Holy Ramzan: Al-Wida Al-Wida

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Abdul Muqit Chowdhury :
The last Friday of the Holy Ramzan is called ‘Zum’atul Wida’. It means ‘departing Zum’a’. The Musallies with due religious fervour join the Zum’a congregation and bid farewell to this month of patience and self-restraint-the Holy Ramzan.
The Holy Quran imposes obligation of the Friday prayer in the following verses: “o ye who believe! /When the call is proclaimed /To prayer on Friday/ (The Day of Assembly),/ Hasten earnestly to the Remembrance/ Of God, and leave off/ Business (and traffic):/ That is best for you/ If ye but knew!”
“And when the Prayer/ Is finished, then may ye /Disperse through the land, /And seek the Bounty Of God: and celebrate /The praises of God/Often (and without stint): /That ye may prosper.” (Sura Zum’a ayat 9-10. The Holy Quran Translation and Commentary by A. Yusuf Ali)
Allama Yusuf Ali comments : “The immediate and temporal worldly gain may be the ultimate and spiritual loss, and vice versa.”
“Prosperity is not be measured by wealth or worldly gains. There is a higher prosperity-the health of the mind and the spirit.”
Generally, Zum’a prayer on Friday is the weekly best prayer. This day gets a special virtuous merit in Ramzan and the last Friday is of exceptional significance. Huge attendance depicts the fervour and sanctity of the occasion. Special preparation, concentration and dedication beautifies the solemn ritual. The Holy days thus come nearer to close for the year and the devotees under the leadership of the Imams bid farewell to these days-‘Al-Wida Al-Wida Ya Shahri Ramadhan.’
Rasulullah (Sm) performed the Zum’a prayer regularly. He said, “Let people desist and refrain from neglecting the Friday prayers, else Allah will make their hearts inaccessible and they will be among those who are ignored.” (Muslim Sharif)
“Allah will make a mark on his heart who deliberately neglects the Friday prayers”. (Abu Daud Sharif)
Rasulullah (Sm) in his Sermon on the day when the Friday prayer was made obligatory, said, “Let it be known that Allah has prescribed the Friday prayer for you on this spot, in this day, in this month, in this year, until the Day of Judgement.
Whoever neglects it during or after my lifetime even though he has an Iman, who abstains and strays from the right path, who disdains and rejects Allah’s Ordinance, may Allah grant him no reunification. Neither will his affairs be blessed. There shall be no prayer for him, no almsgiving, no pilgrimage, no fast. The importance of Zum’a prayer, specially in the departing hours of Ramzan, thus bears added significance.
On this Holy occasion, we pray to Allah to forgive our sins and bestow on us His Mercy to make us united and victorious over all aggressive evil forces.
Let us all pray to Allah, The Most Merciful, that by His Divine Grace He grants us chance so that this Holy day comes back to our lives for many years.
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