the actual muslim `service' is on the friday itself. the imam in
all the masjids across singapore will deliver the khutbah or
sermon. the sermons are basically weekly reminders, sometimes
admonitions, sometimes advice regarding muslims living in
non-muslims environtment and sometimes general current affair
issues are brought up, recently the organ donation issue.
muslims do not welcome the `sabbath' on thursday night. i noticed
the word sabbath here is used for the meaning `rest' , but that's
not what it means. sabbath is a jewish word meaning seven or the
seventh day whereas in arabic the seventh day is called yaumul
sab'ah. sabbath in jewish, sab'ah in arabic. and which day does the
jews worship on?? saturday which is the seventh day of the week.
and which day does the seventh day adventist christians worship
on?? also saturday. muslims worship on friday, yaumul jumah,
meaning day of gathering, which is the sixth day of the week. and
it only takes 2 hrs, not the whole day, and after the prayers we
are told to go about our bussiness as per normal. there are no
`off' days in Islam like saturdays or sundays, and it is also not
necessary to declare friday as an off day like they do in some
muslim countries.
i'm not familiar with the concept of `cell' group. but we Muslims
are encouraged to learn the deen (the way) of Islam from where the
sources are available to us. for eg now masjids in singapore hold
weekly classes and talks on various topics. i live in jurong and i
can go to pasir ris to get the knowledge, just like i can go to any
other masjids that are holding these talks or classes. or sometimes
these classes are held in homes, where the muslims will gather in
one of these homes generally once a week to learn the deen.
