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that is to say, the congregation or assembly; the divine
verse on this subject characterizes the nature of our
obligation on Friday as

“O true believers! When ye are called to prayer on
Friday, hasten to the remembrance of God and leave
merchandise,” etc. [1]

The faithful are called to join in the divine service
together in a house dedicated to the worship of God, and
to leave off at that time any lucrative work; but after the
congregational prayers are over they are not forbidden
to resume their usual occupations. A true Muslim within
twenty-four hours worships his Creator three or five times
in prayer and devotion.

(c) We have already made a few remarks on the
passage in St. Matthew (xviii. 11) where the mission of
the “Son of Man” is “to seek and recover what was lost.”
This is another important prediction -though undoubtedly
corrupted in form- about Muhammad (pbuh) , or the
Apocalyptical Barnasha. These “lost things” which the
Barnasha would seek and restore are of two categories,
religious and national. Let us examine them in detail:

(1) The mission of the Barnasha was to restore the
purity and the universality of the religion of Abraham (pbuh)
, which was lost. All the peoples and tribes descended from
that patriarch of the believers were to be brought into the
fold of the “Religion of Peace,” which is no other than the
“Dina da-Shlama,” or the Religion of Islam. The religion
of Moses (pbuh) was national and particular, and therefore
its hereditary priesthood, its Levitical sacrifices and
pompous rituals, its Sabbaths, jubilees, and festivals, and

[1] . Quran 62:9. O ye who believe! When the call is proclaimed to prayer on
Friday (the Day of Assembly), hasten earnestly to the Remembrance of Allah, and
leave off business (and traffic): That is best for you if ye but knew! , Quran 62:10.
And when the Prayer is finished, then may ye disperse through the land, and seek
of the Bounty of Allah. And celebrate the Praises of Allah often (and without stint):
that ye may prosper. (Editors).