City, University of London, alongside the Students’ Union, Islamic Society, AhlulBayt Society and Madinah Society, have worked together to provide City community-led Friday (Jummah) Prayer on University premises.
The purpose of this guidance dcument is to allow University student-led and staff-led Friday Prayer, which will contribute to a positive community faith experience at City, as well as cater to an important religious obligation of Muslim students and staff. For that reason, we will only permit students and staff at City to deliver the Jummah Sermon.
Also included in this guidance are:
- Suggested talks for Jummah Talks/Sermons
- Friday Prayer in the Great Hall – a guide for participants
Friday Prayer is a large-scale event in the University during term times, therefore those that lead Friday Prayers need to be knowledgeable, confident, competent, and good timekeepers. Prayer needs to start and finish at the published times to ensure students and staff can continue with their academic commitments.
If you are interested in leading Friday Prayer then we encourage you to speak to the University Imam or your Society leaders to discuss in more detail.
Training
Dependant on previous experience, those who wish to lead Friday Prayer may be asked to undertake a course of preparatory training before they can lead. This training can be provided internally by the University Imam or externally by a reputable external provider. The University Imam can advise on this.
Training is important to ensure that prayer leaders can have a positive experience leading the prayer for their fellow students and staff, and to allow them to develop the appropriate skills and abilities to undertake such a task.
Those seeking to deliver Jummah will learn the following through training. This may build upon knowledge and skills which they already possess, and trainers will take account of previous knowledge and experience while delivering the training:
Knowledge:
- A basic knowledge of faraidh (obligation) of cleanliness.
- An understanding of the correct ablution requirements.
- An awareness of wajibaat, sunan and mustahabaat.
- Knowledge and understanding of the requirements for leading the Prayer.
Abilities and Skills:
- Ability to accurately and clearly recite the Qur’an.
- Good time management skills.
Requirements for the content of Jummah
Those leading Jummah can select a topic with the University Imam, (see suggested topics at the end of this document), However, there are a few things which students must adhere to in terms of content:
- Khutbah must consist of Dua, Salaat to the Prophet, Sahabah and Ahlul Bait. There should be no condemnation or cursing of any of the companions (Sahabah) of the Prophet (Peace be on Him) or highlighting them in any negative way. Historical issues of disputes amongst the companions should be avoided.
- Topics must start with Verses from the Qur’an and Hadeeth. If any other books are quoted in explanation of the above, its source/s must be stated.
- In addition to the religious requirements the person delivering Khutbah must respect and adhere to the times allocated for Khutbah, Salaat completion times and the assigned topic.
- The speaker must concentrate on the given topic. Only one topic may be spoken about.
- Those leading Jummah must not:
- Speak ill of any other Muslim groups or individuals, its belief system/s its leaders, followers, or practices, directly or indirectly or promote a particular view, teacher, or Sheikh in this country or abroad.
- Condemn, attack or ridicule people of other faiths or no faith.
- Attack social customs/practices of groups to highlight any Islamic value. Islamic virtues stand in their own right.
- No politics of any nation, groups or its leaders or practices may be condemned or attacked directly or otherwise.
- Foreign issues are not to be raised, nor promotion of any individual society or other union.
- Hate speeches, incitements or deviation from the agreed subject are not permitted.
If the person due to lead the prayer is unable to do so because of illness or for any other reason, they must inform their Society or the University Imam before prayers begin so that alternative arrangements can be made. The person due to lead the prayer cannot substitute another speaker in their place without the permission of their Society or the University Imam.
The University Imam will oversee Jummah Prayer each week. Please direct any questions or issues that you have directly with him.
Friday Prayer in the Great Hall – a guide for participants
Friday Prayer is a large-scale event involving many staff and students. To ensure a positive and safe experience for all participants we ask that you note the following guidance. Prayer times and further information is available on the Muslim Prayer pages on the Student Hub.
Before the prayer
Volunteer students and staff are on hand to ensure the event is managed smoothly.
Please listen carefully to their instructions so we can ensure the prayers run safely and to time.
- Disabled access to the Great Hall is available near the St Johns’ Street entrance and there is a lift to all floors in the College Building. If you have specific accessibility needs, please email your University Imam – Sheikh Musa Admani.
- Please ensure that you are ready and assembled outside the Great Hall ahead of the allotted prayer time.
- Please do not bring food and drink into the Great Hall.
- We try to accommodate your preferred prayer times but cannot exceed the maximum room capacity for Health & Safety reasons. Should we be unable to accommodate you at a specific prayer time, staff on the door will be able to advise you of all Friday Prayer times that day, these are also available on the web page.
- Please avoid blocking the pathway with your personal belongings and place your bags, coats and footwear tidily at the back of the hall, on the tables provided behind the lecture seating.
- The university cannot provide a cloakroom facility so please do not bring valuables with you, there are lockers available for you to use on campus.
- Please do not charge electrical devices in the Great Hall as the sockets are needed for event purposes and the stewards cannot oversee personal items.
- Please ensure that mobile phones are switched off and any other devices, which may cause noise and disrupt the prayer.
- A Health and Safety notice will be read out before the prayer, to advise you what to do in the event of a fire alarm or if you feel unwell.
- In the event of fire or another incident please follow the guidance of the volunteers and University Imam.
- If you have an engagement e.g., Lab courses, presentations between the Jummah Prayer times, please contact the University Imam to arrange a short Jummah either before 1pm or after 2.30pm.
During the prayer
There will be a call to prayer and the prayer itself. Prayers are led by members of our students and staff community and our University Imam, and they will ensure that the prayer runs to time.
You can find out more about agreed expectations, training requirements and the process for becoming an approved prayer leader on the Muslim Prayer pages on the Student Hub..
The university does not allow announcements, unrelated to the prayer or charitable collections to take place within the prayer space itself.
After the prayer
The Great Hall is used for a large number of university events every day and it is therefore essential that the space is cleared quickly. Please ensure that you leave the Great Hall as soon as the prayer is complete and take all your belongings with you.
If you wish to continue voluntary prayer the Muslim Prayer spaces in the Tait Building are available to you.
There are many social spaces available to you or you can book the Multi-Faith Space for group activities with your faith community.
Suggested talks for Jummah Talks/Sermons
Below are some suggested talks for Jummah Talks/Sermons:
- Day of Judgment
- 5 daily Prayers, the importance of Jumah
- The five pillars of Islam
- The six foundations of Iman
- Death and after life (Hellfire, Paradise)
- Alah, Alah's mercy
- The Prophets and his family, virtues of sending salutations to the Prophet and his family
- The Prophet’s lifestyle and teachings, His first Khutbah in Madinah
- Quran
- Maccan Surah and Madinah Surahs
- Sunnah
- History of Islam
- Salaf asaalihin
- 99 names of Allah (Asma-Al- Husna)
- Prophets and their stories and stories of the companions (Sahabah)
- Motivation and intentions in actions
- Shirk and types of it
- Moral teachings and Etiquettes (Akhlaq, unity, peace, happiness, honesty, truthfulness, love and relationship, controlling desires, gender attractions)
- Sex and Muslim youth (relationships that is not sanctioned by Islam)
- Marriage in Islam and gender attraction
- Taqwa and its aspects, spirituality
- Brotherhood and sisterhood
- Crime, dangers of war
- Good character building (personality development)
- Trusting Alah, repentance (Tawbah, private worship)
- Diseases of the heart
- Suffering and struggle
- Love and respect those around you, friends of Allah
- Respect for people of all faiths
- Parents, family, friends and neighbours, refugees
- The greatest women of Islam
- Value of knowledge
- Motivation and hard work
- Visions, seeking wisdom
- Education and study techniques
- Leadership and complacency
- Creed (Aqeedah, Tawheed, Salaf)
- Depression
- Worship
- Social justice
- Compassion, selflessness and humility
- Controlling anger, visiting the sick, how to deal with people
- Charity, how to get involved
- Iman and all its forms; tolerance, giving, rights of others and plagiarism; rights of mothers, honouring agreements
- Zakat, Sadaqa
- Caring for orphans and the disadvantaged in the society
- Rise of Islamophobia, counter terrorism strategies
- Concept of economics, finance and Riba
- Cardinal virtues
- Environment, animal welfare
- Halal, healthy food, eating in moderation and manners of eating
- Chastisement of spreading rumours, false accusation
- Accountability in the day resurrection
- The development of Islamic Law
- Delivering Sermon, the way it is done by Muslims for centuries
- Consistency on good deeds
- Gambling, drinking and taking drugs
- Cheating, lies and fraud in Islam
- Study, exam preparation and the best time to do this
- Leadership and how to develop it
- Fairness in dealing with others
- Guarding one’s tongue and not harming others through intentions, by words or actions
- How to make others feel safe?
- What can be done to boost Muslim students’ confidence?
- How to spread peace as Islam is a religion of peace
- Youth, health, illness and old age
- Positive thinking about Alah and people
- Enjoining the good and forbidding the evil
- Condemnations of eavesdropping, backbiting and plotting against one another.