Sheikh Ayub Rashid
Friday prayers at Dar Al-Islam, Northwest London.

Question: First of all, thank you for taking the time to speak with this bulletin. Could you please introduce the Friday prayers at Dar Al-Islam from a quantitative and qualitative perspective?

Thank you.
Friday prayers at Dar Al-Islam was first established in the early 90s in London by a group of believing brothers who came to settle in the UK. The Friday congregation gathered scholars, thinkers, politicians, and people from all walks of life. Most of the congregation is of Arabic speakers from various Arab countries like Iraq and students from the Persian Gulf countries. The khutba of Jumuah or sermon was then in Arabic.

Today, Friday prayers at Dar Al-Islam is attended by people from different backgrounds and from different countries. The location of Dar Al-Islam attracts many people towards it. This Friday is for all, men, women, young and old.

Question: As a Friday prayer leader (Imam), what new developments have you implemented? Could you give examples, especially in relation to the youth?

Since I joined Dar Al-Islam as an Imam, keeping in mind the jurisprudential aspects of Jumuah prayers, we looked at the demography of the attendees of Friday prayers and saw that a good number of them and especially the youth, do not speak the classic Arabic which is used by the imams of salah. So, we decided to use both Arabic and English in both the khutbas to make it easy for all to understand the messages of Friday. We try most of the time to bring a balance in our Friday khutba, between the general Islamic topics and the current issues which touch the hearts of the youth.

Question: What is the most difficult task or duty assigned to Friday prayer leaders (Imams)?

There are a few challenges in general, but the most difficult task is to make the congregation attached to Friday prayers by finding and delivering relevant topics and subjects to educate, remind, and stimulate the hearts every week. On top of all that is ‘to talk the talk and walk the walk’.

Question: How much do you interact with other Friday prayer leaders (Imams) and strive to maintain unity without any disagreements?

I do interact with other imams of Friday prayers a lot, as what concerns my Friday congregation, concerns them too. I believe in being part of the team and in looking at the bigger picture, and since one hand cannot clap, all the Friday leaders need one another to maintain the unity of the Umma. As Imam Ali (as) said ‘he will lose nothing the one who asks for the advice’. We do need to work for the inter and intra-unity of our communities.

Question: What does “political piety” mean for a Friday prayer leader (Imam)?

Every Friday prayer leader must believe in what he preaches to his congregation, he should try to convey his message from the heart, as what comes out from the heart will settle in other people’s hearts. Religion plays a major role when it comes to change. A Friday leader must use his interpersonal skills to connect with his attendees, he needs to be there to bring people a positive change, particularly with the youth and those who lose hope easily. He needs to be aware of the geopolitics of his environment and analyze it according to the mirror of the holy Qur’an and Ahlulbayt (peace be upon them).