The Masjid Heart of the Muslim Community Maan M. Iskander Presented By www.dawahmemo.com

The Masjid: Heart of the Muslim Community Congregational Salah. Masjid in the Prophet’s Time & Islamic History. Etiquettes of the Masjid. Our Masajid Today. 12 Ways to Get Active in Your Masjid.

Introduction “this world is a paradise for the disbeliever, prison for the believer”, the only piece of Paradise of the believer in this world is the house of Allah. A believer out of the masjid is like a fish out of water.

Introduction Masjid is an essential part of a Muslim’s life in any situation. Muslims from different backgrounds, ethnicities, and schools of thought can be unified if they let the Divine blessings and brotherly ethos of the masjid guides them.

Congregational Salah Abdullah ibn Umar narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) said: “Salah in congregation is better than salah performed individually by twenty-seven degrees.” (Bukhari and Muslim) It reinforces the unity and cooperation of Muslims as it strengthens the ties of brotherhood among them.

Congregational Salah Allah praises and honors His houses on earth in the Quran: “In houses which Allah’s has ordered to be raised and that His names be mentioned therein; exalting Him within them in the morning and the evening. (Therein are) men whom neither commerce nor sale distracts from the remembrance of Allah and performed of salah and giving of zakah.” [24:36-37]

Masjid in the Prophet’s Time & Islamic History Praising this masjid, Allah said, “There is a masjid whose foundation was laid from the first day on piety; it is more worthy of the standing forth (for salah) therein. In it are men who love to be purified; and Allah loves those who make themselves pure.” [9:108]

Masjid in the Prophet’s Time & Islamic History Masajid have served historically and continue today to serve as the centers of intellectual, spiritual, and cultural enlightenment of the Muslim community.

Centers of Knowledge & Education Universities, dedicated centers of higher learning, were the single greatest institutional of the great Islamic civilization. This combination of worship and knowledge, of nourishment of the soul and mind at the same place is remarkable: a hallmark of the true Islamic civilization.

Legal & Administrative Role Guarantor of the Unity of the Islamic Ummah. Consultation & Council.

Guarantor of the Unity of the Islamic Ummah Bringing together all the believers for regular salah, and imparting the spirit of brotherhood, cooperation and discipline, it makes the Muslims a unity, an army of Allah. people who frequent the masajid are often active in the service of the community.

Consultation & Council The Prophet’s masjid served the role of today’s parliament or congress. Most of the consultative councils were held in the Masjid, such as the ones held before the battles of Uhud, Al-Ahzab.

Social Role & Service Housing The Poor. Collection & Distribution of Charity.

Housing the Poor The Prophet’s Masjid served as home and shelter for guests and travelers. Abu-Hurirah and other poor Companions known as ahl-us-Suffa lived in the courtyard of the Prophet’s Masjid.

Collection & Distribution of Charity The wealthy members fulfilled their duties towards the poor and the needy. Zakat-ul-Fitr, booty, and donations from different regions were also brought to the Masjid for distribution.

Clinic & Hospital Pharmacies and dispensaries were located inside the masjid and the Muslim physicians treated patients and prescribed medications for them freely. Ahmed ibn Ibraheem Role.

ETIQUETTES OF THE MASJID Entering & Leaving the Masjid. Performing Two Rak’ahs as a Greeting to the Masjid. Straightening the Rows. Children in the Masjid.

Entering & Leaving the Masjid One of the supplications the Prophet used to make was: “In the name of Allah, I put my trust in Allah. There is no power or strength except with Allah.” (Abu Dawud and Tirmithi).

Entering & Leaving the Masjid When entering the masjid, one should begin with the right foot first and say, “O Allah, forgive me my sins and open for me the doors of your mercy.” when leaving the masjid, he should step out with the left foot first and say: “O Allah, forgive me my sins and open for me the doors of your bounty.”

Performing Two Rak’ahs as a Greeting to the Masjid The Prophet said, “When one of you enters the masjid, he should perform two rak’ahs before sitting down.” (Bukhari)

Straightening the Rows Before starting the salah, the congregation should stand in straight rows without leaving any gaps in between.

Children in the Masjid Parents should therefore allow their children to accompany them to the masjid so that they get used to the Islamic acts of worship and grow up with obedience to Allah. To show his concern for children, he used to say, “Verily, I start the salah intending to prolong it. But when I hear the crying of a child, I shorten it knowing how his crying disturbs his mother.” (Bukhari and Muslim).

OUR MASAJID TODAY Evaluate Your Masjid and Your Role in it. 12 Ways to Get Active in Your Local Masjid.

Evaluate Your Masjid and Your Role in it What relationship do you have with your local masjid ? What role do you play in your masjid? What do you think it means to not visit Allah as a guest when He calls you five times a day?

12 Ways to Get Active in Your Local Masjid

1. Be a Visitor visit your masjid for salah regularly. the Fajr and Isha salah are particularly important, according to sunnah.

2. Be a Minaret A minaret of the light of smiles, politeness, cordiality and concern for other visitors. Make your masjid a beloved place for the rest of your Muslim brothers you meet there.

3. Be a Student There must be more knowledgeable people than you in the masjid in one or more areas of Islamic knowledge.

4. Be a Teacher Being a teacher is even more beneficial role, because now you both give and take from other people.

5. Be a Follower The congregational salah are the best spiritual and mental exercise to teach us how to follow with discipline.

6. Be a Leader If you are fully confident that you can do a good job as a leader, do not deprive your community of your skills. Be extremely careful of selfishness, self-aggrandizement, or arrogance.

7. Be a Brother When praying in congregation, the people praying with you are your brothers. Praying in the company of the righteous is, therefore, an immense blessing.

8. Be a Helper Masjid is the best place to remember and practice the teaching of the Quran: “Help you one another in benevolence and piety, and do not help one another in sin and hostility.”

9. Be a Cleaner Cleaning the masjid is a great honor in the sight of Allah. The Prophet, insisted to pray upon the grave of a Companion who used to clean the masjid when he heard that the former had died.

10. Be a Donor Donate regularly to your masjid, even if it is little and even if you donate in many other causes. This increases your love for Allah and for the house of Allah, and decreases love of this world.

11. Be a Listener Be a good listener, for that is much more important and beneficial than being a good speaker.

12. Be a Speaker Your masjid always needs people who are skillful and confident in public speaking.

Conclusion More information is found on Al-Jumuah Magazine. Vol. 5/Issue 03. Maan M. Iskander Mobile: 055-802602 E-mail: maan.iskander@aramco.com