Friday Prayer & Mobilization
Abstract: The Quranic command to “mobilize in the cause of God” as specified in 4:89 isn’t limited to warfare. The Arabic term (yuhājirū) refers to emigration—symbolizing physically moving in the cause of God, and public allegiance with the believers, and not just battle. Verses 9:38-49 and 60:1 demonstrate that mobilization encompasses spiritual, financial, and ideological commitments. Even 9:122 affirms non-combat mobilization through religious study and informing beleivers upon their return. In short, to “mobilize” in God’s cause means to actively prioritize Him through action, sacrifice, and sincerity, not just by going to war, which makes acts like hastening to make it to the Friday Prayer (62:9) a direct act of mobilization per the verses of the Quran.
Some claim that when the Quran says, “mobilize along with you in the cause of God,” as in verse 4:89, it refers strictly to participation in physical combat. By this logic, acts like attending the Friday Congregational Prayer would not qualify as “mobilization.” However, both the dictionary definition of the term and the Quran’s broader usage point to a much wider and deeper principle.
The standard definitions of “mobilize” include not just the preparation for military action, but also encouraging people to act in a concerted way for a cause, bringing resources into action to achieve a goal, or making something capable of movement. All of these definitions imply that mobilization can take physical, social, financial, or spiritual forms—not just military.
[4:89] They wish that you disbelieve as they have disbelieved, then you become equal. Do not consider them friends, unless they mobilize along with you in the cause of God. If they turn against you, you shall fight them, and you may kill them when you encounter them in war. You shall not accept them as friends, or allies.
وَدّوا لَو تَكفُرونَ كَما كَفَروا فَتَكونونَ سَواءً فَلا تَتَّخِذوا مِنهُم أَولِياءَ حَتّىٰ يُهاجِروا فى سَبيلِ اللَّهِ فَإِن تَوَلَّوا فَخُذوهُم وَاقتُلوهُم حَيثُ وَجَدتُموهُم وَلا تَتَّخِذوا مِنهُم وَلِيًّا وَلا نَصيرًا
This is consistent with the Quran’s own language. In 4:89, the word translated by Rashad Khalifa as “mobilize” is yuhājirū ( يُهَاجِرُوا ), which comes from the root hijrah—meaning emigration or to physically depart. The verse commands believers not to accept former enemies as friends unless they physically move “in the cause of God.” The condition here is not fighting, but making a public, sacrificial, and shift of allegiance with the believers over worldly affairs. That’s why in 8:72, we find the same root word—hājarū—used in reference to those who emigrated and strove with their money and lives. It clarifies that those who do not make that move—whether literal or ideological—are not owed full support.
[8:72] Surely, those who believed, and emigrated, and strove with their money and their lives in the cause of GOD, as well as those who hosted them and gave them refuge, and supported them, they are allies of one another. As for those who believe, but do not emigrate with you, you do not owe them any support, until they do emigrate. However, if they need your help, as brethren in faith, you shall help them, except against people with whom you have signed a peace treaty. GOD is Seer of everything you do.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَهَاجَرُوا۟ وَجَـٰهَدُوا۟ بِأَمْوَٰلِهِمْ وَأَنفُسِهِمْ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَاوَوا۟ وَّنَصَرُوٓا۟ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَآءُ بَعْضٍ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَلَمْ يُهَاجِرُوا۟ مَا لَكُم مِّن وَلَـٰيَتِهِم مِّن شَىْءٍ حَتَّىٰ يُهَاجِرُوا۟ وَإِنِ ٱسْتَنصَرُوكُمْ فِى ٱلدِّينِ فَعَلَيْكُمُ ٱلنَّصْرُ إِلَّا عَلَىٰ قَوْمٍۭ بَيْنَكُمْ وَبَيْنَهُم مِّيثَـٰقٌ وَٱللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ
[8:73] Those who disbelieved are allies of one another. Unless you keep these commandments, there will be chaos on earth, and terrible corruption.
وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَآءُ بَعْضٍ إِلَّا تَفْعَلُوهُ تَكُن فِتْنَةٌ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَفَسَادٌ كَبِيرٌ
[8:74] Those who believed and emigrated, and strove in the cause of GOD, as well as those who hosted them and gave them refuge, and supported them, these are the true believers. They have deserved forgiveness and a generous recompense.
وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَهَاجَرُوا۟ وَجَـٰهَدُوا۟ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَاوَوا۟ وَّنَصَرُوٓا۟ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ هُمُ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ حَقًّا لَّهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌ وَرِزْقٌ كَرِيمٌ
[8:75] Those who believed afterwards, and emigrated, and strove with you, they belong with you. Those who are related to each other shall be the first to support each other, in accordance with GOD’s commandments. GOD is fully aware of all things.
وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ مِنۢ بَعْدُ وَهَاجَرُوا۟ وَجَـٰهَدُوا۟ مَعَكُمْ فَأُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ مِنكُمْ وَأُو۟لُوا۟ ٱلْأَرْحَامِ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلَىٰ بِبَعْضٍ فِى كِتَـٰبِ ٱللَّهِ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمٌۢ
This indicates that those who physically join the believers by abandoning other priorities makes them as one of the believers. Now let’s look at this in the context of the Friday Congregational Prayer. In 62:9, believers are told: “When the Congregational Prayer is announced on Friday, you shall hasten to the commemoration of God and drop all business.”
[62:9] O you who believe, when the Congregational Prayer (Salat Al-Jumu’ah) is announced on Friday, you shall hasten to the commemoration of GOD, and drop all business. This is better for you, if you only knew.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِذَا نُودِىَ لِلصَّلَوٰةِ مِن يَوْمِ ٱلْجُمُعَةِ فَٱسْعَوْا۟ إِلَىٰ ذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ وَذَرُوا۟ ٱلْبَيْعَ ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ
[62:10] Once the prayer is completed, you may spread through the land to seek GOD’s bounties, and continue to remember GOD frequently, that you may succeed.
فَإِذَا قُضِيَتِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةُ فَٱنتَشِرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَٱبْتَغُوا۟ مِن فَضْلِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱذْكُرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ كَثِيرًا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ
This is action is clearly a sign of mobilization. The believer leaves behind profit and worldly occupation to physically and spiritually respond to God’s call. It involves physical movement, economic sacrifice, and prioritizing divine duty. It perfectly aligns with the broader, dictionary-correct sense of the term “mobilize” as they are mobilizing with both their money and their lives in the cause of God.
[4:100] Anyone who emigrates in the cause of GOD will find on earth great bounties and richness. Anyone who gives up his home, emigrating to GOD and His messenger, then death catches up with him, his recompense is reserved with GOD. GOD is Forgiver, Most Merciful.
وَمَن يُهَاجِرْ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ يَجِدْ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ مُرَٰغَمًا كَثِيرًا وَسَعَةً وَمَن يَخْرُجْ مِنۢ بَيْتِهِۦ مُهَاجِرًا إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ ثُمَّ يُدْرِكْهُ ٱلْمَوْتُ فَقَدْ وَقَعَ أَجْرُهُۥ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا
Even verses that use the Arabic word infirū (انفِروا)—more directly associated with military movement—point to a spectrum of mobilization. For example, 9:41 speaks of striving with money and life, not just warfare. Additionally, when we read the verses in context, we see that mobilizing is not limited to the context of war, but can also apply to a much broader act of striving in the cause of God. For example, 9:38-47 equates mobilization with not being sedentary or choosing the worldly life over the life of the Hereafter.
[9:38] O you who believe, when you are told, “Mobilize in the cause of GOD,” why do you become heavily attached to the ground? Have you chosen this worldly life in place of the Hereafter? The materials of this world, compared to the Hereafter, are nil. [9:39] Unless you mobilize, He will commit you to painful retribution and substitute other people in your place; you can never hurt Him in the least. GOD is Omnipotent.
Better Believers Strive in the Cause of God
[9:41] You shall readily mobilize, light or heavy, and strive with your money and your lives in the cause of GOD. This is better for you, if you only knew.
The Sedentary
[9:42] If there were a quick material gain, and a short journey, they would have followed you. But the striving is just too much for them. They will swear by GOD: “If we could, we would have mobilized with you.” They thus hurt themselves, and GOD knows that they are liars. [9:43] GOD has pardoned you: why did you give them permission (to stay behind), before you could distinguish those who are truthful from the liars? [9:44] Those who truly believe in GOD and the Last Day do not ask your permission to evade the opportunity to strive with their money and their lives. GOD is fully aware of the righteous. [9:45] The only people who wish to be excused are those who do not really believe in GOD and the Last Day. Their hearts are full of doubt, and their doubts cause them to waver. [9:46] Had they really wanted to mobilize, they would have prepared for it thoroughly. But GOD disliked their participation, so He discouraged them; they were told, “Stay behind with those who are staying behind.” [9:47] Had they mobilized with you, they would have created confusion, and would have caused disputes and divisions among you. Some of you were apt to listen to them. GOD is fully aware of the transgressors. [9:48] They sought to spread confusion among you in the past, and confounded the matters for you. However, the truth ultimately prevails, and GOD’s plan is carried out, in spite of them. [9:49] Some of them would say, “Give me permission (to stay behind); do not impose such a hardship on me.” In fact, they have thus incurred a terrible hardship; Hell is surrounding the disbelievers.
9:81 Additionally demonstrates that the opposite of those who mobilize are the sedentary, and they are ones who hate to strive with their money and lives, which is the complete opposite of one who hastens to the Congregational Prayer on Friday.
[9:81] The sedentary rejoiced in their staying behind the messenger of God, and hated to strive with their money and their lives in the cause of God. They said, “Let us not mobilize in this heat!” Say, “The fire of Hell is much hotter,” if they could only comprehend.
This is also echoed in the following verse, where if the messenger commands them to move, they are obligated to move. This again is not limited to war, but can constitute any command of mobilization coming from God’s messenger.
[24:53] They swear by GOD, solemnly, that if you commanded them to mobilize, they would mobilize. Say, “Do not swear. Obedience is an obligation. GOD is fully Cognizant of everything you do.”
60:1 is another verse that clearly shows that mobilization is not limited to military mobilization, but simply striving in the cause of God, seeking God’s approval. This dismantles the idea that mobilizing “in the cause of God” is limited to military contexts. Instead, it points to the broader Quranic principle: to mobilize is to rise, shift, and commit oneself wholly to God’s cause—whether in battle, study, emigration, or ideological clarity.
[60:1] O you who believe, you shall not befriend My enemies and your enemies, extending love and friendship to them, even though they have disbelieved in the truth that has come to you. They persecute the messenger, and you, just because you believe in God, your Lord. If you mobilize to struggle in My cause, seeking My blessings, how can you secretly love them? I am fully aware of everything you conceal, and everything you declare. Those among you who do this have indeed strayed off the right path.
More telling, 9:122 affirms that not all believers must mobilize in battle—some should devote themselves to learning and teaching the religion, which is clearly non-combatant but still considered a vital mobilization in God’s cause.
[9:122] When the believers mobilize, not all of them shall do so. A few from each group shall mobilize by devoting their time to studying the religion. Thus, they can pass the knowledge on to their people when they return, that they may remain religiously informed.
وَمَا كَانَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ لِيَنفِرُوا۟ كَآفَّةً فَلَوْلَا نَفَرَ مِن كُلِّ فِرْقَةٍ مِّنْهُمْ طَآئِفَةٌ لِّيَتَفَقَّهُوا۟ فِى ٱلدِّينِ وَلِيُنذِرُوا۟ قَوْمَهُمْ إِذَا رَجَعُوٓا۟ إِلَيْهِمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَحْذَرُونَ
In light of this, reducing mobilization to warfare alone overlooks the richness of the Arabic and the Quran’s moral vision. The Quran encourages believers to shift, strive, sacrifice, and move toward God in whatever way their situation allows. This can be through emigration, study, prayer, economic prioritization, or even battle. All are valid forms of responding to God’s call to mobilize.
In conclusion, the believer is not just a soldier. He is someone who moves in God’s path—sacrificing, reprioritizing, and engaging with sincerity. Whether it is dropping business for Friday prayer, aligning publicly with truth, seeking knowledge, or responding to a military threat, each of these acts represents a different face of the same principle: mobilizing in the cause of God.
Appendix:
Other examples of Rashad using the term to mobilize outside of war:
In the video “The Computer Speaks | Let Us Unite, New Era, The Human Factor” at the14min 20sec mark, he states:
“(14:19) One of Dr. Graham’s favorite statements is, I know I am going to heaven. (14:26) Well, I have news for Dr. Graham. (14:29) He will see heaven only if he repents and reverses the mobilization of millions of people against Jesus Christ and the teachings of Jesus Christ.”
In the sermon, “Miraculous Date of Discovery, Muhammed’s Tough Times, Dawn Prayer, Dropouts | Rashad Khalifa” at the 7min 5sec mark, Rashad stated:
(7:05) I also went to the publications in Egypt where I had written about the miracle, and we put (7:11) it in the biggest, God mobilized all kinds of forces, we put it in the biggest magazines (7:17) that have the dates on it, the Hijrah dates and the regular dates. (7:23) And I was able to pin down the time of the revelation of the miracle to one month. (7:30) When the number 19, as the common denominator throughout the Quran, became a reality, that (7:37) was January 1974. (7:48) And this corresponded to the last month, this is the first month of 1974, corresponds to (7:56) the last month of 1393.
