MOSQUE AND FRIDAY ORATION IN LEBANESE MUSLIM SOCIETY

Abdallah H  SAYED

One of the most worthwhile aims in life is to make a contribution in growing, nourishing and strengthening the human knowledge. The present study is a definite contribution in this direction. Since the mosque is considered to be the heart of the Muslim societies; Friday oration is the Minbar (pulpit) to which Muslim attach great hopes; this study deals with both, the mosque and Friday oration in Lebanese Muslim Society for they witnessed a great conversion during the Lebanese civil war 1975, and played a significant role in mobilizing and making the Lebanese Muslim people more religiously oriented.

This study is situated in the context of sociological studies of Islam. It is a theoretical and empirical study. It consists of an introduction, five chapters and a conclusion. As to the theoretical and historical account of this study:

The First Chapter provides a general glance at Lebanon for this study is relevant to the Lebanese affair.

The Second Chapter deals with the First prayer (Jumah), the importance of this prayer in Islam, in the Quran and the tradition of the Prophet Mohammad, its stipulations, usages and proprieties.

The Third Chapter sheds light on the history of the mosque in Islam, it represents the ideal role of mosque when the political, religious and social function were not separated.

The Fourth Chapter is devoted to Friday oration, its importance in the Islamic societies, the prophet's way in addressing people, and how he used to deliver oration which was taken as an example to be followed by the Friday orators till the present time. The theoretical part of this chapter also reveals the principles which the Friday oration is based on.

As to the empirical side of this study, however, the second third, and fourth chapter contain the result of the field work relevant to Friday prayer, the mosque, and Friday oration in Lebanese Muslim Society.

The Fifth and last chapter deals with Islam and politics, since the subject we are dealing with is political in the first place. It contains the images of Islam prevalent in the west, the reality of the Islamic revival at the dawn of modern era. This chapter examines the concept of the Islamic State on three levels: Quran, the Prophet Mohammad, the Muslim Scholars and jurisprudents. This is because the Islamic State which was built by the Prophet on the base of the Quran is considered by all Muslims to be the ideal which inspires all those working for Islam, and they aspire to re-create it .