“There are seven whom Allâh 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 Allâh, 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 Allâh and part on that, a man who remembers Allâh when he is alone and his eyes overflow with tears, a man who refuses the approaches of a noble, beautiful woman, saying ‘I fear Allâh,’ and a man who gives charity and conceals it so that his left hand does not know what his right hand gives.”
[Reported by Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim. The text is that of Al-Bukhaaree: Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree, V.1, Hadeeth #629.]
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 place in which Muslims worship Allâh.
About the Mosque
Praying in the mosque and being attached to the mosque is a very pious and rewardable action.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 Allâh to be worshipped, but they can also gather rewards and good deeds for the hereafter.
Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, continually reminded his followers that Allâh 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 Allâh, Allâh, the Most High, greets him joyfully, just as the family of one who is absent greets him with joy when he returns to them.” [Reported by Ibn Abee Shaybah, Ibn Maajah, Ibn Khuzaimah and others and it is found in Saheehit-Targheeb (no. 315)]
“The mosque is the house of every pious person, and Allâh has granted comfort and mercy for everyone for whom the mosque is his house, and that they will easily traverse the bridge to Allâh’s Paradise.” [Reported by at-Tabaraanee in al-Kabeer and al-Awsat and al-Bazzaar who declared it hasan, and it occurs in Saheehut-Targheeb (no. 328)]
“There are six places in which a person is guaranteed the safekeeping of Allâh, 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.” [Declared hasan by Shaykh al-Albaanee in Saheehut-Targheeb (no. 326) and is reported by at-Tabaraanee and al-Bazzaar.]
“The comforting feeling that comes from pleasing Allâh, and even more rewards, can be obtained by cleaning or building mosques. Aisha, the beloved wife of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said that her husband often reminded the people that Allâh commanded that mosques be built among the houses and that they be kept clean and perfumed.” [Sunan Abu Dawood, Hadith no. 455]
“Whoever builds a mosque seeking the pleasure of Allâh, Allâh builds a similar one for him in paradise.” “Whoever builds for the Mighty and Majestic Allâh a mosque, even if it be very small, Allâh builds for him a house in paradise.” [Bukhari & Muslim: #450; #553]
“Once, while they were building a mosque, a companion of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, noticed him carrying a heavy piece of mortar. He offered to carry it but Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, reminded him that there was no better living then in Paradise and suggested he carry his own piece of mortar for this noble cause.”
Angels & Blessings
Comfort, peace, tranquility, good companionship, angels and rewards can all be found in mosques and they are also among the best places on earth.In the traditions of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, we can find the story of a woman who cleaned and picked up rubbish in the mosque. Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, 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, peace be upon him, 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 Allâh 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, peace be upon him, said: the most beloved places to Allâh are the mosques, and the most hated places are the markets. [Sahih Muslim]
Mosques are special places filled with blessings and rewards, however, Allâh 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, may Allah be pleases with him, asked Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, “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.”