Islamic lessons

Allah revealed an explicit verse whose meaning is: {themosques of Allah shallbe visited and maintained by those who believe in Allah and the LastDay, establish regularsalaats, pay zakaat, and fear none but Allah. Itis they who are expected to be on true guidance.}1.Brothers in faith, today we will speakaboutthe best placeson earth, which ismosques, for the Prophet-^alayhissalaatu wassalaam-that the best places on earthare the mosques.They are the places Allahta^aalaaloves mostbecause they are built for the purposeof worshipping Allah. Prayer is established there, recitation of the Qur’an, the retreatofi^tikaafand otheracts of obedience and good deeds.MyMuslim brother, the best places on earth are the mosques, do you intend to gothere and within itsboundaries offer your devotions, worshipping...is your heartattached to itor are you distracted away from it and what it requires?Good tidings toyou if yourheart is attached to mosques; ‘in sha’a-llah your will be inthe shadow ofthe Throneon the Day of Judgement, as our beloved and preciousProphet Muhammadinformed us–salla-llaahu ^alayhi wasallam.Brothers in faith! If people knewthe goodness and blessing to be found in mosques,you would see them racing to go there.We aresaddenedby the state many peoplehave reached; you only find themonce a weekfor the Jumu^ah prayerand someonly attend themasjidtwice a year: for ^Eid alFitr and ^Eid al’Ad-haa!Laahawlawalaa quwwata ‘illaabillaah!We ask Allah to inspire us to do what is good for us.Brothers in faith!Allah has given mosques a high statusa greathonour;it is one oftheemblems of Allahwho revealed2a verse whose meaning is: {thatis it.Whoever holds the emblems of Allahin honour, this is surely fromthe devotion of thehearts}So hold mosques in honourmy faithful brother!Avoid polluting mosques with rubbish... avoid soiling them with impurities, withnajaasaat,for this isharaam! This isharaam!Is it nottruethat the Prophet–salla-llaahu ^alayhi wasallam-saidwhat means: [For these mosques, urine and filthare not good. They ought to be only for remembrance of Allah-^azzawajall-and recitation of the Qur’an]31AtTawbah 9:182alHajj 22:323Reported byMuslim.

Khutbah: Mosque EtiquetteAICP UK2My faithful brother, take part in the cleaning of mosques and incensing itwith goodperfumes such as frankincenseand aloes woodwhich was used to perfume themosque of the Messenger of Allah–salla-llaahu ^alayhi wasallam-from the time of^Umaribn alKhattabuntil this day, every Friday.Brothers in faith, see what anhonour it is to clean the mosque:‘AbuHurayrah–radiya-llaahu ^anhu-reported anstory whose meaning is: “A black woman used to sweep themasjidandthen theMessenger of Allah–salla-llaahu ^alayhi wasallam-could not find her anymore so heasked about her and he was told, “She has died”, so he said, [Why didn’t youinform me?](Itwas as if they considered this to be a small matter), so he added,[show me her grave]. They showed him her grave and he performedsalaat for herand then stated, [These graves are filled with darkness around theiroccupants and Allah ^azza wajalla fills them with light when I offersalaat on their behalf].My Muslim brother, do not sell or buy in mosque for this is makrooh, mosques arenot markets. The Messenger of Allah–salla-llaahu ^alayhi wasallam-said what means, [Ifyou see someone selling or buying in mosque, say: “May Allah make yourtrade unsuccessful/laa ‘arbaha-llahu tijaaratak” and if you seesomeoneseekingwhat he has lost,say: “may Allah not return it back toyou/laa radda-llaahu ^alayk”].When you go out to mosque my Muslim brother, remember the du^aa’ for going tomasjid. ‘Ahmad and others reported from the Prophet–salla-llaahu ^alayhi wasallam-that he saidwhat means:[Whoever says, when he goes out to mosque,“O Allah,I am asking YouAllaahumma ‘innee ‘as’alukaby the right You granted to those who askbihaqqi_ssaa’ileen ^alaykaand by the right You granted this walk of mine,wabihaqqi mamshaaya haadhaafor I have not gone out filled with vanity...fa’innee lam ‘akhruj bataranwalaa ‘asharanand neither to be seen nor to be heard of,walaa riyaa’an walaa sum^atanrather I have gone out fearing your punishmentkharajtu_ttiqaa’a sakhatikaand hoping for your reward,wabtighaa’a mardaatikso I ask you to spareme theFireFa’as’aluka ‘an tunqidhanee mina_nnaarand to forgive my sins; no one but You forgives sins”wataghfira lee dhunoobee;‘innahoo laa yaghfiru dhdhunooba‘illaa ‘Ant”Allahwill bestow reward upon himand seventy thousand angelswill askfor forgivenesson his behalf]

Khutbah: Mosque EtiquetteAICP UK3When you enter the mosque, remember the du^aa’to go into themasjid:Bismi-llaah, Allaahummasalli ^alaa MuhammadIn the name of Allah, Allaahumma raise the rank of MuhammadAllaahumma_ghfir lee waftahlee ‘abwaaba rahmatikAllaahuma forgive me and open for me the doors of Your mercy”Then offer a prayer of two rak^atsto pay respect to the mosque before sitting. Thensupplicateyour Lord or read from the Qur’anor supplicateAllah in your favourorsomeone else’s, forHe responds to thedu^aa’sbetween the ‘adhaan and the‘iqaamah.As long as you remain in mosque observe the manners appropriatein mosques,without exaggeration, but without neglect either.Beware of some people’s exaggerations when they forbid talking about lawful worldlymatters inmosque, this is not correct, if it does not cause confusion to those prayingor reciting from the Qur’an. AtTirmidhiyy reported in a reliablehadeeththat theProphet–salla-llaahu ^alayhi wasallam-was in mosqueone nightwith a group of hisCompanions.His Companions were recalling the events of Jaahiliyyah, how peoplewere and what they used to do, they were laughing and the Messenger–salla-llaahu^alayhi wasallam-was smiling.The talking which isharaam in mosque is the talking which isharaam outside it,such as backbiting and othersins.Beware of a saying which was made up by someliars attempting to falsify the religion of Allah; they attributed it to the Messenger ofAllah–salla-llaahu ^alayhi wasallam, declaring, “The Prophet said, ‘Speaking in mosqueeats good deeds away like fire eats wood’”.This is a forgedhadeeth, they lied whenthey attributed it to the Messenger of Allah–salla-llaahu ^alayhi wasallam.Do remain quiet most of the time, unless there is something good to say inside themosque or outside it.Take care of your brothers in mosque, so do not confuse them while they are prayingor reciting from the Qur’anand do not hurt them. AlBayhaqiyy reported inasSunanalKubraaand others did too, that the Messenger of Allah–salla-llaahu ^alayhi wasallam-was ini^tikaaf, in retreat in mosque when he heard people in mosque recitingnoisilywhile he was under a tentof his. He pulled the curtainandsaidwhat means:[Listen!Every oneof you is speaking to his Lord in confidence so do notharm each other and do not raise your voices over each other whilereciting insalaat].Be keennot to harm them with bad smells, especially on Friday. Do perform theFriday ghusl as it is a sunnah mu’akkadah and wear for it some of yourwhite clothes;clip your nails and put perfume on.Before jum^ah avoid eating garlic or onion forthe Prophet–^alayhissalaatuwassalaam-saidwhat means: [Whoever eats onion,garlic or leeks, let him stay away from our mosque for angels suffer fromwhatthe children of Adam suffer]On this day go early to mosque as reward increases by going there earlier. If youenter it while the imam is making his speech, offer two quick rak^atsbefore sitting

Khutbah: Mosque EtiquetteAICP UK4and then sit down without speaking to anyone as speaking during the khutbah isforbidden. Payattention to the speaker,do listen to him and when he finishesandcomes down from the minbar, when the iqaamah is recited, stand to pray withreverence and all your heart.Pray as if this was going to be your lastsalaat.Brothers in faith, attend mosques, stay in them and do not forget to practisei^tikaafinside it, even if it is for a short time because this is a good deed and an act ofobedience; it is a better action than wasting time in the street.Mosques willonly be inhabited by those who believe in Allahand the Day ofJudgement, so come and stay in mosques, do not shun them, take care of them andof their possessions. Join those who encourage others to visit them.When you leave the mosque recite the du^aa’ reported from theMessenger–salla-llaahu ^alayhi wasallam-for the person going out ofmasjid. This is:[Bismi-llaahi,Allaahummasalli ^alaa Muhammad, Allaahumma_ftahlee ‘abwaaba fadlik]perhaps Allah will grant you what you asked for and send you a grace from Him.I ask Allah tabaaraka wata^aalaa to inspire us to do what is right,to create in us theability to do what He loves and rewards and to finish with, I ask forgiveness fromAllah forme and you.