Ruling on prisoners praying Jumu’ah when they are in their cells

Key word - {*Friday Prayers:-}
- - -

What is the ruling on prisoners praying Jumu'ahand praying in
congregation behind one imaam who stands in front of them, when they
are in their cells, via loudspeakers.
Praise be to Allaah.
The Committee of Senior Scholars issued a fatwa stating that they did
not agree with prisoners praying Jumu'ah or in congregation behind one
imaam in Jumu'ah or congregational prayers, and following him via
loudspeakers whilst they are in their prison cells, because they are
not obliged to pray Jumu'ah since they cannot go to the prayer, and
for other reasons.
But anyone who is able toattend Jumu'ah prayers inthe prison mosque –
if there is a mosque there – should pray it in congregation. Otherwise
aperson is not obliged to pray Jumu'ah and he should pray Zuhr
instead. The group in each cell should pray the five daily prayers in
congregation inside their cell if it is not possible for them to
gather in the mosque or in one place.
Majmoo' Fataawa wa Maqaalaat Mutanawwi'ah li Samaahat al-Shaykh
al-'Allaamah 'Abd al-'Azeez ibn 'Abd-Allaahibn Baaz (may Allaah have
mercy on him), part 12, p. 345

3a] Acts of worship which are prescribed on Fridays

Key word - {*Friday Prayers:-}
- - -

3a]
He also said:
The scholars said that the reason why it is forbiddento single out
Friday for fasting is that Friday is a day of du'aa', dhikr and
worship, such as ghusl, going early to the prayer, waiting for the
prayer, listening to the khutbah and reciting a lot of dhikr
afterwards, because Allaah says (interpretationof the meaning):
"Then when the (Jumu'ah)Salaah (prayer) is ended, you may disperse
throughthe land, and seek the Bounty of Allaah (by working), and
remember Allaah much"
[al-Jumu'ah 62:10]
And there are other acts of worship to be done on this day. So it is
preferablenot to fast then, as this will help a person to perform
these duties in anenergetic manner and enjoy them without feeling
bored or tired. Thisis like the pilgrim on the day of 'Arafah in
'Arafah, because the Sunnah is for him not to fast on that day for the
same reason… This is the reason for not allowing singling out Friday
for fasting. And it was said that the reason is so that people will
not go to extremes in venerating it as happenedin the case of
Saturday. But this view is weak, because on that day we offer Jumu'ah
prayer and do other acts of worship which are a kind of veneration.
And it was said that the reason for itsprohibition is so that people
would not think that this was obligatory. This is also a weak view
because it is encouraged to fast on Mondays and there was no fear that
anyone would think it was obligatory. No attention should be paid to
this far-fetched view. The same argument is applicable in the case of
fasting the day of 'Arafah and the day of 'Ashoora', etc. The correct
view is that which we have stated above.
And Allaah knows best.

3] Acts of worship which are prescribed on Fridays

Key word - {*Friday Prayers:-}
- - -

3]
I know that Friday has many virtues. Could you tell me some acts of
worship that I can do on this day?.
Praise be to Allaah.
Yes, Friday is a good day; there are many ahaadeeth which speak ofits
virtues. See Question no. 9211 .
There are many acts of worship which are prescribed for the Muslim to
do on this day. These include:
1 – Salaat al-Jumu'ah (Friday prayer)
Allaah says (interpretationof the meaning):
"O you who believe (Muslims)! When the call is proclaimed for the
Salaah (prayer) on Friday (Jumu'ah prayer), come tothe remembrance of
Allaah [Jumu'ah religious talk (Khutbah) and Salaah (prayer)] and
leave off business (and every other thing). That is better for you if
you did but know!"
[al-Jumu'ah 62:9]
Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allaahhave mercy on him) said in Zaad al-Ma'aad (1/376):
Friday prayer is one of themost important obligations in Islam, and
one of the greatest gatherings of the Muslims.Gathering on Friday is
more important and moreobligatory than any other gathering apart from
'Arafah. Whoever neglectsit, Allaah will place a seal on his heart.
It was narrated from Abu'l-Ja'd al-Damari – who was a companion of the
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) – that the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Whoeverneglects
three Jumu'ahs, Allaah will place a seal on his heart."
Narrated by Abu Dawood, 1052; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in
Saheeh Abi Dawood, 928
It was narrated from 'Abd-Allaah ibn 'Umar andAbu Hurayrah that they
heard the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) say on the minbar:
"Let people stop neglecting Jumu'ah, or Allaah will place a seal on
their hearts, then they will be among those who are neglectful."
Narrated by Muslim, 865.
2 – Making a lot of du'aa'.
On this day there is a timewhen a person's Lord will answer his du'aa'
– by Allaah's leave.
It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him)
that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) mentioned Friday and said: "On this day there is a time when no
Muslim stands and prays, asking Allaah for something, but Allaah will
grant him it" – and he gestured with his hands to indicate how short
that time is.
Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 893; Muslim, 852
3 – Reading Soorat al-Kahf.
It was narrated from Abu Sa'eed al-Khduri that the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Whoeverreads Soorat al-Kahf on
Friday, he will be illuminated with light between the two
Fridays."Narrated by al-Haakim; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in
Saheeh al-Targheeb, 836
4 – Sending a lot of blessings upon the Prophet (peace and blessings
of Allaah be upon him).
It was narrated from Aws ibn Aws that the Prophet (peace and blessings
of Allaah be upon him) said: "The best of your days is Friday. On that
day Adam (peace be upon him) was created; on that day he died; on that
day the Trumpet will be blown; and on that day all of creation will
swoon. So send a great deal of blessings upon me, for your blessings
will be shown to me." They said, "O Messenger of Allaah, how will our
blessings upon you be shown to you when you have turned to dust?" He
said, "Allaah has forbidden the earth to consume the bodies of the
Prophets, peace be upon them."
Narrated by Abu Dawood, 1047; classed as saheeh by Ibn al-Qayyim in
his comments on Sunan Abi Dawood, 4/273; classed assaheeh by
al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood, 925.
He said in 'Awn al-Ma'bood:
Friday is singled out because it is the best of days and the chosen
day. So there is an advantage to sending blessings uponhim on that day
that is not present on any other day.
Along with these virtues and acts of worship, the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) forbade singling out Friday for
fasting, or singling out thenight of Friday for doing acts of worship
that are not narrated in sharee'ah.
It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet(peace and blessings
of Allaah be upon him) said: "Do not single out the night of Friday
for qiyaamal-layl, and do not single out the day of Friday for
fasting, unless that is part of the habitual fasting of any one of
you."
(Narrated by Muslim, 1144).
Al-San'aani said in Subul al-Salaam:
This hadeeth indicates that it is haraam to single out the night of
Friday forworship or reading Qur'aan that is not one's regular custom,
apart from that which is indicated in the texts, such as reading
Soorat al-Kahf.
Al-Nawawi said:
This hadeeth clearly statesthat it is forbidden to single out the
night of Friday for prayer or the day of Friday for fasting. Itis
agreed (among the scholars) that this is makrooh.:->

Combination of aspirin,clopidogrel ineffective as stroke preventer: study

- Acombination of aspirin and clopidogrel, both common bloodthinners, does not prevent recurrence of a common type ofstroke, and may even pose serious risks, according to an international team of scientists.
Combining aspirin and clopidogrel (known commercially as Plavix) was thought to hold promise in preventing recurring of lacunar strokes by reducing the formation of clots in arteries supplying the brain.
Lacunar strokes, caused by narrowing of small blood vessels, are also known as small subcortical strokes, which account for about 25 percent of ischemic strokes.
However, in a study published at the end of last month, scientists found the two-drug combination did not significantly reduce the risk of recurrence of stroke, and evidently increased the risk of bleeding and death, compared to aspirin alone or aspirin combined with a placebo.
The study involved 3,020 patients from 82 sites in North America, Latin America, and Spain who were followed for several years, and the result waspublished in the New England Journal of Medicine.
"Previous randomized trials assessing the effect of clopidogrel alongside aspirin didnot show an overall increase in mortality, so our results are a bitsurprising," said Oscar Benavente, lead author of the study and professor of neurology from the University of British Columbia.
"The results of our research support the current guidelines for secondary stroke prevention: the use of either aspirin or clopidogrel, or the approved combination therapy of aspirin and dipyridamole (known commercially as Persantine)," Benavente said.