In the Name
of Allah,
Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Reviving
Masjids for 21st
Century & Beyond
By
Irshad Mahmood
– Director, Siraat-al-Mustaqeem Dawah Centre
Two
Types of Masjids
Allowed in the Quraan, Global and Local:
First one is Global and
it is
Al_Masjid
al-Haram (Kaaba) in Makkah al-Mukarram, Saudi Arabia, to
perform Hajj and Umrah, uniting Global Muslim Ummah at one place, get
the benefits from here, and see few signs of Allah, in addition to
establishing regular five times prayers as well as additional prayers
including Tahajjud Prayers according to local time. Remember, it is the
first worshiping place and center of the guidance for the mankind.
Second
one is
Masjid al-Nabawi
in Madinah al-Munawarah, Saudi Arabia. It is a Role
Model for all local Masjids, since Rasool Allah
(Peace-Be-Upon-Him)
used this as a Role Model to perform many duties including following:
1>
Trained Muslim Ummah which includes, children, adults (men
and women). Trainings were superb in all disciplines including Multi-Faith
/ Multi-Sect Friendly Dialogues,
Defense
and of course the Quraan,
Quranic Arabic Language
for Non-Arabs and proved that it was the best up-to-date institution in
the whole world at the time of Rasool Allah (Peace-Be-Upon-Him).
2>
Established
the best Judicial
System in the whole world at the time of Rasool Allah
(Peace-Be-Upon-Him).
3>
Established
the best Community
Centre to help Humanity.
Challenges are a lot
from around the
globe. Now it is time for all of us to open our eyes and return back
and reflect on the message of Rasool Allah (Peace-Be-Upon-Him). Our
Masjid must be fully equipped with the help of modern technologies to
perform all activities which is according to the Quraan.
Convert all old Masjids
by applying
modern technologies wherever possible and which are in accordance to
the Quraan. Also, make sure to have separate
special arrangements for women.
If building new Masjids,
please
ensure that it is taking true guidance from Rasool Allah
(Peace-Be-Upon-Him) and applying all the modern technologies wherever
possible and which are in accordance to the Quraan. Also, make sure to
have separate special arrangements for
women.
Few
Guidelines for all Local Model Masjids:
1>
Must have a
Prayer
Hall for regular five times of prayers for men and women.
2>
Must have
Modern
Islaamic Library for children and adults (men and women).
3>
Must have an
institution
(e.g. School, College and University) to train our kids and
adults (men and women) to face all the modern challenges, which are
according to Quraan.
4>
Must have convertible
hall, to be used during Friday
Prayers, Eid
Prayers, Gym
for exercises/marshals-arts, Islaamic Marriage
Ceremony, Quranic
Arabic Language
for Non-Arabs and Multi-Faith
/ Multi-Sect
Friendly Dialogues
etc.
5>
Must have
Funeral Home.
6> Masjid must need to be Germs
Free. If someone
has sickness which might spread, even like Flue or Cough, he/she must
avoid going to Masjid till it is under control and not spreadable.
Shoes/Sleepers must be kept outside the Prayers Hall to avoid Germs
going inside. Even someone might have very allergic to Perfumes,
Peanuts etc.
Reviving
Masjids during Severe Global Economic Downtime:
Saving a life is like
save whole world, wastage and extra expense is totally against the
Quraan. Not a sincere Muslim can do wastage, regardless of rich, poor,
or kings etc. When billions of people around the Globe are in Extreme
Poverty and Extreme Famine, no true Muslims can even think of wastage,
over expending, building extra expensive Masjids only for Friday
Prayers while rest of the week no public benefits for study, counseling
etc.
While
humanity is badly
suffering from Extreme Poverty and Famine, expensive
GHILAF-E-KAABA
etc. must be replaced with more
economical materials
e.g., waterproof and rust proof materials and paintings to last longer
to save future expense as well. Do more research and plan for thousands
of years to last it with just washing with water regularly and
polishing once or twice a year.
Non-Practicing
Muslims are like ASS / Donkey carrying books, (Ref:
Al_Quraan_062.005).
None argue
concerning the revelations (Ayaat) of Allah BUT those who Disbelieve
…, (Al_Quraan_040.004).
Crystal
Clear Messages are Millions of times better than Cosmetics and
Calligraphies (Khatati).
Read
Al-Quraan, the
Miracle of Miracles and free from contradictions and errors