amidi m.m. zuberi ‘RISMILLAH-IR-RAHMAN-IR-RAHEEM WITH THE NAME OF GOD, MOST GRACIOUS, THE COMPASSIONATE DATE: April 15, 1986-Revised By Imam amidi M.M Zuberi 12/09/91 FROM: Masjid ‘The Member of Masjid - ‘THE MOSQUE [MASJID] As-Salaamu-Alaikum Beloved Brothers: ‘The following material is in accordance with “Everday Pigh," Which is the Islamic Jurisprudence and legal system as deduced and evolved by different schools of law from the Qur'an, and/ or the Sunnah, and/or the Holy prophet's traditions and pract- ices. “ONLY... [THESE] PEOPLE DESERVE 0 BE THE GUARDIANS AND SERVANTS OF ALLAH'S HOUSE OF WORSHIP: ++-(THOSE] WHO BELIEVE IN ALLHA AND THE LAST DAY, AND ESTABLISH SALAT AND PAY ZAKAT DUES, AND REAR NONE BUT ALLAH..." (9:18) There is a certain manner in which Muslims are supposed to conduct themselves while in the Mosque [Masjid], and it is important that we establish and enforce this manner in our Masjid.Respect and Reverence for the Mosque [Masjid] 1. One should place his right foot first in the Masjid, and, after invoking Allah's blessing for the Holy Prophet, say: [Allahum-afteh-li~abwabas —rah— matika] "0 Allahl Open for me the doors of thy mercy." [Mus- im) On leaving the Masjid, one should step out om his left foot and should hunbly ‘say: [Allahumma inni as‘aluka min fadlika wa rah-matika] "0 allah! I beg Thee for Thy bounty, grace and mercy." After entering the Masjid, one should first of all greet the Masjid with two rak'ahs of Nafl, for the Holy Prophet has said: When any of you enters a Masjid, he should not sit until he has observed two rak'ahs of prayer,” (Bukhari, Muslim] 4. One should sit with perfect calmness, humility, and aig- nity in the Masjid with the heart over-awed ‘by the fear and reverence of Allah, and should abstain from raising noise and laughter, passing comments on worldly matters, induiging in trade and business, etc., because these are against the sanctity of the Masjid and ‘have been forbidden by the Holy Prophet. He said: "A time will come when the peo- ple will indulge in mere worldly matters while sitting in the Masjid; you should not join them, ‘because the prayers of such’ people will not be accept- able to Allah." One should enter the Masjid humbly and sit wherever one finds a place; it is very undesirable that one should try to go to the front by jumping over the shoulders of people and disturbing them’ unnecessarily. It is also undersirable that one should run in the Masjid in order to join the Imam in the Ruku position to gain a rak'ah; instead, one must always walk humbly and in a dignified manner in the Masjid, for tne Holy Prophet has saids "You should adopt perfect calm ness and tranquility in the Masjid."One should avoid coming to the Masjia carrying or having eaten something that gives an unpleasant smell. The Holy Prophet has warned: "Do net come to our Masjid with your mouths smelling of garlic or onion, for anything which disturbs ‘human beings disturbs the angels, too." (Bukhari, MusLim] The Masjid should not be made a thoroughfare, for when @ person has entered the Mosque, he becomes honor-bound to pray in it, recite the Quran, and remember Allah. Passing through the Masjié carelessly for one's personal convenience is a sheer violation of its sanctity and -sho- uld be scrupulously avoided. One should have deep love and natural inclination for the Masjid, and should attend the Masjid zealously at every prayer time. The Holy Prophet has said: "on the dreadful Day of Resur~ rection, when there will be no shade except under the Divine Throne, seven kinds of people will be provided a place there- under. One kind will be those people whose hearts were much inclined for prostration [in the Masjid]." (Bukhari] ‘Then he said: "Allah arranges a guest's recep- tion for those people who recu- larly visit the Masjid in the morning and in the evening." (Bukhari, muslim) And he saids For the person who goes to pray in the Masjid after performing Wudu well at home, Allah feels as much overjoyed on his reach- ing the Masjid as the people of a house do on the return of a travelex.* [Ibn Khuzaimah} According to Hadrat Saiid bin Al-Musayyab, the Holy Pro- phet said: “the person who performed his Wudu Well and left his house for the Masjid, whether it is near or far from his house, gets a reward on each right Step and is forgiven a sin on10. ne each left step taken forverd. Then, after coming to the Mas~ Jia, "Tf he completed his prayer with the congregation, or if he joined last and. completed his “prayer independently, or if he missed the congregation altogether and completed his prayer individually, in the Masjid, he is entitled to full rewards from Allab.* The Masjid deserves to be kept clean at all times and also perfumed, if possible, for, according to the Holy Prophet, looking after the Nasjid’ well, sweeping and keep- ing it Clean and free of all sorts of dirt, and perfuming it, especially on Firdays, entitles one to enter Paradise. (tba Majaf, Tabarani} One is forbidden to enter the Masjid in an unclean state, for instance, after having intercourse, or during the mense cr Nifas, etc., unless it is unavoidable on account of a genuine need. There should be a proper system for pronouncing Azan and holding congregational prayers in the Masjid, and. only such people should be selected and appointed ‘as seem to the Nu'azzin and Imam to be the best, morally and in the practice and knowledge of Islam, anong the worshippers. Also, those appointed should be prepared to carzy out thesé obligations gratis, only for the sake of recompense in the Hereafter. Hadrat Uthman bin Abi al-As says that he requested that the Holy Prophet appoint nim (Hadrat Utdman bin Abi @l-As| Imam for his people. The Holy Prophet replied: "You are appointed their Imam, so have a regard for the weak, and appoint a Mu'azzin who does not’ charge anything for pronouncing Azan.* It is the duty of the people of the habitation to see that the Masjid remains well attended and that peopie visit it frequently to offer prayers, recite Quran, ob- serve voluntary prayers, and remember Allah. Tae Masjid being Allah's house of worship, deserves to be shown due respect and reverence and used as mich as possible for prayers and devotions to Allah by the people who profess to be Muslims. ‘The Quran says+ "Only...{these] people deserve to be "the guardians and ser- vants of Allan's house of wor- ships... [those] whobelieve in Allah and the last. Day, and establish Selat and pay12. Zakat dues, and fear none but allah..." ‘[9:18) The Friday Prayer (Juma Prayer] A. It is obligatory to listen to the sermon peacefully ‘and with full attention, whether the listener is sitting near.the Imam or away from him. B. Tt is desirable that one should eit close to the Imam during the sermon and face toward him. [Mishkat] ©. when the Imem has stood up to deliver the sermon, no one should offer an individual prayer, nor should one engage in conversation. It is forbidden to talk, offer prayer, busy oneself in meditation, eat, drink, greet or respond to greeting, or do anything which may distract one from the sermon; ‘even giving religious instructions or exhorting others to do good is forbidden. The Holy Prophet has said: “The person who talks when the sermon is in progress is like a donkey loaded with books and the one who tells another one to be quiet during the sermon has lost his own Friday Prayer.” [Musnad, Ahmad, Tabaranil However, one 4s permitted to offer amissed prayer during the seriton, if it is really necessary. D. One may invoke Allah's blessing for the liely Prophet inaudibly when his name is mentioned in the sermon. Reg- ulations for Lining-up. 1, Utmost care has to be exercised to keep the rows straight and balanced. the Holy Prophet has instructed: “keep your rows straight and balanced in the prayer, for proper alignment is a necessary condition of observing prayer well." [Bukhari, Muslim) 2, The front rows should be filled and completed first. 3. The people possessing deep knowledge and understanding of religion should stand close to the Iman, and behind him; then, those who are next to them in knowledge and understanding; and then, those who are next in knowledge and understanding, otc. 4. The followers should stand behind the Imam in a balanced way, equally on the right and left, keeping him in the middle in front.3. I the front rows are complete and there is no room for @ late comer, he should avoid standing alone behind them, and should’ pull a person back from the front row and take a separate row in the rear. LOSING REMARKS My Beloved Brothers, out of great love do I exhort you to observe the prover way of governing yourselves while in the Masjid. Tt is Allah's house, and we as believers should display better conduct and respect’ for the Masjid. We should have a burning desire to please Allah, for it is lim who we disploase when we violate the sanctity of the Masjid. “LET'S BE TRUE MUSLIMSIIt fl