MSA-UMD Guidelines for Salat al-Jum’ah (Friday Congregational Prayer)

Section 1: The purpose of organizing Salat al-Jum’ah on the campus of the University of Michigan-Dearborn is to provide for the religiously mandated ritual of Friday congregational prayer. In addition to fulfilling this ritual obligation, the scope and content of the Jum’ah Khutab (Sermons) shall increase and augment the knowledge of both Muslims and non-Muslims at the University of Michigan-Dearborn.

Section 2: The location of Salat al-Jum’ah shall be accessible to all, central to the campus at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, and in a state of cleanliness necessary for ritual utilization.

Section 3: The duration of Salat al-Jum’ah shall take into consideration the time constraints of a college campus and student body, and shall be moderated accordingly. So as to allow students and employees of Dearborn area businesses to attend and participate, it is humbly requested that the length of the two Khutbahs (two sermons) combined not exceed thirty minutes, and that the length of the Khutab (sermons) and Salat (Prayer) combined not exceed forty-five minutes.

Section 4: The substance and content of the Khutab (Sermons) shall be primarily that of the Qur’an and Sunnah (Prophetic Tradition). At no time shall the substance and content of the Khutab (Sermons) contradict or contravene Article XIV* of the constitution of the Muslim Students' Association of the University of Michigan-Dearborn.

Section 5: The Khatib (Deliverer of the Sermon and Prayer Leader) shall abide by the mechanics of performing Salat al-Jum’ah as determined by one of the four major schools of Islamic jurisprudence (i.e. Maliki, Hanifi, Shafi’i, Hanbali.)

[*Quoting the constitution of the Muslim Students' Association of the University of Michigan-Dearborn:

Article XIV—“Adam X” Clause

Section 1: MSA-UMD is open to anyone willing to abide by the constitution of the Muslim Students' Association of the University of Michigan-Dearborn.

Section 2: At all times, members of MSA-UMD will maintain respect and proper etiquettes of interaction and communication, even in the event of conflict, disagreement, or organizational duress.

Section 3: Differences of theology and belief exist within the Sunni and Shi’a Muslim populations of the University of Michigan-Dearborn. While a level of respectful disagreement is to be expected, at no time will members of MSA-UMD countenance the specific condemnation of any theological tradition.

Section 4: In essence, all of humanity is a child of Adam, and we must strive to unite on our similarities, despite the presence of differences. MSA-UMD shall strive to create an environment in which the broadest collection of Muslim traditions can cooperate on events and activities that stress the unity of similarity, while mitigating the divisive potential of disagreements.]