Wahtani Ajuma : In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Message for the Mosque (cont’d)

Allah created the earth for man to live on and to worship Him, and sing praises to the Almighty. For all that He has done for him. The Prophet Mouhammed (SAWS) stated:”

All the clean places on this earth where you can pray is a mosque”.

It is stated in many hadiths. It is narrated by Abu said Khudri that the Prophet (SAWS) said:

“The whole earth is a mosque (to pray on) except a graveyard and a toilet.” Allah’s messenger, the Prophet (SAWS) said:” The direction between the east and the West is a Qiblah. Reported by Tumidhi and Al-Bukhari. According to Ibu Umar, the Prophet (SAWS) said: “It is forbidden to pray at seven places: - a dump, a slaughter house, a graveyard, the middle of the path, a bathroom, and where camels sit at a watering place and the top (roof) of the Kaaba”.

The first mosque built by the Prophet (SAWS) in medina is called Masjud Khuba. It was a meeting of worship with the Sahabas. Allah was satisfied with the way they maintain the mosque and even praised them in the Holy Quran.

Stated in Sura Tamba V.108-109:” There is a mosque whose foundation was laid from the first day on piety: it is more worthy of thy standing forth (for prayer) there in. In it are men who love to be purified: and Allah loveth those who make themselves pure. Whose then is the best? - he that layeth his foundation on piety to Allah and His good pleasure? - or he that layeth his foundation on an undermined sand - chiff.

Ready to crumble to pieces? And it doth crumble to pieces with him, into the fire of Hell.

And Allah guideth not people that do wrong”.

After Prophet (SAWS) there where some mosques who follow the teachings of the Prophet Mouhammed (SAWS) to his Sahabas during his time. Among them is Al-Azhar Sheriff in Cairo, Egypt. It is not only a mosque, but a school is included, whatever man has to know about this earth and between him and Allah is taught there. Each and every country has send someone to study in Al-Azhar.

Those students gain a lot of knowledge. After their return they were able to teach their people.

Another well-known place is Mecca and Medina where Islamic Scholars came from - Zitouna University in Tunis. Bani Umaiyata in Damascus Syria respectively.

The scholars who graduated from these schools spread the message of the Prophet (SAWS) throughout the whole world. Allah stated that these scholars are the preachers to lead people in the right direction. Sura Anbuyai V.73: “And we made them leaders, guiding (men) by our command, and we inspired them to do good deeds, to establish regular prayers. And to give Zakat and they constantly served us (and us only).

“There is no service on earth that should prevent them from answering Allah’s call. Sura Ahzab states in V.23-24: “Among the believers are men who have been true to their covenant with Allah of them some have died and some (still) wait: But they have never changed (their determination) in the least:

The Allah may reward the men of truth for their truth, and punish the Hypocrites if that be His will, or turn to them in mercy: for Allah is oft-forgiving, most merciful”.

The Almighty owns all the mosques on this planet. The role of the Imams in those mosques is to lead the daily prayers and preach the word of Allah to the worshippers.

Surajinn V.18:” And the places of worship are for Allah (alone) so invoke not anyone along with Allah.” There is nobody who has the right to prevent any worshippers from entering the mosque to perform his prayers. One can pray in any mosque that the prefers.

Sura Baqara V.114-145 states: “And who is more unjust than he who forbids that in places for the worship of Allah, his name should be celebrated? Whose Zeal Is (in fact) to ruin them it was not fitting that such should themselves enter them except in fear. For them there is nothing but disgrace in this world, and in the world to come, an exceeding torment”. To Allah belong the East and the West: Whithersoever ye turn, there is Allah’s face, for Allah is All- embracing.

All knowing.”

The names chosen for the mosques is for identification, because there are many mosques, but not for ownership.

During the Prophet’s time the mosque was their parliment. He used to receive guests, perform marriages, solve differences between his people, help the poor and the needy. Any mosque that is built because of Allah, should emulate the Prophet Mouhammed (SAWS). In the mosque, there should be space to teach children different skills, like sewng. The mosque is a place to solve problems and not to create it.

The Prophet used to choose learned scholars who are always in the mosque to preach to the worshippers. Sura Tauba V.18 states: “The mosque of Allah shall be visited and maintained by such as believe in Allah and the last Day, establish regular prayers, And pay Zakat, and fear None (at all)accept Allah. It is they who are expected to be on true guidance.

When building a mosque, one should seek the reward of Allah and not to be praised. Allah stated: “There are some people who work a lot on earth, but will end up with nothing, because it was not done for the Almighty. Sura Furhan V.23 states:” And we shall turn to whatever deeds they did (in this life), and we shall make sure Kahf V.103-104: “Say: shall we tell you of those who lose most in respect of their deeds? Those whose efforts have been wasted in this life, while they thought that they were acquiring good by their works?

To be continued