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Friday prayers in Bury, Lancs.

Today I attended Friday prayers at the mosque for the first time. I didn't participate in the prayers, but I was present, and the chairman of the mosque kindly interpreted for me. The mosque I attended was the Al-Mahdi Foundation in Bury (Shia Muslim). 

Friday prayers is the equivalent of the Christian Sunday morning service. In the UK and other similar countries, Friday prayers come in the middle of the working day on a Friday, which means that for many attendance represents a sacrifice, while others are prevented from attending. The whole thing lasts for just over an hour. 

Those attending prayers should have washed beforehand. There is a separate place for performing ablutions before worship. The procedure is more complex than thorough handwashing. It includes washing your mouth twice and expressing the intention to stand before Allah in prayer. 

Before people arrive, long sheets are laid out with pre-printed spaces for individual worshippers (instead of individual prayer mats). At Shia mosques, a coin-shaped piece of compressed earth is placed on each space so that worshippers prostrate on "soil" rather than artificial material. Incense was also lit, providing a subtle background scent in the hall. 

Friday prayers begin with a call to prayer in Arabic. In Muslim majority countries this might be announced from a minaret via loudspeaker, as we experienced in Turkey. In the UK the call to prayer is simply given within the mosque.  

The call to prayer is followed by the "khutba" which is a sermon addressed to the worshippers gathered. This lasted for about half an hour and included elements such as probing questions addressed to the worshippers assembled ("What have you learnt during the month of Muhurram?"), recalling historical events, and figures, such as the fourth Imam, denouncing hypocrites (historic and contemporary), and exhortations to give alms. At times the preacher was quite exercised emotionally. Those present appeared to listen attentively.  

After the "khutba" the preacher began to lead the congregational prayers. At the start of the "khutba" there were maybe 20+ people present. By the time the congregational prayers started (after the "khutba") there must have been 50-60 men and boys present.

The prayers was broken into 4 of so parts, and lasted about half an hour plus. The person leading the prayers (who had earlier delivered the "khutba") recited the prayers in Arabic and this was interspersed with various prostrations and other movements. Some of the phrases were discernable: "Allah is great," and "in the name of Allah the merciful" etc. At the relevant time, everyone prostrated together. On at least two occasions a set of prayers came to an end and people shook hands with those next to them, before proceeeding to the next part. There appeared to be an interlude for private prayer in the middle, when people prostrated at different times, one or two people from the congregation recited prayers, and a collection was taken. During the final set of prayers there appeared to be more congregational responses. 

At the very end the assembled congregation chanted in a way akin to Christian singing. The theme of this chant is the appearance of the Twelfth Imam along with Jesus Christ (the "prophet" Isa).   

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