of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful.

Praise be to God, the King, the Holy, the Great, the Knower. He has
opened our hearts through the blessing of Islam. He has made Friday the
best of days. We testify that there is no God but God, the One, without
partner. This confession saves those who make it from danger and from
darkness. We testify that our Lord Muhammad is His servant and His
Apostle sent to all mankind. May the mercy and peace of God be on him,
his descendants and on his Companions. O men! O believers of God! I
advise you and my own soul thus: "Obey God!" Know, O servants of God!
that when Friday commences the angels assemble in the fourth heaven,
and Gabriel, (on whom be peace) is the Mu,azzin, Mika,il the Khatib,
Israfil the Imam and 'Izra,il the Mukabbir[206] and all the angels join
in the Namaz. When it is over Gabriel says: "I give the reward due to
me as Mu,azzin to the Mu,azzins of the sect of Islam;" Mika,il: "I give
mine to the Khatibs;" Israfil: "I give mine to the Imams;" 'Izra,il: "I
give mine to the Mukabbirs." The angels say: "We give ours to the
company of the Muslims." The Prophet said: "The night and day of Friday
last twenty-four hours, and each hour God releases a thousand souls
from hell. Whosoever makes 'ghusl' on Friday, God will give him for
every hair on his body the reward of ten good deeds. Whosoever dies on
a Friday meets with the reward of a martyr."

Certainly the best and most eloquent speech is the Holy Quran, the Word
of God,--the King, the Great, the Knower. His word is true and
righteous. When thou readest the Quran say: "O God! protect me from
cursed Satan."

In the name of God the Compassionate, the Merciful.

"When ye are summoned to prayer on the day of the assembly, haste to
the commemoration of God and quit your traffic. This, if ye knew it,
will be best for you. And when the prayer is ended, then disperse
yourselves abroad and go in quest of the bounties of God; and that it
may be well with you, oft remember God. But when they get a sight of
merchandize or sport, they disperse after, and leave thee standing
alone. Say: 'God hath in reserve what is better than sport or wares.
God is the best provider.'" (Sura lxii. 9-11.) God {203} by means of
the Holy Quran will bless us and you. And by its verses and teaching
will reward us an