Religion

The Role of Masajid and Islamic Schools in Muslim Life

[Allah’s Light shines] in houses of worship, Allah has ordained that they be raised high and that His name be remembered in them, celebrating His glory there at mornings and evenings, are men who are not distracted, either by commerce or trade, from the remembrance of Allah, keeping up the prayer, and paying the prescribed charity, fearing a day when hearts and eyes will turn over. Allah will reward such people according to the best of their actions, and He will give them more of His bounty; Allah provides limitlessly for anyone He will. (Al-Noor 24:36-37)

After giving the beautiful parable of Allah’s Light (Noor) these verses tell us where on earth specially this Light shines. Allah’s light shines in the houses that He has ordered to be built and kept clean and orderly. These houses of worship are called Masajid and the purpose of these Masajid is that there Allah’s name should be mentioned and His glory should be celebrated always. The people who come to the Masajid are those who are not distracted from the remembrance of Allah by anything, neither business nor trade. They observe prayers and give regular charity and fear Allah. In another place in the Qur’an Allah says,

Those who tend Allah’s Masajid are those who believe in Allah and the Last Day, who keep up the prayer, who pay the prescribed charity, and who fear no one but Allah: such people may hope to be among the rightly guided. (Al-Tawbah 9:18)

Masjid is a center of Muslims’ life and activities. It is visited by Muslims five times a day. It is a place of worship, learning and education, social and public events at the time of happiness and sadness, a place of da’wah and charitable work. This is the way how the Prophet’s Masjid in Madinah was and millions of Masajid throughout the world over the centuries. Masjid can never be excluded from Muslim’s life; but Muslims must honor their Masajid and treat them with dignity and respect. Masajid are especial houses that are dedicated to Allah and in this sense every Masjid is given the honor of being “Allah’s house.” These places are set apart from the rest of dwellings with some special rules. People are supposed to enter these houses with great care and reverence. Allah says in the Qur’an:

Who could be more unjust than the one who prohibits that in the Masajid of Allah His name be mentioned and strives to have them deserted. It was not befitting for them except to enter them fearfully. For such people is disgrace in this world and for them is big punishment in the Hereafter. (Al-Baqarah 2:114
The role of the Masjid is to provide a place for devotion to Allah, to spread the knowledge of His Deen, love and brotherhood among Muslims and peace and harmony among all human beings. The Qur’an condemned the hypocrites who used the Masjid to plot division and dissention against others. Allah says,

Those who took up a mosque in an attempt to cause harm, disbelief and disunity among the believers and as an outpost for those who fought Allah and His Messenger before: they swear, ‘Our intentions were nothing but good,’ but Allah bears witness that they are liars. Never stand in that mosque. You should rather pray in a mosque founded from its first day on piety. In this mosque are men who desire to grow in purity and Allah loves those who seek to purify themselves. (Al-Tawbah 9:107-108)
What happened in Lal Masjid in Islamabad this week is very sad and painful. The loss of many lives is very tragic. Furthermore this has also created a lot of confusion in the minds of people about the role of Masajid and Islamic schools. The purpose of these places is to guide, educate and purify the hearts of people from hate and violence. These places should not be used as armed camps. This takes away the sanctity of these places and gives excuse to others to suspect them and disrespect them.
To commanding what is right and forbid what is wrong is indeed an Islamic duty; but like all duties in Islam this duty also has its proper method, rules and regulations. Imam Sufian al-Thawri –may Allah have mercy on him- use to say,

Those who command and forbid must be gentle in what they command and what they forbid, must be just in what they command and what they forbid and must have good knowledge of what they command and what they forbid.
The world today is full of confusion and corruption. Muslims themselves, individuals and governments, have lost the sense of guidance and proper perspective. Worldliness, greed for power, sensual pleasure and money have taken over the minds and souls of humanity. The role of our ‘Ulama, our Masajid and our Islamic Schools should be to bring back the humanity to the right path; but this can only be done with gentle persuasion and setting deeply spiritual and moral personal examples.

‘Uqbah ibn ‘Amir reported that the Prophet –peace be upon him went to pray for the martyrs of ‘Uhud, after eight years, like a person who want to say good bye to the living and dead. Then he rose over the pulpit and said, “I am going ahead of you and I am a witness over you. I shall see you at the Spring (Haud al-Kauthar) and I am seeing it from my place here. I do not fear that you shall become polytheists, but I fear that worldliness will overtake you and then you shall fight each other for it.’ And that was the last time that I saw the Prophet –peace be upon him.
(Al-Bukhari, 3816)
(Khutbah at ISOC – Jumada al-Ukhra 27, 1428/ July 13, 2007)