Masjid: the fortress of Islamic faith

A night view of Mohammad bin Abdulwahab Masjid in Doha. PICTURE: ThajudheenThe masjid is the fortress of faith; the guardian of virtues; the home of the pious; the meeting place of Muslims; the centre of consultation and mutual advice, and the first school from which the Muslim graduates. The masjid provides relief and respite to the needy and the distressed. Muslim armies sprang from the masjid and spread the message of Islam to all parts of the world within a short time.The masjid occupies a prominent place in Islam because prayer is the second most important pillar of Islam and the masjid is where it is performed. In fact, the word masjid is derived from the word for prostrate: Sajada. The masjid symbolises Islamic monotheism and the unity of the Muslim ummah. When the call to prayer is made five times a day, the community comes together in the congregational prayer and all Muslims regardless of their race, colour, social, and economic status stand before their Lord in response to His call to prosperity. The masjid has certain functions and etiquette which must be taken into consideration when attending it:a) Congregational prayers: Islam has made performing the prayer in congregation one of the most important duties of a Muslim. Abdullah Ibn Umar narrated that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: “Prayer in congregation is better than prayer performed individually by 27 degrees.” (Related by Al-Bukhari and Muslim). In addition, prayer performed in larger congregations and more distant masjids carries more reward.Thus, the masjid serves as a meeting place for Muslims where they get to know news of each other and the community at large. Congregational prayer obviously has many spiritual and social benefits. It reinforces the unity and co-operation of Muslims as it strengthens the ties of brotherhood among them. After the prayer, Muslims exchange greetings and inquire about one another’s well being. Thus, it becomes easy to notice community members who may be sick, in difficulty, or in need.b) Entering and leaving the masjid: When going  to the masjid, one is encouraged to proceed with calmness and humility. He should make supplications on his way. One of the supplications the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, used to make was: “In the name of Allah, I put my trust in Allah. There is no power or strength except with Allah.” (Related by Abu Dawud, Al-Tirmidhi and Al-Nasa’i). When entering the masjid, one should begin with the right foot first and say: “Oh Allah, forgive me my sins and open for me the doors of Your mercy.” Similarly, 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.”If a person enters the masjid when the prayer has already started, he should not rush to catch up as he might distract those in prayer. Once, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, noticed the sound of people rushing to join a prayer in progress and he said to them: “...When you come to the prayer, come with calmness and tranquillity. Perform whatever part of it you can (with the congregation) and complete what you have missed.” (Related by Al-Bukhari).c) Greeting others in the masjid: The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, stressed spreading the greeting of peace, “as-salamu alaykum,” at all times. He said: “You will not enter Paradise until you believe, and you will not believe until you love one another. Shall I direct you to something which if you do, you will love one another? Spread the greeting of peace among you.” (Related by Muslim). So, upon entering the masjid, it is appropriate to greet those who are already there.d) Performing two Rak’at as a greeting to the masjid: When one enters the masjid, it is a Sunnah to perform two rak’at - which serve as a greeting to the masjid - before sitting down. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: “When one of you enters the masjid, he should perform two rak’at before sitting down.” (Related by Al-Bukhari). However, if one enters the masjid after the iqamah (call for commencement of prayer) is made, he should not initiate any other prayer. On the other hand, if he begins a sunnah prayer and the iqamah is made before completing it, he may either proceed to finish it quickly, or discontinue and join the congregation. The Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: “If the iqamah is made, then no prayer other than the obligatory one should be performed.” (Related by Al-Bukhari and Muslim).e) Straightening the rows: Before starting the prayer, the congregation should stand in straight rows without leaving any gaps in between. The Prophet used to make sure that all the lines were in order and he said: “Verily, making the rows straight is part of the proper performing of prayer.” (Related by Al-Bukhari and Muslim). He also said: “Be close together and straighten your rows.” (Related by Al-Bukhari and Muslim). The rows symbolise the unity, equality and brotherhood of Muslims. There are no privileges or reserved places within the rows. Muslims of all races and nationalities - rich and poor, powerful and weak - stand next to each other in obedience to Allah. They stand shoulder to shoulder, face the same direction, and follow the same imam in unison.f) Distracting other people in the masjid: The Muslim, while in prayer is in private conversation with his Lord. It is therefore not permissible to distract him in any way. Disturbing someone praying even with audible recitation of the Qur’an is discouraged. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, heard people reciting the Qur’an aloud while others were praying and he said: “Verily, each one of you is in private conversation with his Lord. So, you should not disturb each other. And you are not to raise your voices against each other in the recitation.” (Related by Abu Dawud, Al-Nasa’i, Al-Bayhaqi, and Al-Hakim).On the other hand, Islam does not forbid engaging in lawful conversation in the masjid provided someone in prayer is not disturbed. Jabir Ibn Samurah, radhiallahu ‘anhu, narrated: “The Prophet would not rise from the place of the Fajr prayer until the sun had risen. And when it did, we would talk and laugh about the days of ignorance (pre-Islamic times) and he (the Prophet) would smile.” (Related by Muslim). Furthermore, it is permissible to lie down, sleep, eat and drink in the masjid. Abdullah Ibn Al-Harith reported: “During the time of the Messenger of Allah, we would eat meat and bread in the masjid.” (Related by Ibn Majah). But the sacredness of the masjid should always be borne in mind and hence it must never be misused.g) Maintaining the cleanliness of masjids: Many of the teachings and practices of Islam emphasise cleanliness and general hygiene. In the Qur’an, the believers are addressed to adorn themselves with their best clothes when going to the masjid. Allah says: “O children of Adam! Adorn yourselves fully with your best clothes to every place of worship,” (Al-A’raf, 7:31). masjids being houses of worship deserve  the utmost attention of every Muslim to make sure that they are free of any filth or offensive smell. Jabir reported that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: “Whoever eats garlic, onion, or leek should not come close to our masjid for the angels are harmed by what harms the children of Adam.” (Related by Al-Bukhari and Muslim). Another hadith states: “...whoever eats upon (onion and garlic) should suppress their odour by cooking them.” (Related by Muslim, Ahmad, and Al-Nasi’i).It must be noted that maintaining the masjid is the responsibility of every Muslim. Indeed, Muslims must safeguard the premises and property of the masjid better than even their personal belongings. There are several Ahadith indicating the importance of caring for the masjids. A’isha, radhiallahu ‘anha, reported: “He (the Prophet), ordered us to build the masjids in residential areas; to build them well and purify them.” (Related by Abu Dawud). In another Hadith, Anas Ibn Malik, radhiallahu ‘anhu, reported: “The rewards of my ummah were placed before me, even for removing a speck of dust from the masjid.” (Related by Abu Dawud, Al-Tirmidhi, and Ibn Khuzaymah).Children in the masjidChildren are leaders of the future and the bearers of Islam to posterity, and they must not be denied the blessings of the masjid which nurtures the Muslim mind. Islam pays utmost attention to the proper bringing of children, such that the virtuous Islamic morals and character are instilled in them at tender age. Usually, the formative years of the child are the most vital in shaping his future personality. Parents should therefore allow their children (male and female) to accompany them to the masjid so that they get used to the Islamic acts of worship and grow up with obedience to Allah.Children used to go to the masjid during the time of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, and he used to treat them kindly. Anas reported: “I have never seen anyone kinder to children than the Messenger of Allah.” (Related by Muslim). Also, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, used to take his grandsons to the masjid. Abu Hurairah reported: “The Prophet was delivering a sermon and Al-Hassan and Al-Hussayn (the Prophet’s grandsons) came wearing two red shirts and they were tripping while walking. The Prophet came down from the pulpit, picked them up and placed them in front of him. Then he said: “Allah and His Messenger have told the truth. Verily, your wealth and children are a trial. I looked to these two children walking and tripping, and I could not be patient, so I cut off my sermon and went to pick them up.” (Related by Abu Dawud, Al-Tirmidhi).To show his concern for children, he used to say: “Verily, I start the prayer intending to prolong it. But when I hear the crying of a child, I shorten it knowing how his crying disturbs his mother.” (Related by Al-Bukhari and Muslim).Training our children to attend the masjids with us is more crucial. Parents and elders should bear the children’s distractions as this is the only way to prepare our future generations for their responsibilities towards this religion. On the other hand, children should be taught to respect the masjid and observe propriety to the test of their ability. Child should be taught to identify with the masjid and take proper care of its property.Women and the masjidThe Islamic Shari’ah permits women to attend the masjid to benefit from the lectures, sermons, and lessons offered there. However, it is preferable for them to pray in their houses. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: “Do not prevent your women from coming to the masjid, but their houses are better for them.” (Related by abu Dawud). In another hadith, he said: “If the wife of one of you asks permission to go to the masjid, he must not prevent her.” (Related by Al-Bukhari and Muslim).However, women should dress modestly with hijab and should not use perfume when going out. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said to the women: “When one of you (women) comes to the masjid, she must not use perfume.” (Related by Muslim). Women used to attend the masjid during the time of the Prophet to learn about religious matters. The Prophet set special lessons for them and also tailored part of his sermons to address women’s issues - especially on Eid days (festivities).Today, Muslim women are in need of Islamic education more than ever before. Furthermore, the mother is regarded as the first and most fundamental school for her children and she should have the necessary access to learning so that she, in turn, transmits that knowledge to them. Also, Muslim women can teach young Muslims, new Muslims and organise women’s programmes in the Islamic centres and masjids.Innovations during the month of Rajab

Allah Almighty bestows favours and grants bounties upon His slaves, during all times, to help expiate their sins, elevate their ranks and make up for their shortcomings. Allah Almighty legislated for us a month during which we observe fasting, another which we perform pilgrimage in, and one or two extra days to fast during the remaining months. He also legislated prayer during the night and the Witr prayer, the Ud’hiyah (Eid sacrifice), and the ‘Aqeeqah, (birth sacrifice) and many other virtuous deeds. All of these are ways of opening different channels for righteous deeds and methods to energise us by shifting from one form of worship to another, and therefore, not become weary, but continue to worship Allah Almighty. This is indeed a great favour from Allah upon us.Moreover, we find that any act of worship which causes the people to come closer to Allah Almighty is mentioned in His Book or in the Sunnah of His Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ). The problem is in those people who try to come close to Allah and gain His reward by looking outside these two sources, and thus, divert from the right path.The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said during his farewell pilgrimage, “I have left with you that, which if you adhere to, you will never go astray, the Book of Allah”.And Allah Says (what means): “… And whatever the Messenger has given you – take; and what he has forbidden you – refrain from. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is severe in penalty.” [Qur’an: 59:7]Allah Almighty dispraised the Arabs during the pre-Islamic period because they interfered in that which they had no right in, and started changing what is lawful to unlawful, and what is unlawful to lawful, and recommending that which Allah Almighty did not. They used to shift around the times of the sacred months and change the names of the months because they did not want to wait for this long period to finish.Ibn Katheer, may Allah have mercy upon him, said: “Dealing with the legislations of Allah with one’s corrupt mind and reasoning, and changing the rulings of Allah according to their desires, and deeming lawful what is unlawful, were some of the things for which Allah dispraised the disbelievers.”The Arabs had also forbidden upon themselves slaughtering certain animals, by setting some laws which Allah Almighty did not legislate, so Allah Almighty dispraised them for that. Thus we know that worshipping Allah Almighty is something which is not permitted except through that which He The Most High has legislated Himself and through His Messenger sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam. Anyone who wants to draw closer to Allah and gain His reward, love and pleasure through other channels, will get the contrary result, because Allah Almighty does not accept from people except that which He legislated for them.During the month of Rajab, which is one of the sacred months, some Muslims make some wrong practices through which they intend to come closer to Allah Almighty and gain His forgiveness, love and pleasure. But they seek that through acts of worship which He did not permit nor legislate, and although they are seeking something good, they do not achieve it.The point is not only in having a sincere and good intention, but the deed itself must be legitimate, or else it will be rejected. Who dare say that a deed is rejected by Allah Almighty? Who told him that the deed is rejected? The one who told us this is the truthful Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam who said: “He who introduces any deed into our matter (Islam) which is not from it then it is rejected.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]‘Aa’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said: “He who performs any deed which is not according to what we are upon (i.e., the Prophet and his Companions) then it is rejected.” [Muslim] Therefore, any deed which is not in accordance with what Islam has come with is rejected.One of the practices during the month of Rajab which was done during the pre-Islamic period, is to offer sacrifices and call it ‘Far’a and ‘Ateerah. The Muslims scholars may Allah have mercy upon them said Islam voided this practice. Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said: “No Fara’. No ‘Ateerah.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]Ar-Raghaa’ib prayer is another thing which people innovated which was never legislated by Allah nor His Messenger sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam. The scholars may Allah have mercy upon them said: “There is no authentic Hadith regarding a special prayer during the month of Rajab, and all the narrations concerning Ar-Raghaa’ib prayer are fabricated lies.” They also said: “This prayer was innovated after the fourth century and was never known before that, and no one from the scholars during the first virtuous generations ever mentioned it.”People fast all the month of Rajab although there is no authentic Hadith in this regard and so this practice should be abandoned. On the other hand, those who are in the habit of fasting regularly, even in during other months, may fast. Moreover, the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam never fasted any month in full other than Ramadan, as narrated by ‘Aa’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, ‘The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam used to fast so much until we would think that he always fasts, and would stop fasting until we would think that he never fasts. I never saw the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam fast a full month except during Ramadan, and he never fasted more than fasting during the month of Sha’baan.’ [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]It was narrated that ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, used to hit men’s hands until they would start using them to eat during the month of Rajab, and he would say, ‘What is the virtue of Rajab? It is a month which the people during the pre-Islamic period used to honor, but when Islam came, people gave this up.’Abu Bakrah, may Allah be pleased with him, saw his household preparing during the month of Rajab, and said to them, ‘Did you make Rajab like Ramadan?’. Then he threw the baskets and broke the cups.Another innovation is what they call the Rajabiyyah, which is an ‘Umrah during Rajab which has no evidence proving it. As a matter of fact, the only month during which ‘Umrah would have a certain prescribed reward is the month of Ramadhan. The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said: “’Umrah during Ramadan equals performing Haj” , in another narration he said, “Equals Haj with me.”Therefore, anyone who performs ‘Umrah during Rajab for the sake of Rajab has committed a mistake. Moreover, the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam never performed ‘Umrah during Rajab even though he has performed ‘Umrah four times.A Muslim should know that if he seeks the pleasure of Allah, and wants to adhere to obedience, he would find many acts to perform, so there is no need to add to what the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam instructed us to do; let us perform what he sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam taught us, and he who does that, is guaranteed to succeed and prosper in this life and the Hereafter.Ibn Mas’oud, may Allah be pleased with him, said: “Imitate and do not innovate (in religion)’. Therefore, we should not add anything to the religion baselessly, and we should adhere to the Sunnah of the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam. Some of the scholars said, ‘Sunnah is like to Noah’s Ark, anyone who sticks to it would be rescued.”Article source: http://www.islamweb.net/emainpage/