This is a puzzle that I came across a while back. If anybody has an answer, I would be delighted to know it. As this puzzle deals with geography, I suggest everybody get out their globes before they read any further.
Everybody knows that the International Date Line is an imaginary line drawn on the globe opposite Greenwich and is accepted as 0 degrees. This is completely arbitrary line, and one would think it has no effect on Muslims, as we pray by the sun time, but actually it does.
The International Date Line decides which day of the week it is in any place. As it an arbitrary decision made by Kuffar, should Muslims adopt it? Why should we not use our own date line, which would be opposite the Kaaba on the globe (named the Muslim Date Line)?
For most places in Asia, Africa, Australia, Europe and the two Americas, using the Muslim Date Line will not make a noticeable difference. However, in the Hawaiian islands, Tahiti, Cook's Islands and Alaska, it would make a difference in the day you pray juma'a on as these areas fall between the two date lines.
Imagine that it is time for juma'a prayer in Japan. A few hours later, it will be time for juma'a prayer in China. A few hours after that it will be time for juma'a prayer in India, then Pakistan, then Iran, then Saudi Arabia and Makkah. After that it will time for juma'a prayer in areas to the west of Makkah ie. Africa and Europe, then in the Americas. Passing onwards, it will be time for juma'a prayer in Alaska, Hawaii, Tahiti and Cook's Islands. After that juma'a prayer will be finished all over the world until the next week.
This scenario would only be true if one was using the international dateline to calculate juma'a, in which case juma'a prayer would be prayed in Alaska, Hawaii, Tahiti and Cook's Islands approximately 12 hours (plus or minus some) after it had been prayed in the Ka'bah. However, if we calculate using the proposed Muslim Date Line, then juma'a prayer would be prayed approximately 12 hours (plus or minus some) before it would be prayed in the Ka'abah. So in effect, using the Muslim Date Line, Muslims would pray juma'a on Thursday. The above scenario would begin with juma'a prayer being prayed in Hawaii (on Thursday), and end with juma'a prayer being prayed in the Americas (on Friday).
While this is just a fun exercise in puzzles to me, as I live in Pakistan, have no intention of going to Hawaii, and even if I did I wouldn't pray juma'a as I am a female, it has serious ramifications for those who live in Hawaii or Alaska.
Someone said to the Prophet, "Pray to God against the idolaters and curse them." The Prophet replied, "I have been sent to show mercy and have not been sent to curse." (Muslim)
Did you read the question? The problem is that since Friday is defined by an arbitrary descision of the Kuffar, why should Muslims follow it? Especially considering that the Muslim day begins and ends at sunset, while the other day begins and ends at midnight.
Did you read the question? The problem is that since Friday is defined by an arbitrary descision of the Kuffar, why should Muslims follow it? Especially considering that the Muslim day begins and ends at sunset, while the other day begins and ends at midnight.
lol I did read the question. My point was rather simple; just pray it whenever friday is in hawaii. The alternative would mean praying juma a day early i.e. on thursday as opposed to friday; juma'a is called the friday prayers for a reason
Someone said to the Prophet, "Pray to God against the idolaters and curse them." The Prophet replied, "I have been sent to show mercy and have not been sent to curse." (Muslim)
Calling juma'a the Friday prayer is a mistranslation.
Should the world decide to add an extra day in the week, or have one day with only 6 days (leap week), would we still be praying juma'a on Friday? Obviously not. We have a fixed 7 day week callendar which is unaffected by the other calendar.
When Eid, Ramzaan and other Muslim holidays are not fixed to the Sun calendar, why should we fix juma'a to it.
And jum'a would not be prayed a day early, it would be prayed on the correct 'Yawm ulJuma'a', which usually falls on Friday, but in these areas falls on Thursday.
Assalamu Alaikum Faye. I have seen your post and become member to write to you. Yes you are absolutely right about Friday prayer in Hawaii and some other Pacific islands. Instead of deciding the day by using imaginary “international date line” we need to simply decide according to the direction of kibla. The rule is simple: If you are turning to West for kibla you will pray the Frayday prayer before Mecca, like in Malaysia, Indonesia etc. If you are turning to East for kibla you will pray the Friday prayer after Mecca like Europe, America etc.
So, in Hawai they turn to Northwest for kibla and they need to pray the Friday Prayer before Mecca, not after as they are doing now.
As a result, we do not need another imaginary date line to decide the which day it is and yes in Hawai Muslims are mistakenly, may Allah forgive all our mistakes, espacially doing them without intention.
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