 237</ref>

The first Friday prayer of the Safawid era was held by al-Muhaqqiq al-Karaki in the [[Masjid Jami' 'Atiq]] in [[Isfahan]].

Some of the important Imams of Friday prayer of the time are [[al-Shaykh al-Baha'i]] (d. 1030/1620), [[Mirdamad]] (d. 1041/1631), [[Muhammad Taqi al-Majlisi]] (d. 1070/1659), [[Muhammad Baqir al-Majlisi]] (d. 1110/1698), [[Mulla Hadi Sabziwari]] (d. 1090/1679), and [[al-Shaykh Lutf Allah al-Isfahani]] (d. 1032/1622).<ref>See: al-Majlisi, ''Lawami' sahibqirani'', vol. 4, p. 513; al-Khwansari, ''Jami' al-madarik'', vol. 2, p. 68-78, 122-123; al-Bahrani, ''Lu'lu'at al-bahryn'', p. 61, 95, 136, 445</ref>

Al-Muhaqqiq al-Karaki wrote a book about the permissibility of holding the Friday prayer in time of occultation of Imam Mahdi (a) in 921/1515, the book is actually a treatise in the subject of [[wilayat al-faqih]]. Some of his students and contrary scholars wrote treatises in the criticism of his opinion or for its confirmation.<ref>Ja'farian, ''Namaz-i jum'a'', p. 37-38; Ja'farian, ''Safawiyya dar 'arsa-yi din'', vol. 3, p. 251</ref>

Like the [[Safawid]] period (1210/1795-1344/1925), in the [[Qajar]] period the Imam of Friday prayer was a governmental post.<ref>Muntaziri, ''al-Badr al-zahir'', p. 7</ref> Along with the decrease of validity of governmental religious posts, Imam of Friday prayer lost their religious and political importance. In late Qajar period (Iranian constitutional revolution) some of Imam of Friday prayer stood against the constitutionalist scholars.<ref>Ja'farian, ''Namaz-i jum'a'', p. 32</ref>

In the [[Pahlawi]] period (1343/1925-1398/1978) Imams of Friday prayer, especially in big cities, had official relations with the government, so did not have popularity and the Friday prayer was not common.<ref>Yazdi, ''Wazayif-i ruwhaniyyat'', p. 84</ref> Some scholars, independent from the government, were holding the Friday prayer and these prayers were popular.<ref>See: Kishwari, ''Farzanigan-i khwansar'', p. 133</ref>

After the [[Islamic revolution in Iran]] (1357 Sh/1978) holding the Friday prayer became popular again. The first Friday prayer was held with the leadership of [[Sayyid Mahmud Taliqani]] (d. 1399/1979) –assigned by [[Imam Khomeini]]- in the University of Tehran.