2. The Masjid: Heart of theThe Masjid: Heart of the
Muslim CommunityMuslim Community
Congregational Salah.Congregational Salah.
Masjid in the Prophet’s Time & IslamicMasjid 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.
3. IntroductionIntroduction
““this world is a paradise for thethis world is a paradise for the
disbeliever, prison for the believer”,disbeliever, prison for the believer”,
the only piece of Paradise of thethe only piece of Paradise of the
believer in this world is the housebeliever in this world is the house
of Allah.of Allah.
A believer out of the masjid is like aA believer out of the masjid is like a
fish out of water.fish out of water.
4. IntroductionIntroduction
Masjid is an essential part of aMasjid is an essential part of a
Muslim’s life in any situationMuslim’s life in any situation ..
Muslims from different backgrounds,Muslims from different backgrounds,
ethnicities, and schools of thoughtethnicities, and schools of thought
can be unified if they let the Divinecan be unified if they let the Divine
blessings and brotherly ethos of theblessings and brotherly ethos of the
masjid guides them.masjid guides them.
5. Congregational SalahCongregational Salah
Abdullah ibn Umar narrated that theAbdullah ibn Umar narrated that the
Prophet (PBUH) said:Prophet (PBUH) said: “Salah in“Salah in
congregation is better than salahcongregation 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 cooperationIt reinforces the unity and cooperation
of Muslims as it strengthens the tiesof Muslims as it strengthens the ties
of brotherhood among them.of brotherhood among them.
6. Congregational SalahCongregational Salah
Allah praises and honors His housesAllah praises and honors His houses
on earth in the Quran:on earth in the Quran:
““In houses which Allah’s has ordered toIn houses which Allah’s has ordered to
be raised and that His names bebe raised and that His names be
mentioned therein; exalting Himmentioned therein; exalting Him
within them in the morning and thewithin them in the morning and the
evening. (Therein are) men whomevening. (Therein are) men whom
neither commerce nor sale distractsneither commerce nor sale distracts
from the remembrance of Allah andfrom the remembrance of Allah and
performed of salah and giving ofperformed of salah and giving of
zakah.”zakah.” [24:36-37][24:36-37]
7. Masjid in the Prophet’sMasjid 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 firstfoundation was laid from the first
day on piety; it is more worthy ofday on piety; it is more worthy of
the standing forth (for salah)the standing forth (for salah)
therein. In it are men who lovetherein. In it are men who love
to be purified; and Allah lovesto be purified; and Allah loves
those who make themselvesthose who make themselves
pure.”pure.” [9:108][9:108]
8. Masjid in the Prophet’sMasjid in the Prophet’s
Time & Islamic HistoryTime & Islamic History
Masajid have servedMasajid have served
historically and continue todayhistorically and continue today
to serve as the centers ofto serve as the centers of
intellectual, spiritual, andintellectual, spiritual, and
cultural enlightenment of thecultural enlightenment of the
Muslim community.Muslim community.
9. Centers of Knowledge &Centers of Knowledge &
EducationEducation
Universities, dedicated centers ofUniversities, dedicated centers of
higher learning, were the singlehigher learning, were the single
greatest institutional of the greatgreatest institutional of the great
Islamic civilization.Islamic civilization.
This combination of worship andThis combination of worship and
knowledge, of nourishment of theknowledge, of nourishment of the
soul and mind at the same place issoul and mind at the same place is
remarkable: a hallmark of the trueremarkable: a hallmark of the true
Islamic civilization.Islamic civilization.
10. Legal & AdministrativeLegal & Administrative
RoleRole
Guarantor of the Unity of theGuarantor of the Unity of the
Islamic Ummah.Islamic Ummah.
Consultation & Council.Consultation & Council.
11. Guarantor of the Unity ofGuarantor of the Unity of
the Islamic Ummahthe Islamic Ummah
Bringing together all the believersBringing together all the believers
for regular salah, and imparting thefor regular salah, and imparting the
spirit of brotherhood, cooperationspirit of brotherhood, cooperation
and discipline, it makes theand discipline, it makes the
Muslims a unity, an army of Allah.Muslims a unity, an army of Allah.
people who frequent the masajidpeople who frequent the masajid
are often active in the service ofare often active in the service of
the community.the community.
12. Consultation & CouncilConsultation & Council
The Prophet’s masjid servedThe Prophet’s masjid served
the role of today’s parliament orthe role of today’s parliament or
congress.congress.
Most of the consultativeMost of the consultative
councils were held in thecouncils were held in the
Masjid, such as the ones heldMasjid, such as the ones held
before the battles of Uhud, Al-before the battles of Uhud, Al-
Ahzab.Ahzab.
13. Social Role & ServiceSocial Role & Service
Housing The Poor.Housing The Poor.
Collection & Distribution ofCollection & Distribution of
Charity.Charity.
14. Housing the PoorHousing the Poor
The Prophet’s Masjid served asThe Prophet’s Masjid served as
home and shelter for guests andhome and shelter for guests and
travelers.travelers.
Abu-Hurirah and other poorAbu-Hurirah and other poor
Companions known as ahl-us-Companions known as ahl-us-
Suffa lived in the courtyard ofSuffa lived in the courtyard of
the Prophet’s Masjid.the Prophet’s Masjid.
15. Collection & DistributionCollection & Distribution
of Charityof Charity
The wealthy members fulfilled theirThe wealthy members fulfilled their
duties towards the poor and theduties towards the poor and the
needy.needy.
Zakat-ul-Fitr, booty, and donationsZakat-ul-Fitr, booty, and donations
from different regions were alsofrom different regions were also
brought to the Masjid forbrought to the Masjid for
distribution.distribution.
16. Clinic & HospitalClinic & Hospital
Pharmacies and dispensaries werePharmacies and dispensaries were
located inside the masjid and thelocated inside the masjid and the
Muslim physicians treated patientsMuslim physicians treated patients
and prescribed medications for themand prescribed medications for them
freely.freely.
Ahmed ibn IbraheemAhmed ibn Ibraheem Role.Role.
17. ETIQUETTES OF THEETIQUETTES OF THE
MASJIDMASJID
Entering & Leaving theEntering & Leaving the
MasjidMasjid..
• Performing Two Rak’ahs as aPerforming 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.
18. Entering & Leaving theEntering & Leaving the
MasjidMasjid
One of the supplications theOne of the supplications the
Prophet used to make was:Prophet used to make was:
““In the name of Allah, I put myIn the name of Allah, I put my
trust in Allah. There is notrust in Allah. There is no
power or strength except withpower or strength except with
Allah.”Allah.” (Abu Dawud and Tirmithi).(Abu Dawud and Tirmithi).
19. Entering & Leaving theEntering & Leaving the
MasjidMasjid
When entering the masjid, oneWhen entering the masjid, one
should begin with the right foot firstshould begin with the right foot first
and say,and say, “O Allah, forgive me my sins“O Allah, forgive me my sins
and open for me the doors of yourand open for me the doors of your
mercy.”mercy.”
when leaving the masjid, he shouldwhen leaving the masjid, he should
step out with the left foot first andstep out with the left foot first and
say:say: “O Allah, forgive me my sins and“O Allah, forgive me my sins and
open for me the doors of youropen for me the doors of your
bounty.”bounty.”
20. Performing Two Rak’ahs asPerforming Two Rak’ahs as
a Greeting to the Masjida Greeting to the Masjid
The Prophet said,The Prophet said, “When one“When one
of you enters the masjid, heof you enters the masjid, he
should perform two rak’ahsshould perform two rak’ahs
before sitting down.”before sitting down.” (Bukhari)(Bukhari)
21. Straightening the RowsStraightening the Rows
Before starting the salah,Before starting the salah,
the congregation shouldthe congregation should
stand in straight rowsstand in straight rows
without leaving any gaps inwithout leaving any gaps in
between.between.
22. Children in the MasjidChildren in the Masjid
Parents should therefore allow theirParents should therefore allow their
children to accompany them to thechildren to accompany them to the
masjid so that they get used to themasjid so that they get used to the
Islamic acts of worship and grow upIslamic acts of worship and grow up
with obedience to Allah.with obedience to Allah.
To show his concern for children, heTo 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 Iintending to prolong it. But when I
hear the crying of a child, I shorten ithear the crying of a child, I shorten it
knowing how his crying disturbs hisknowing how his crying disturbs his
mother.”mother.” (Bukhari and Muslim).(Bukhari and Muslim).
23. OUR MASAJID TODAYOUR MASAJID TODAY
Evaluate Your Masjid andEvaluate Your Masjid and
Your Role in itYour Role in it..
12 Ways to Get Active in12 Ways to Get Active in
Your Local Masjid.Your Local Masjid.
24. Evaluate Your MasjidEvaluate Your Masjid
and Your Role in itand Your Role in it
What relationship do you haveWhat relationship do you have
with your local masjidwith your local masjid ??
What role do you play in yourWhat role do you play in your
masjid?masjid?
What do you think it means toWhat do you think it means to
not visit Allah as a guest whennot visit Allah as a guest when
He calls you five times a day?He calls you five times a day?
25. 12 Ways to Get Active in12 Ways to Get Active in
Your Local MasjidYour Local Masjid
26. visit your masjid for salahvisit your masjid for salah
regularly.regularly.
the Fajr and Isha salah arethe Fajr and Isha salah are
particularly important, accordingparticularly important, according
to sunnah.to sunnah.
27. A minaret of the light of smiles,A minaret of the light of smiles,
politeness, cordiality andpoliteness, cordiality and
concern for other visitors.concern for other visitors.
Make your masjid a belovedMake your masjid a beloved
place for the rest of your Muslimplace for the rest of your Muslim
brothers you meet there.brothers you meet there.
28. There must be moreThere must be more
knowledgeable people than youknowledgeable people than you
in the masjid in one or morein the masjid in one or more
areas of Islamic knowledge.areas of Islamic knowledge.
29. Being a teacher is even moreBeing a teacher is even more
beneficial role, because now youbeneficial role, because now you
both give and take from otherboth give and take from other
people.people.
30. The congregational salah areThe congregational salah are
the best spiritual and mentalthe best spiritual and mental
exercise to teach us how toexercise to teach us how to
follow with discipline.follow with discipline.
31. If you are fully confident thatIf you are fully confident that
you can do a good job as ayou can do a good job as a
leader, do not deprive yourleader, do not deprive your
community of your skills.community of your skills.
Be extremely careful ofBe extremely careful of
selfishness, self-selfishness, self-
aggrandizement, or arrogance.aggrandizement, or arrogance.
32. When praying in congregation,When praying in congregation,
the people praying with you arethe people praying with you are
your brothers.your brothers.
Praying in the company of thePraying in the company of the
righteous is, therefore, anrighteous is, therefore, an
immense blessing.immense blessing.
33. Masjid is the best place toMasjid is the best place to
remember and practice theremember and practice the
teaching of the Quran:teaching of the Quran: “Help you“Help you
one another in benevolence andone another in benevolence and
piety, and do not help onepiety, and do not help one
another in sin and hostility.”another in sin and hostility.”
34. Cleaning the masjid is a greatCleaning the masjid is a great
honor in the sight of Allah.honor in the sight of Allah.
The Prophet, insisted to prayThe Prophet, insisted to pray
upon the grave of a Companionupon the grave of a Companion
who used to clean the masjidwho used to clean the masjid
when he heard that the formerwhen he heard that the former
had died.had died.
35. Donate regularly to your masjid,Donate regularly to your masjid,
even if it is little and even if youeven if it is little and even if you
donate in many other causes.donate in many other causes.
This increases your love forThis increases your love for
Allah and for the house of Allah,Allah and for the house of Allah,
and decreases love of thisand decreases love of this
world.world.
36. Be a good listener, for that isBe a good listener, for that is
much more important andmuch more important and
beneficial than beingbeneficial than being a gooda good
speaker.speaker.
37. Your masjid always needsYour masjid always needs
people who are skillful andpeople who are skillful and
confident in public speaking.confident in public speaking.
38. 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. Iskander
Mobile: 055-802602Mobile: 055-802602
E-mail: maan.iskander@aramco.comE-mail: maan.iskander@aramco.com
