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 There are seven whom God will shade in His shade on the day on
which there is no shade except His shade; a just imam, a youth who grows up
worshipping God, a man whose heart is attached to the mosque when he leaves
it until he returns to it, two who love each other for the sake of God and part
on that, a man who remembers God when he is alone and his eyes overflow with
tears, a man who refuses the approaches of a noble, beautiful woman, saying ‘I
fear God,’ and a man who gives charity and conceals it so that his left hand
does not know what his right hand gives.
Is your heart attached to the mosque? What do you think
about when you see your local mosque? What about when you see photos of
mosques around the world? How do you feel? Are you reminded of beautiful
architecture, towering minarets, and the melodic sound of the call to prayer?
Do you imagine lines of the faithful believers praying in comfortable
companionship? Can you hear the sounds of silence?
The mosque is all of those things, and feeling a special
attachment should be easy. It is a place of serenity occupied not only by
people but also by angels. The architecture ranges from Islamic classical to
new state of the art designs. Inside the mosque you might find columns,
spiral staircases, plush carpets and Arabic calligraphy. Outside there are
domes and minarets, drinking fountains and shoe racks. Mosques are as
different as Muslims, they come in all shapes and sizes however in one way they
are all exactly the same. A mosque is a place in which Muslims worship God.
Muslim men are expected, under normal circumstances, to
pray the five obligatory prayers in a mosque, and although women are also
permitted to do this, it is not obligatory upon them. It is in quiet,
tranquil mosques that Muslims fulfill the right of God to be worshipped, but
they can also gather rewards and good deeds for the hereafter. Praying in the
mosque and being attached to the mosque is a very pious and rewardable action.
Prophet Muhammad, may God praise him, continually
reminded his followers that God loves and rewards those who find repose and
comfort in the mosques.
When a person goes to the mosques for prayer and the
remembrance of God, God, the Most High, greets him joyfully, just as the family
of one who is absent greets him with joy when he returns to them.
The mosque is the house of every pious person, and
God has granted comfort and mercy for everyone for whom the mosque is his
house, and that they will easily traverse the bridge to God’s Paradise.
There are six places in which a person is guaranteed
the safekeeping of God, the Most High, as long as he is in one of them. In a
congregational mosque, with a sick person, at a funeral, in his house, with a
just ruler whom he supports and treats with respect, or at a place where
people are fighting jihad.
The comforting feeling that comes from pleasing God, and
even more rewards, can be obtained by cleaning or building mosques. Aisha,
the beloved wife of Prophet Muhammad, said that her husband often reminded the
people that God commanded that mosques be built among the houses and that they
be kept clean and perfumed.
Whoever builds a mosque seeking the pleasure of God, God
builds a similar one for him in paradise.
Whoever builds for the Mighty and Majestic God a
mosque, even if it be very small, God builds for him a house in paradise.
Once, while they were building a mosque, a companion of Prophet
Muhammad noticed him carrying a heavy piece of mortar. He offered to carry it
but prophet Muhammad reminded him that there was no better living then in
Paradise and suggested he carry his own piece of mortar for this noble cause.
In the traditions of Prophet Muhammad we can find the
story of a woman who cleaned and picked up rubbish in the mosque. Prophet
Muhammad did not learn of her death until he did not notice her, so he inquired
about her. He said to his companions, “If one of you dies inform me!” He then
prayed the funeral prayer for her and said, “I saw her in Paradise! She was
rewarded for cleaning the mosque.”
Prophet Muhammad also reminded his followers that, “After
the believer dies, he is followed by some of his work and good deeds including
knowledge that he taught and spread, leaving a pious child (who would
supplicate God for his father or mother), a Qur’an book he bequeathed, a
mosque he built, a house he built for the wayfarer, a river he
caused to flow, or charity extracted from his wealth during his life while in
good health.”
Comfort, peace, tranquility, good companionship, angels
and rewards can all be found in mosques and they are also among the best places
on earth. Prophet Muhammad said, the most beloved places to God are the
mosques, and the most hated places are the markets.
Mosques are special places filled with blessings and
rewards, however, God has conferred a special blessing upon the nation of
Muslims, the whole earth has been declared a mosque, so when the time for
prayer comes and a believer is unable to pray in congregation in a building he
may pray wherever he may be.
The companion Abu Dharr asked Prophet Muhammad, “What
was the first mosque on the earth?” He answered, “The Masjid al-Haram [in Makkah].”
Abu Dharr then asked, “Which is the next oldest mosque?” The Prophet said, “The
al-Aqsa Mosque.” Abu Dharr asked, “How much time was there between building the
two mosques?” The Prophet replied, “Forty years.” Then he said, “Wherever you
may be at the time of prayer you may pray, for it (the earth) is all a place
for prayer.”
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