Third page of the Sulu oration for the feast of Ramadan
Photo by Martin. (About two-thirds original size.)
The Sulu Friday Oration
IN THE NAME OF GOD THE COMPASSIONATE AND MERCIFUL. TO GOD BE ALL THE PRAISE AND GLORY. THERE IS NO OTHER GOD BUT GOD
This I repeat a thousand times more than others. God is greater, far greater, than He is thought to be. I testify that there is no God but God alone. God is one, and only one. He has no partner. God is the owner of the heavens and the earth and all that is therein. God is owner of all.
I testify that Mohammed is His servant and His apostle, sent by Him to guide all people to the true religion, and that His religion may thereby be exalted above all others, though the unfaithful and the worshipers of many gods may reject it. We ask Thee, O God, to bless Mohammed and all his descendants and bestow on them all the blessings that can be named and all the blessings that can be forgotten. I advise ye, O people, and myself, servants of God, with fear of God which is the sign of faith and God’s command to us all. Fellow-Mohammedans, the mercy of God be upon you. Friday is the chief of all days. The apostle of God said: “The day Friday is the chief of all days.” It is greater than the day of Ramadan and the day of el-Adha and the day of Ashura.
Charity on Friday is preferable to all charity. Good deeds done on Friday are preferable to all good deeds, and evil done on Friday is the greatest evil that can be done. The noblest and best men have testified to its greatness over other days. It is the beauty of all days and years. It is a pilgrimage that the poor can make once every seven days. Its observance intercedes for the offender before the King of Unbounded Knowledge.
It has been told of the chosen prophet that he said: “God registers the name of the person who leaves out three successive Fridays, on a tablet on which he keeps the number of liars.” The prophet said that he who leaves out three successive Fridays shall have written on his forehead when the day of judgment comes: “He has no hope of the mercy of God.” May God bless us and give us all peace.