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According to the Islamic cultures and traditions every Friday of the week becomes a special day and source of blessings and salvation. “Jumu’atul Wida” translates to “the Friday of farewell” in English. Jamat-ul-Vida is also known as the Jummat-al-Wida which indicates good wishes of holy Quran.
People celebrate this festival by reciting their holy book Quran, special prayers and lots of social works in order to get blessings. At this day people get involved in the charity work such as feeding to poor and helpless people to get reward from God.
More than thousands of Muslims get together, to attend their special Jamat-ul-Vida festival, which is the last prayer of the Ramzan, the ninth month of Islamic calendar. Jamat ul Vida also marks the commencement of the festival of Eid-ul-Fitr. It is celebrated in the mosques by performing prayer for peace, success and harmony in the world.
Jamat-Ul-Vida 2019
Jamat ul Vida in 2019 was observed from the evening of Thursday, 30th May 2019 till the evening of Friday, 31st May 2019.
The day was celebrated on the last Friday of the Ramadan and before the festival of Id-ul-Fitr which was to be celebrated on 04th June 2019.
The day was observed among the Muslim community across the world with great devotion and zest. People gathered to their nearby mosques to offer prayers to the almighty. Quran was also recited on the occasion as it is believed to be very auspicious to recite it on the day.
Mosques were decorated with lightings and flowers and special feasts were prepared at homes on the occasion and distributed among friends and families. Distributing food and clothing to the poor on Jamat-ul-Vida was also done as it is considered auspicious and brings prosperity and peace.
Significance of Friday Prayer
Friday prayers are considered obligatory by both the Shia and Sunni denominations undisputedly; though, the old, the weak, the sick, children and women are forbidden. Holy Qur’an in its sura 62 mentions, Friday prayer assembly as the most important act to be performed by every Muslim.
Prophet Muhammad said that Friday prayers are the most auspicious than the prayers performed on any other day, because it was on a Friday that Allah created heaven and also he was granted entry into heaven on Friday, Adam was sent on earth on a Friday and he also died on a Friday.
Jamat-Ul-Vida – Last Friday of Ramzan
Jamat ul Vida is performed on the last Friday of Ramzan month. Ramzan also called Ramadan, Ramazan or Ramadhan, is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. As per Islamic beliefs, it was in the month of Ramzan that the holy Quran was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad.
Ramzan is observed by Muslims as the month of fasting and one of the five pillars of Islam – faith, prayer, charity, fasting and pilgrimage to Mecca. The first revelation of Quran is believed to be sent on Laylat-al-Kadr (night of power) which falls on one of the five odd nights of last ten days of Ramzan.
Jamat ul Vida is the prayer offered by Muslims on the last Friday of the holy month of Ramzan, to bid it farewell.
Jamat-Ul-Vida Celebration
Jamat-ul-Vida is the most special and religious festival for the Muslim people who faithfully walk at this day towards their Central Mosque to offer prayer and honor to their Almighty Allah. They celebrate this festival by being present in the mosque from the early morning and feel that they are showered by lots of blessings, mercy and forgiveness by the Angels.
Along with performing their routine Friday prayers, people belonging to the Muslim community also perform special prayers and Quran recitation on the Friday of Jamat ul Vida.
It is customary for the devotees to have bath in the morning and wear new clothes and a skull cap. They pray for forgiveness from their past sins and a happy and peaceful life. Religious gurus inspire people to follow the teachings of Quran as their lives’ guiding principle.
In India, the country’s largest Muslim congregation is formed at the Mecca Masjid, Hyderabad. People could be seen feeding the poor and needy. Muslims believe that anyone who fed the poor on the day of Jamat ul Vida will be rewarded manifolds by the Allah.
Muslims people believe that their prayer at this day would surely be accepted by the God without any doubt. Tents are organized all around the mosques for the relief of the big crowd. Nearby mosques are flooded with the religious devotees looking for the divine blessings. Muslims in huge numbers could be seen thronging to the mosques and sometimes the numbers get so high that the mosques have to erect temporary tents to accommodate the disciples.
Significance and Ritual of Jamat-Ul-Vida Festival
Jamat-ul-Vida is the holy Friday before the last day of Ramzan and most important day for the Muslims. There is a tradition of performing prayer in the early morning and recite holy Quran for whole day as well as involve in the activities of helping poor and helpless people by offering food or other required things.
Prophet Muhammad had himself stressed up on the significance of a Friday afternoon prayer. He advocated that Fridays are more blessed than other days of the week and performing Namaz on a Friday has much significance than other days. Muslims believed that prayers held on this day could never go unanswered.
Special arrangements are done in advance at this day inside the mosques for the easiness of the devotees and avoid facing problems. They are encouraged by the priest to follow holy Koran in their whole life to get salvation and forgiveness. They prepare special feasts and enjoy with the family members, children, neighbors and friends.
Muslims get a chance to reaffirm their faith in the almighty Allah and the teachings of Prophet Muhammad. By performing a Friday namaz, that too in the holy month of Ramzan and bidding it farewell, the congregation becomes more significant for the devotees. Muslims believe that someone who performs namaz on jamat ul vida gets the blessings as equivalent to the namaz performed for a complete year.
