– Khan Tahir
Over the past several days, there has been a lot of discussion about “52 Fridays and one Holi.” The person who has brought this topic into the limelight is Circle Officer Anuj Chaudhary from Sambhal.
Anuj Chaudhary has clearly stated that there are 52 Fridays in a year and only one Holi. He said, on the day of Holi, some people consume bhang and roam around on the streets. To avoid any accidents, Muslims should stay at home with their children.
Imagine the scenario where, after performing Taraweeh prayers, you turn on the TV to relax for a while, and breaking news appears in front of you. The news announces that tomorrow everyone will celebrate a festival by drinking alcohol, and drunk people will be out on the streets. If you do not want to get hurt, if you do not want to be humiliated by drunkards, then do not go outside. Arrange for Sehri at home, make arrangements for Iftar at home as well. If your children go to school, keep them at home for a day. If you have a job, don’t go to work, one day’s salary is deducted, but don’t go out.
How would you feel after hearing this breaking news? This is exactly how I felt after hearing Anuj Chaudhary’s statement.
But can a Circle Officer make such a controversial statement? Upon investigation, it was found that a similar statement was made almost seven years ago by the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath.
When someone uses your statement without your name or reference, violating copyright, and becomes famous, how can you step forward? Perhaps thinking along these lines, Yogi Adityanath has given full support to Anuj Chaudhary. He further clarified the statement by saying that Muslims can skip Friday prayers or, if they wish to pray, they can do so at home – going to the mosque is not necessary.
It would have been better if the Uttar Pradesh administration had encouraged Muslims to visit mosques for worship during the holy month of Ramadan and on the holy day of Friday, assuring that the UP Police would maintain law and order. However, this did not happen. Those who were supposed to protect Article 25 (right to freedom of religion) have instead become its exploiters.
Let us examine the truth behind the statements made by Yogi Adityanath and Anuj Chaudhary.
The importance of Friday can be understood from the fact that there is a chapter in the Quran, the holy book of Muslims, named “Al-Jumu’ah” (The Friday Prayer). In it, Allah says:
يٰۤاَيُّهَا الَّذِيۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡۤا اِذَا نُوۡدِىَ لِلصَّلٰوةِ مِنۡ يَّوۡمِ الۡجُمُعَةِ فَاسۡعَوۡا اِلٰى ذِكۡرِ اللّٰهِ وَذَرُوا الۡبَيۡعَ ؕ ذٰ لِكُمۡ خَيۡرٌ لَّـكُمۡ اِنۡ كُنۡتُمۡ تَعۡلَمُوۡنَ
“O you who have believed, when [the adhan] is called for the prayer on the day of Jumu’ah [Friday], then proceed to the remembrance of Allah and leave trade. That is better for you, if you only knew.” (Quran 62:9)
As for the idea of forming a congregation at home for Friday prayers, it is a condition that at least four men must be present. On one hand, Yogi Adityanath promotes the slogan “Ham Do, Hamare Do” and on the other, he suggests forming Friday congregations at home. This is akin to tying someone’s feet with a strong rope and then asking them to win a gold medal in a race.
In the movie Sholay, Gabbar had a famous dialogue: “Holi kab hai? Kab hai Holi?” But a more important question today is: “Holi kiya hai? Kiya hai Holi?”.
To find the answer to this question, when we studied the Atharva Veda, Sama Veda, Rig Veda, and Yajur Veda, we were disappointed because Holi is not mentioned in these texts. Moving forward, we studied the Puranas, Mahabharata, Ramayana, and Upanishads, but again, we found no mention of Holi. Similarly, when we examined Manusmriti, Arthashastra, and Dharmashastra, we discovered that Holi is not mentioned in these texts either.
There are some popular stories from the Vedic period, such as one that suggests when the weather changed, people would welcome it by applying colours, and from there, Holi began to be celebrated. There are a few other similar stories as well.
To those who find it difficult to attend Friday prayers,
to those who hesitate to go to the mosque,
I would humbly request them to try to understand the importance and virtues of Friday. Perhaps then they will wish that Friday comes not just 52 times a year but 152, 252, or even 352 times a year.
To those who hesitate to visit mosques,
I would request them to visit and observe mosques. Perhaps then they will stand on platforms like India Today Conclave and say, “It is not just about going to the mosque, but staying in the mosque is essential. Leaving the mosque is not necessary.”
We pray to Allah to guide us all.
Ameen.
