Sunday, December 20, 2015

Etiquette while building Masaajid

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Imaam al-Bukhaaree mentioned the following four narrations in regards to the construction of the Masjid which establishes the actions which are a confirmed Sunnah, actions which are a Necessity, and actions which are Extravagance.

Chapter (62): The construction of (the Prophet’s صلى الله عليه وسلم) Masjid:

1) Aboo Sa`eed al-Khudree رضي الله عنه said: “The roof of the Masjid (of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم) was made of the leaves of date-palms.”

2) `Umar Ibn al-Khattaab رضي الله عنه ordered the Prophet’s Masjid to be expanded (built) and said: “Protect the people from rain. Beware of red and yellow decorations, for they put the people to trial (by distracting them from prayers).”

3) Anas Ibn Maalik رضي الله عنه said: “They will (build the Masaajid and) boast about that rather than coming frequently to them (for offering the Salaah) - except for few.”

4) Ibn `Abbaas رضي الله عنهما said: “You (Muslims) will surely decorate your Masaajid as the Jews and Christians decorated (their places of worship).”

[Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (1/96) Arabic]

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Some points of benefits from the above 4 narrations:

1) In the first narration we learn that building the Masaajid for establishing the prayers is from the confirmed Sunnah of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, his Companions and those who came after them.

In another Hadeeth, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “He who builds a Masjid for (the remembrance of) Allaah, Allaah would build for him (a house) in the Jannah like it.” [Saheeh Muslim (1084, 1085, 7110)]

Apart from Salaah, the other duties which are carried out in the Masaajid are: recitation of the Qur’aan, doing the Adhkaar, seeking knowledge and giving admonition, and I`tikaaf.

From the things that are not allowed in the Masaajid are buying and selling, making announcement for lost properties or any other announcements related to worldly matters.

Note: It is allowed to do the marriage contract in the Masaajid, but it is not a confirmed Sunnah as there is no authentic evidence to support it.

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2) From the narration of `Umar رضي الله عنه, we learn that when there is a necessity, it is allowed to make changes and repairs in the Masjid. Example: fixing/changing the roof to protect the people from rain; building bigger Masaajid to accommodate the people; adding windows to allow light and ventilation; providing facilities for performing the Wudhu (ablution) etc.

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3) From the narration of `Umar رضي الله عنه, we also learn that we should avoid the things which would divert the people’s attention away from the Salaah.

Narrated `Aaishah رضي الله عنها: The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم prayed in a Khameesah (a garment) having printed marks. During the prayer, he looked at its marks. So when he صلى الله عليه وسلم finished the prayer he said: “Take this Khameesah of mine (and give it) to Abu Jahm and get me his Inbijaaniyah (a woolen garment without marks) as it (the Khameesah) has diverted my attention from the prayer.”

The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “I was looking at its (Khameesah’s) marks during the prayers and I was afraid that it may put me in trial (by taking away my attention).” [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (373, 5817) and Saheeh Muslim (1131, 1132, 1133)]

The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم also said: “It is not appropriate that there should be anything in the House (the Ka`bah) which distracts the worshiper while he is praying.” [Sunan Abu Dawood (2030) and graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee]

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4) From the major sign that we have already been distracted from our prayers is the loss of Khushoo` - except for those whom Allaah تعالى has protected:

The Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “The very first thing to be raised from this Ummah is Khushoo` (awe, fear of Allaah) until there is not a single person in it with Khushoo`.” [Saheeh al-Jaami` (2569) and graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee]

The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم also said: “The first thing to be raised from the people is Khushoo`.” [Saheeh al-Jaami` (2576) and graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee]

Abu Dardaa’ رضي الله عنه said to one of the companions: “If you wish I will tell you what the first type of knowledge taken from the people will be - it is al-Khushoo` (the fear of Allaah- humility, submissiveness) such that if you enter a Jaami'ah Masjid, you will not see a single man who has Khushoo`.” [Sunan al-Tirmidhee (2653) and graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee]

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5) The third narration of Anas Ibn Maalik is an admonition, that before the Day of Judgment, many people will compete and boast about constructing the Masaajid, but only a few will attend the prayers in it.

Anas رضي الله عنه reported that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “The Hour will not come till the people will compete with one another in (building) the Masaajid.” [Sunan Abu Dawood (449), Sunan al-Nasaa’ee (689) and Sunan Ibn Maajah (739) and graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee]

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6) The whole purpose of building the Masjid is for gathering the people for offering the Salaah in it so that Allaah is remembered, as Allaah تعالى says:

﴿فِي بُيُوتٍ أَذِنَ اللَّـهُ أَن تُرْفَعَ وَيُذْكَرَ فِيهَا اسْمُهُ يُسَبِّحُ لَهُ فِيهَا بِالْغُدُوِّ وَالْآصَالِ * رِجَالٌ لَّا تُلْهِيهِمْ تِجَارَةٌ وَلَا بَيْعٌ عَن ذِكْرِ اللَّـهِ وَإِقَامِ الصَّلَاةِ وَإِيتَاءِ الزَّكَاةِ ۙ يَخَافُونَ يَوْمًا تَتَقَلَّبُ فِيهِ الْقُلُوبُ وَالْأَبْصَارُ﴾

{In houses (Masaajid), which Allaah has ordered to be raised (to be cleaned, and to be honored), in them His Name is glorified in the mornings and in the afternoons or the evenings - men whom neither trade nor sale diverts them from the Remembrance of Allaah, nor from performing al-Salaah, nor from giving the Zakaah. They fear a Day when hearts and eyes will be overturned (from the horror of the torment of the Day of Resurrection).} [Surah al-Noor (24): 36-37]

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7) But if the people do not attend the congregation, or if they attend but do not remember Allaah as He should be remembered - like how the Kuffaar and the hypocrites used to do – then also the purpose is lost:

﴿وَمَا كَانَ صَلَاتُهُمْ عِندَ الْبَيْتِ إِلَّا مُكَاءً وَتَصْدِيَةً ۚ فَذُوقُوا الْعَذَابَ بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَكْفُرُونَ﴾

{Their Salaah (prayer) at the House (of Allaah, i.e. the Ka'bah at Makkah) was nothing but whistling and clapping of hands. Therefore taste the punishment because you used to disbelieve.} [Surah al-Anfaal (8): 35]

﴿وَإِذَا قَامُوا إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ قَامُوا كُسَالَىٰ يُرَاءُونَ النَّاسَ وَلَا يَذْكُرُونَ اللَّـهَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا﴾

{And when they stand up for al-Salaah, they stand with laziness and to be seen of men (i.e. for showoff), and they do not remember Allaah but very little.} [Surah al-Nisaa (4): 142]

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8) And sometimes a Masjid is built not for the remembrance of Allaah, but to plot against Islaam and the Muslims. The incident of Masjid al-Dhiraar which is mentioned in Surah al-Tawbah [(9): 107-110] is a clear example of this. The hypocrites built the Masjid not to worship Allaah but to use it as their secret meeting place under the guise that they built it for those who could not attend the prayers in Masjid Qubaa due to various reasons (old age, rain, winter etc.). The real purpose was to make a meeting place for all those who waged war against Islaam and as means of spreading Kufr and to cause harm and division among the Believers. They used to swear that their intention was good and had even asked the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم to lead the prayer in it. But Allaah تعالى forbade His Messenger from praying in it and the Prophet had it razed.

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9) Similarly, many Masaajid have been built not for the worship of Allaah, but for the worship of other than Allaah:

﴿وَأَنَّ الْمَسَاجِدَ لِلَّـهِ فَلَا تَدْعُوا مَعَ اللَّـهِ أَحَدًا﴾

{And the Masaajid are for Allaah (Alone), so invoke not anyone along with Allaah.} [Surah al-Jinn (72): 18]

Examples of this are the Masaajid which have been built over the graves.

Narrated `Aaishah and `Abdullaah bin `Abbaas: When the last moment of the life of Allaah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم came he started putting his Khameesa on his face and when he felt hot and short of breath he took it off his face and said: “May Allaah curse the Jews and Christians for they built the places of worship at the graves of their Prophets.” The Prophet was warning (Muslims) of what those had done. [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree and Saheeh Muslim]

Narrated Abu Marthad al-Ghanawi: Allaah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Do not sit on the graves and do not pray facing towards them.” [Saheeh Muslim (2122)]

Anas Ibn Maalik said: “(When the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم wanted to build Masjid al-Nabawee), there were graves of pagans in that piece of land and part of that land was unleveled and there were some date-palm trees in it. The Prophet ordered that the graves of the pagans be dug out and the unleveled land be leveled and the date-palm trees be cut down…” [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (420)]

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10) As for decorating the walls and doors, then this fall under extravagance as has been reported in the Hadeeth:

Narrated `Abdullah ibn `Abbaas: The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “I was not commanded to build high Masaajid.” And Ibn `Abbaas said: “You will certainly adorn them as the Jews and Christians did.” [Sunan Abu Dawood (448) and graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee]

Shaikh al-Albaanee said: It means that he صلى الله عليه وسلم was not commanded to build high the Masaajid so that it does not become a pretext for adorning and decorating the Masaajid as how the people of the Book had done. This is a type of censuring and rebuking for those who do so.

Al-San`aanee said: In the statement of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم: “I have not been commanded”, there is an indication that there is no benefit in doing so. If there was any benefit, then Allaah تعالى would have commanded it.

Shaikh al-Albaanee further said: Adorning and decorating the Masaajid is wastage of wealth and which does not bring any benefit, and it also a cause for distraction for those who are praying.

[See al-Thamar al-Mustataab of Shaikh al-Albaanee (1/462)]

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By Abu Sahl

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