Since this prayer requires more than one person and cannot validly be performed by one alone, know that reason already knows that God has an essential oneness that bears no relation to what contingent beings require. We have mentioned it, and the rational person knows it. It is impossible for reason to comprehend the existence of the world on the basis of this oneness. Friday prayer thus obliges reason to return to considering what the contingent being requires as regards the existence of the One who possesses this oneness. It considers Him as a deity who calls for one who takes Him as a deity. This is another kind of knowledge that is valid only by virtue of gathering, here the combining and ordering of proofs. Friday prayer therefore becomes obligatory for the reason that characterizes the rational person.
Since woman is deficient in intellect and religion, the intellect she lacks is the understanding of this essential oneness. Friday prayer is therefore obligatory for the man, which here means joining knowledge of that oneness to knowledge of Him as a deity. The woman’s intellect falls short of knowing that oneness, so she is not obliged to join it to the knowledge of God as a deity.
(Servanthood and Combining the Perspectives)
As for the enslaved person for whom the obligation of Friday prayer falls away according to one opinion, he corresponds to the servant who is aware that God compels him even in his choosing. The reality of the matter is that the servant is compelled in his choosing. Since he cannot bring freedom and servanthood together, Friday prayer is not obligatory for him.
Everyone we have mentioned or will mention as exempt from the obligation of Friday prayer performs it if he is present.
Notlar
Translator’s note TN1899-1: Jumʿah (“Friday prayer”) is linked here to jamʿ, gathering. Its inward analogue is the combining of distinct kinds of knowledge or elements of an argument. The passage applies its generalization about women to this analogy and gives Mary and Āsiyah as exceptions in the next page.
