Presented By

Maan M. Iskander

www.dawahmemo.com

The Masjid: Heart of the The Masjid: Heart of the Muslim CommunityMuslim Community Congregational Salah.Congregational Salah. Masjid in the Prophet’s Time & Islamic Masjid in the Prophet’s Time & Islamic

History.History. Etiquettes of the Masjid.Etiquettes of the Masjid. Our Masajid Today.Our Masajid Today. 12 Ways to Get Active in Your Masjid.12 Ways to Get Active in Your Masjid.

IntroductionIntroduction

““ this world is a paradise for the this world is a paradise for the disbeliever, prison for the believer”,disbeliever, prison for the believer”, the only piece of Paradise of the the only piece of Paradise of the believer in this world is the house believer in this world is the house of Allah.of Allah.

A believer out of the masjid is l ike a A believer out of the masjid is l ike a f ish out of water.f ish out of water.

IntroductionIntroduction

Masjid is an essential part of a Masjid is an essential part of a Muslim’s l i fe in any situationMuslim’s l i fe in any situation ..

Muslims from different backgrounds, Muslims from different backgrounds, ethnicit ies, and schools of thought ethnicit ies, and schools of thought can be unif ied if they let the Divine can be unif ied if they let the Divine blessings and brotherly ethos of the blessings and brotherly ethos of the masjid guides them.masjid guides them.

Congregational SalahCongregational Salah

Abdullah ibn Umar narrated that the Abdullah ibn Umar narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) said: Prophet (PBUH) said: “Salah in “Salah in congregation is better than salah congregation is better than salah performed individually by twenty-performed individually by twenty-seven degrees.”seven degrees.” (Bukhari and Muslim)(Bukhari and Muslim)

It reinforces the unity and cooperation It reinforces the unity and cooperation of Muslims as it strengthens the ties of Muslims as it strengthens the ties of brotherhood among them.of brotherhood among them.

Congregational SalahCongregational Salah

Allah praises and honors His houses Allah praises and honors His houses on earth in the Quran:on earth in the Quran:

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

Masjid in the Prophet’s Masjid in the Prophet’s Time & Islamic HistoryTime & Islamic History Praising this masjid, Allah said, Praising this masjid, Allah said,

“There is a masjid whose “There is a masjid whose foundation was laid from the first foundation was laid from the first day on piety; it is more worthy of day on piety; it is more worthy of the standing forth (for salah) the standing forth (for salah) therein. In it are men who love therein. In it are men who love to be purif ied; and Allah loves to be purif ied; and Allah loves those who make themselves those who make themselves pure.” pure.” [9:108][9:108]

Masjid in the Prophet’s Masjid in the Prophet’s Time & Islamic HistoryTime & Islamic History Masajid have served Masajid have served

historically and continue today historically and continue today to serve as the centers of to serve as the centers of intellectual, spiritual, and intellectual, spiritual, and cultural enlightenment of the cultural enlightenment of the Muslim community.Muslim community.

Centers of Knowledge & Centers of Knowledge & Education Education Universit ies, dedicated centers of Universit ies, dedicated centers of

higher learning, were the single higher learning, were the single greatest institutional of the great greatest institutional of the great Islamic civil ization.Islamic civil ization.

This combination of worship and This combination of worship and knowledge, of nourishment of the knowledge, of nourishment of the soul and mind at the same place is soul and mind at the same place is remarkable: a hallmark of the true remarkable: a hallmark of the true Islamic civil ization.Islamic civil ization.

Legal & Administrative Legal & Administrative RoleRole Guarantor of the Unity of the Guarantor of the Unity of the

Islamic Ummah.Islamic Ummah. Consultation & Council.Consultation & Council.

Guarantor of the Unity of Guarantor of the Unity of the Islamic Ummahthe Islamic Ummah Bringing together all the believers Bringing together all the believers

for regular salah, and imparting the for regular salah, and imparting the spirit of brotherhood, cooperation spirit of brotherhood, cooperation and discipline, it makes the and discipline, it makes the Muslims a unity, an army of Allah.Muslims a unity, an army of Allah.

people who frequent the masajid people who frequent the masajid are often active in the service of are often active in the service of the community.the community.

Consultation & CouncilConsultation & Council

The Prophet’s masjid served The Prophet’s masjid served the role of today’s parl iament or the role of today’s parl iament or congress.congress.

Most of the consultative Most of the consultative councils were held in the councils were held in the Masjid, such as the ones held Masjid, such as the ones held before the battles of Uhud, Al-before the battles of Uhud, Al-Ahzab.Ahzab.

Social Role & Service Social Role & Service

Housing The Poor.Housing The Poor. Collection & Distribution of Collection & Distribution of

Charity.Charity.

Housing the PoorHousing the Poor

The Prophet’s Masjid served as The Prophet’s Masjid served as home and shelter for guests and home and shelter for guests and travelers.travelers.

Abu-Hurirah and other poor Abu-Hurirah and other poor Companions known as ahl-us-Companions known as ahl-us-Suffa l ived in the courtyard of Suffa l ived in the courtyard of the Prophet’s Masjid.the Prophet’s Masjid.

Collection & Distribution Collection & Distribution of Charityof Charity The wealthy members fulf i l led their The wealthy members fulf i l led their

duties towards the poor and the duties towards the poor and the needy.needy.

Zakat-ul-Fitr, booty, and donations Zakat-ul-Fitr, booty, and donations from different regions were also from different regions were also brought to the Masjid for brought to the Masjid for distribution.distribution.

Clinic & Hospital Clinic & Hospital

Pharmacies and dispensaries were Pharmacies and dispensaries were located inside the masjid and the located inside the masjid and the Muslim physicians treated patients Muslim physicians treated patients and prescribed medications for them and prescribed medications for them freely.freely.

Ahmed ibn IbraheemAhmed ibn Ibraheem Role.Role.

ETIQUETTES OF THE ETIQUETTES OF THE MASJIDMASJID Entering & Leaving the Entering & Leaving the

MasjidMasjid ..• Performing Two Rak’ahs as a Performing Two Rak’ahs as a

Greeting to the Masjid.Greeting to the Masjid. Straightening the Rows.Straightening the Rows. Children in the Masjid.Children in the Masjid.

Entering & Leaving the Entering & Leaving the MasjidMasjid One of the supplications the One of the supplications the

Prophet used to make was: Prophet used to make was: ““ In the name of Allah, I put my In the name of Allah, I put my

trust in Allah. There is no trust in Allah. There is no power or strength except with power or strength except with Allah.” Allah.” (Abu Dawud and Tirmithi).(Abu Dawud and Tirmithi).

Entering & Leaving the Entering & Leaving the MasjidMasjid When entering the masjid, one When entering the masjid, one

should begin with the right foot f irst should begin with the right foot f irst and say, and say, “O Allah, forgive me my sins “O Allah, forgive me my sins and open for me the doors of your and open for me the doors of your mercy.”mercy.”

when leaving the masjid, he should when leaving the masjid, he should step out with the left foot f irst and step out with the left foot f irst and say: say: “O Allah, forgive me my sins and “O Allah, forgive me my sins and open for me the doors of your open for me the doors of your bounty.”bounty.”

Performing Two Rak’ahs as Performing Two Rak’ahs as a Greeting to the Masjid a Greeting to the Masjid The Prophet said, The Prophet said, “When one “When one

of you enters the masjid, he of you enters the masjid, he should perform two rak’ahs should perform two rak’ahs before sitt ing down.” before sitt ing down.” (Bukhari)(Bukhari)

Straightening the Rows Straightening the Rows

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

Children in the Masjid Children in the Masjid

Parents should therefore allow their Parents should therefore allow their children to accompany them to the children to accompany them to the masjid so that they get used to the masjid so that they get used to the Islamic acts of worship and grow up Islamic acts of worship and grow up with obedience to Allah.with obedience to Allah.

To show his concern for children, he To show his concern for children, he used to say, used to say, “Verily, I start the salah “Verily, I start the salah intending to prolong it. But when I intending to prolong it. But when I hear the crying of a child, I shorten it hear the crying of a child, I shorten it knowing how his crying disturbs his knowing how his crying disturbs his mother.” mother.” (Bukhari and Muslim).(Bukhari and Muslim).

OUR MASAJID TODAY OUR MASAJID TODAY

Evaluate Your Masjid and Evaluate Your Masjid and Your Role in itYour Role in it ..

12 Ways to Get Active in 12 Ways to Get Active in Your Local Masjid.Your Local Masjid.

Evaluate Your Masjid Evaluate Your Masjid and Your Role in i tand Your Role in i t What relationship do you have What relationship do you have

with your local masjidwith your local masjid ?? What role do you play in your What role do you play in your

masjid?masjid? What do you think it means to What do you think it means to

not visit Allah as a guest when not visit Allah as a guest when He calls you five times a day?He calls you five times a day?

12 Ways to Get Active in 12 Ways to Get Active in Your Local MasjidYour Local Masjid

visit your masjid for salah visit your masjid for salah regularly.regularly.

the Fajr and Isha salah are the Fajr and Isha salah are particularly important, according particularly important, according to sunnah.to sunnah.

A minaret of the l ight of smiles, A minaret of the l ight of smiles, politeness, cordiality and politeness, cordiality and concern for other visitors.concern for other visitors.

Make your masjid a beloved Make your masjid a beloved place for the rest of your Muslim place for the rest of your Muslim brothers you meet there.brothers you meet there.

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

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

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

I f you are fully confident that If you are fully confident that you can do a good job as a you can do a good job as a leader, do not deprive your leader, do not deprive your community of your skil ls.community of your skil ls.

Be extremely careful of Be extremely careful of self ishness, self-self ishness, self-aggrandizement, or arrogance.aggrandizement, or arrogance.

When praying in congregation, When praying in congregation, the people praying with you are the people praying with you are your brothers.your brothers.

Praying in the company of the Praying in the company of the righteous is, therefore, an righteous is, therefore, an immense blessing.immense blessing.

Masjid is the best place to Masjid is the best place to remember and practice the remember and practice the teaching of the Quran: teaching of the Quran: “Help you “Help you one another in benevolence and one another in benevolence and piety, and do not help one piety, and do not help one another in sin and hosti l i ty.”another in sin and hosti l i ty.”

Cleaning the masjid is a great Cleaning the masjid is a great honor in the sight of Allah.honor in the sight of Allah.

The Prophet, insisted to pray The Prophet, insisted to pray upon the grave of a Companion upon the grave of a Companion who used to clean the masjid who used to clean the masjid when he heard that the former when he heard that the former had died.had died.

Donate regularly to your masjid, Donate regularly to your masjid, even if i t is l i t t le and even if you even if i t is l i t t le and even if you donate in many other causes.donate in many other causes.

This increases your love for This increases your love for Allah and for the house of Allah, Allah and for the house of Allah, and decreases love of this and decreases love of this world.world.

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

Your masjid always needs Your masjid always needs people who are skil l ful and people who are skil l ful and confident in public speaking.confident in public speaking.

ConclusionConclusion

More information is found on Al-More information is found on Al-Jumuah Magazine. Vol. 5/Issue 03.Jumuah Magazine. Vol. 5/Issue 03.

Maan M. IskanderMaan M. IskanderMobile: 055-802602Mobile: 055-802602E-mail: maan.iskander@aramco.comE-mail: maan.iskander@aramco.com