Blessed are these places and blessed are those people who come here to offer Salāt, to purify themselves and ask forgiveness from their Lord. Indeed, in this place the reward and Mercy of Allāh stay bountiful.
Allāh says in the Qur'ān;
"The masjids of Allāh are only to be maintained and served by those, who believe in Allāh, and the Last Day, and establish Salāt, and give Zakāt, and fear none except Allāh, for (such) it is expected that, they will be of the (rightly) guided." 9:18
Note: The maintenance of a masjid implies that all the actions of the Masjid of Muhammad ﷺ are done in it This includes Dawa'ah of Imān gatherings in which belief in the unseen is developed, study circles on the virtues of A'māl, acquiring knowledge and Dhikr, the religious education and training of those coming from outside, worship and the services of guests.
Another important aspect of the Masjid of Muhammad ﷺ was the sending of the Jamā'ats (groups) for Dawa'ah work, both within the country and to foreign countries. Similarly receiving and being host to Jamā'ats from within the country and abroad. This is generally expressed as "Hijrat and Nusrat".
and when the describing the condition of the men who have been rightly guided Allāh says;
"In houses (masjids) which Allāh has ordered to be raised (to be cleaned, and to be honoured), in them His Name is remembered (i.e. Dawa'ah, recitation of the Qur'ān, learning and teaching the commandments of Allāh, worship).Therein glorify (Allāh) in the mornings and in the evenings.
Men who neither trade nor sale (business) diverts from the Remembrance of Allāh (with heart and tongue), nor from establishing Salāt, nor from giving Zakāt. They fear a Day when hearts will be shaken and eyes will be rolled (out of the horror of the torment of the Day of Resurrection)." 24: 36-37
and here are a variety of ahadith that also support, elaborate and justify the above verses and the virtues of the masjid;
[1] Abu Hurairah (RA) narrates that Muhammad ﷺ said;
"The parts of the land liked most by Allāh are its masjids, and the parts of land disliked most by Allāh are its markets."
[2] Ibn 'Abbās (RA) narrates that masjids are the houses of Allāh on the earth. They shine to the dwellers of the sky, just as the stars shine to the dwellers of the earth.
[3] 'Umar ibn Al Khattāb (RA) narrates: I heard Muhammad ﷺ saying;
"Anyone who builds a masjid where the name of Allāh is remembered and (He is praised), Allāh will build a palace for him in Paradise."
[4] Abu Hurairah (RA) narrates that Muhammad ﷺ said;
"Whoever goes to the masjid in the morning or in the evening, ALlāh prepares for him a good hospitality in Paradise as often as he goes to the masjid, morning or evening."
[5] Abu Umāmah (RA) narrates that Muhammad ﷺ said;
"Going to the masjid in the morning or evening is part of Jihād in the path of Allāh."
[6] Abu Sa'īd Khudrī (RA) narrates that Muhammad ﷺ said;
"Whoever loves the masjid, Allāh loves him."
[7] Abu Dardā (RA) narrates: I heard Muhammad ﷺ saying;
"The masjid is the home of every pious person who fears Allāh. For the one who spends most of his time in the masjid, Allāh has Subhānahū wa Ta'ālā has taken upon Himself to comfort him, to bestow Mercy upon him, to bestow Mercy upon him, to make the crossing over Bridge of Sirāt easy for him, and to grant him His Pleasure and Paradise."
[8] Mu'ādh ibn Jabal (RA) narrates that Muhammad ﷺ said;
"Verily Shaitān is the wolf to man, like the wolf that catches sheep; the one which is solitary and the one which stays away from the flock. So avoid staying alone in valleys. Hold firmlu to Jamaat (collectiveness), to live with the common people, and to the masjid."
[9] Abu Hurairah (RA) narrates that Muhammad ﷺ said;
"A Muslim that makes the masjid his abode for Salāt and Shikr, Allāh is overjoyed with him as a family is overjoyed by the return of an absent relative."
Note: Making his abode means that he develops a special attachment to the masjid, and remains there for a major part of his time.
[10] Abu Hurairah (RA) narrates Muhammad ﷺ said;
"Whoever had made the masjid his abode, and then was pre-occupied by some matter or illness, and subsequently returned to the masjid as before, Allāh is overjoyed with him as a family is overjoyed by the return of an absent relative."
[11] Abu Hurairah (RA) narrates that Muhammad ﷺ said;
"The people who frequent the masjids are (like) their pegs. The angels are their companions. If they are absent the angels search for them, and if they become sick the angels visit them, and if they are in need the angels help them.
The one who sits in the masjid, derives at least one benefit from these three: Either he meets a Muslim brother from whom he may benefit in terms of Deen, or he hears a word of wisdom, or receives a Mercy from Allāh for which every Muslim waits for."
[12] 'Ā'ishah (RA) narrates that Muhammad ﷺ ordered us to build masjids in various localities, and to clean and perfume them.
[13] Anas (RA) narrates that there was a woman who used to collect rubbish from the masjid. When she died, Muhammad ﷺ was not informed of her burial. Muhammad ﷺ said: If a person amongst you dies, then inform me. He then offered Salā-tul-Janāzah upon her and said: Verily, I saw her in Paradise because she used to remove rubbish from the masjid.
[14] Abu Sa'īd (RA) narrates that Muhammad ﷺ said;
"If you see a man frequenting the masjid, bear witness to his Īmān. Allāh Subhānahū wa Ta'ālā says: Only he will frequent the masjids, who believes in Allāh and the Last Day"
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Subhan'Allāh, how great is it to be close to the masjid, to be able to pray in these blessed places. Magnificent how it is a place of remembrance of Allāh, pure serenity and abundant mercy.
Let us not take for granted these places of worship, let us respect it. Come and go to these places with proper modest clothes, clean and purified body, for indeed, it is a place where you offer and surrender yourself you Allāh, in complete and clear intention of asking forgiveness and making du'ā.
Mind your masjids, keep it clean at all times and remove even a small fragment of rubbish from it, who knows it might be your way to enter Jannah just like the old woman who used to take off rubbish from a certain masjid, neglect not the little deeds others and you do, they might be small to our naked eyes, but to Allāh it is not.
May Allāh enlighten us with the eagerness to come to these places to offer our salāt, spread the 'ilm and benefit from other believers, indeed it is a place where disputes can also be solved and arguments can be stopped and broken relationships can be once again reconciled.
Volunteer to clean these places, give yourself in these acts of worship, it is better for you than keeping yourself busy with the lies of dunya. in sha Allāh, indeed, masjids are but a home for those who are rightly guided. So, be one of them.
And upon entering these blessed places, keep in mind the du'ā that Muhammad ﷺ used to say;
"اعوذ باالله اعطيم وبو جهه الكريم و سلطانه القديم من الشطا الجيم
I seek refuge in Allāh the Greatest, and in His Noble Being, and in His Eternal Domain, from the accursed Shaitān."
Allāhumma Amīn.
Zohayma
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F.N.
[1] Muslim
[2] Tabarānī, Majma'uz-Zawaīd
[3] Ibn-HIbban
[4] Bukharī
[5] Tabarānī, Majma'uz-Zawaīd
[6] Tabarānī, Majma'uz-Zawaīd
[7] Tabarānī, Bazzār, Majma'uz-Zawaīd
[8] Musnad Ahmad
[9] Ibn Majāh
[10] Ibn Khuzaimah
[11] Muslim
[12] Abu Dawūd
[13] Tabarānī, Majma'uz-Zawaīd
[14] Tirmidhī
