By General Secretary & Co-Founder of ISCCA: Khalid Siddiqi, PhD
مَا كَانَ لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ أَن يَعْمُرُوا۟ مَسَـٰجِدَ ٱللَّهِ شَـٰهِدِينَ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِم بِٱلْكُفْرِ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ حَبِطَتْ أَعْمَـٰلُهُمْ وَفِى ٱلنَّارِ هُمْ خَـٰلِدُونَ إِنَّمَا يَعْمُرُ مَسَـٰجِدَ ٱللَّهِ مَنْ ءَامَنَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْـَٔاخِرِ وَأَقَامَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتَى ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَلَمْ يَخْشَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهَ ۖ فَعَسَىٰٓ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ أَن يَكُونُوا۟ مِنَ ٱلْمُهْتَدِينَ
(ألتوبة: 17-18)
It does not behoove for such as join gods with Allah ﷻ to maintain as the guardians the houses of Allah ﷻ : MASAAJID (WHICH ARE BUILT FOR THE WORSHIP OF Allah ﷻ), while they themselves bear witness against themselves to their disbelief in fact all their works have gone to waste and they shall abide in the Fire forever. Only those are worthy of being the guardians {WHO VISIT AND MAINTAIN} THE MOSQUES {MASAAJID}, who believe in Allah ﷻ and the Last Day, and establish Regular Prayers {Salat} and pay Regular Zakat {Poor-due}, and fear none but Allah ﷻ: for these alone are expected to be on true guidance. The Holy Qur’an: 9/17-18
This lays down the general principle for the Board of Directors of The Mosques {Masaajid} that have been built exclusively for the worship of Allah ﷻ. Obviously, the Pagans cannot be the proper persons to be the guardians and the Board members of such sacred places which were built exclusively for the worship of Allah ﷻ alone, (THOUGH THEY WERE IN THE ERA OF IGNORANCE).
Ya’muru, the second Arabic word of verse 9/18 means the following:
(1) To build the Mosque in your local community if there is no Mosque.
(2) Maintain them in a dignified manner.
(3) Establish five regular daily Prayers, Friday weekly, annual Eid days’ congregational services, and Ramadan Taraweeh Prayers.
(4) Establish ongoing Islamic education for men, women, male and female youth, children: Boys and Girls, and newly converted Muslims according to their needs.
(5) Fill them with light, life and Da’wah activities for neighbors and others.
(6) Invite non-Muslims, especially in non-Muslim Countries to share the beauties of Islam with peoples of multiple ethnicities, and religious backgrounds, to play our primary role of inviting humankind to the decencies of Divine message and prohibit them from indecencies as popularly known in the Qur’an with Amr Bil-Ma’ruf and Nahy ‘Anil-Munkar, as mentioned in 3/110.
(7) Reach out to local Churches, Monasteries, Synagogues, and Temples as mentioned in 3/64 regarding interfaith and interreligious activities.
(8) Establish in all your Mosque-connected activities “Just Balance” as Allah ﷻ identified us as: “UMMATAN WASATAN” in 2/143 to practically reject the Mass Media’s demonizing of Muslims by calling them names.
(9) Only the sincere believers as described by Allah ﷻ in 9/18 of the Holy Qur’an have a right to maintain the Masaajid.
(10) It is Makrooh Tahreemy (Near Haram) to limit access to a Masjid or prohibit entry to any Muslim.
(11) It is forbidden to lock the door of the Masjid except for security reasons, in that case, arrange for alternative options for the worshippers to enter the Masjid.
(12) In Islamic Shari’a (Legal System) the general application of verse 2/114 is considered the basis to establish the principle of worship (all Prayers and Islamic activities) in a public Mosque or place dedicated to worship Allah ﷻ. Although it was revealed to condemn the Pagans of Mecca who were prohibiting Muslims from praying in Al-Masjid Al-Haram.
(13) It is one of the Islamic duties and responsibilities of the local community of a Masjid to vote for a Board of directors of a Masjid, the people of Taqwa (righteousness) who are regular in all prayers and Islamic activities, those who do not prohibit any daily, weekly, or annual prayers, or Islamic activities.
(14) If any board of directors of any Masjid practices activities against the basic principles of Islam, you must first talk to them frankly regarding the violation of Islamic principle if it works and if they realize their mistake and correct it, then continue to cooperate with them. But, if they don’t, then vote them out.
(15) If a Board of Directors engages in any activity contrary to Islam, uses Mosques funds and donations money for lawsuits, creates division among the Muslim Community and the Muslim community does not replace them with pious Muslims, they will be accountable to Allah ﷻ on Judgment Day. That is the meaning of the following noble sayings of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ:
مَنْ رَأَي مِنْكُمْ مُنْكَرًا فَلْيُغَيِّرْهُ بِيَدِهِ فَإِنْ لَّمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَبِلِسَانِهِ فَإِنْ لَّمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَبِقَلْبِهِ وَ ذَلِكَ أَضْعَفُ الْإِيْمَانِ.
Whoever of you sees something evil, let them change it with their hand if they are not able to then with their tongue, and if they are not able to, with their heart, and that is the weakest of belief.
أَلاَ كُلُّكُمْ رَاعٍ، وَكُلُّكُمْ مَسْئُولٌ عَنْ رَعِيَّتِهِ.
Surely! Every one of you is a guardian and is responsible for his subjects.
(16) One of the most important functions of a Masjid is the Friday Congregational Service which provides a weekly education to the Muslim community about the current affairs in the light of Qur’an and Sunnah (Prophet’s Tradition). A Masjid cannot be called Masjid if the Friday Congregational Service cannot be held in it. Please read Surat ul-Jumu’ah #62 in the Holy Qur’an for the obligation of this Congregational Service especially verses 7-9.
(17) I must add here the summary and analyses of Shaikh Muhammad Al-Ghazali in his famous book of the biography of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ “Fiqh us-Seerah” of 10 years of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in Madinah after the migration “The Foundations of building for the new community”.
The Muslim community is not allowed to live according to their desires or like any other community. They are guided by the divine revelation in all material and spiritual aspects of their day- to-day life and about how to build a new community if they are a group of immigrants. The followings are 3 basic foundations laid by the last and final Prophet of Allah ﷻ, Muhammad ﷺ when he successfully built the first Muslim Society in Madinah:
- The Mosque (Al-Masjid): The Prophet ﷺ built his Masjid in Madinah as his first foundation of building his new community in order to connect the believers through the house of Allah ﷻ with their Cherisher Lord. He built the Masjid before building his own house to be a source of teaching the believers, spiritual and material guidance, heavenly etiquettes. He built the Masjid before building his own house to be a source of teaching to the believers, spiritual and material guidance, and heavenly etiquette. He established it as an institution of learning by connecting the Masjid to the daily life of Muslims to be visited at every important interval at work and business. It was the first Islamic university where his male and female companions could learn all Islamic and Qur’anic sciences. It was a symbol of the unity of Muslims and a place of receiving and hosting non-Muslims
- Al-‘Ukhuwwah’ (Act of brotherhood): First time in the history of Humankind the Muhajireen (Immigrants) were tied to Ansar (the helping hosts) as heirs of material wealth on the basis of faith and NOT of blood. The lists were prepared for individuals from Migrants to be heirs to the individuals from the Host community. The purpose of it was to connect believers with each other. The Holy Qur’an is full of verses to emphasize the importance of unity as paramount for the believers. (See 8:46 & 49:10 in the Quran).
C. The non-Muslims: The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was the first one who made peace pledges with Pagans, Jews, and idol worshippers to prove that a Muslim can live in peace with any community of non-Believers and that the freedom of choice in general and of religion, in particular, is one of the most fundamental human rights. As proof you may read the story of the truce of Hudaibiyyah in chapter 48 of the Holy Qur’an and see verses 18:29, 49:13, and 10:99. Islamic way encourages global unity and invites humanity to see the beauty in diversity.
In light of the above, I request, on behalf of the Islamic Shari’a Council of California, all the Boards of Directors of the Mosques to follow the Islamic guidelines in running the Mosques only and only for the sake of gaining the good pleasures of Allah ﷻ. If you serve your Mosque sincerely according to Islamic guidelines, it may be your best investment with Allah ﷻ.
The investment with Allah ﷻ brings unlimited returns in both worlds and NEVER suffers losses.
وَفَّقَكُمُ اللَّهُ، وَاللَّهُ تَعَالَي وَلِيُّ التَّوْفِيْقِ
May Allah grant you all success, and Allah The Exalted is the Guardian of Success.
Dr. Khalid Siddiqi
General Secretary Islamic Shari’a Council
California, USA
Friday 6/9/2023 CE-11/20/1444 AH
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