32.1.1 THE ROLES OF THE MASJID

The mosque is the center of the community around which all community activities take place. It is open and active during salat and during non-salat times for community activities. Mosques are built on the basis of taqwa. Ibadat especially salat manifests taqwa. Ibadat activities include salat, i’itikaaf, and dhikr. Regular masjid attendance is a sign of spiritual health and is necessary for community building. The masjid is a forum for tarbiyat and leadership training. The following social services can be provided at the masjid: medical care, health education, disease screening, primary health care, child care, and elderly care. Community administrative affairs can be carried out in the mosque such as muhakamaat and li’aan.

32.1.2 THE REGULATIONS OF THE MASJID

The masjid should be the geographical center of the community. It should be simple in construction avoiding excessive decoration. Facilities at a modern masjid include: a salat hall, a school, a clinic, social welfare services facilities, and sports facilities. The local community should own and look after its masjid. The main administrative officials of a masjid are the imam and muaddhin helped by other officials as the need may be. All Muslims should have free access to the masjid. Worshippers should be clean in body and dress to show respect for the masjid and those who frequent it. They should come with calmness. A dua is said on entering and exiting a mosque. Two raka’ats are offerred on entry into the mosque. The following are encouraged in the masjid: sitting for long periods, offering salat, and frequenting the masjid. The voice should not be raised in the mosque. Weapons and dirty things are prohibited in the mosque. Bad odors are not allowed in the mosque The following are permitted activities in the mosque: salat, reading Qur'an, education, medical care, social welfare, political activity, eating, sitting in the mosque, sleeping, reciting poetry, government, The following are prohibited in the masjid: controversial matters, violence, commerce, noise, execution of huduud, selling and buying, sexual relations, and shirk practices.

32.1.3 THE MASJID OF MAKKA

The kaaba is the sacred house, al bayt al haraam, the sacred masjid, al masjid al haraam, the house, al bayt, the sanctuary, al haram, or the ka’aba. It is called the old house, al bayt ‘atiiq, because it was the first house of worship to be built by Ibrahim and Ismail. It has been rebuilt several times eversince. The city of Makka is called Makka, Bakka, and Umm al Qura in the Qur’an. It is a city of peace, al balad al amiin, that will never be invaded until the Last Day. Plague and Dajjaal will never enter it. The haram al shariif is an area around the masjid that has special sanctity. It is an area of peace and security. Temporary visitors to the haram have the same rights as the permanent residents. It is prohibited to carry weapons in the sanctuary. The plants and animals of the sanctuary are protected. The haram has calmness, is a place of ibadat and tawaaf, a venue of hajj, and a qiblat of Muslims. It was also the start of isra and mi’iraaj. Non-believers and polytheists are not allowed in the sanctuary

32.1.4 THE MASJIDS OF MADINA

The prophet declared the area between the two lobes of Madina as a sanctuary. The prophet on arrival in Madina bought land for the mosque and started building. It has been rebuilt and widened several times eversince. There are other mosques in and around Madina. Masjid al Qiblatain is famous because of the change of the direction of the qiblat. The prophet and Omar used to visit Masjid Quba every Saturday.

32.1.5 JERUSALEM MOSQUE, al masjid al aqsa

The Jerusalem mosque is also called bayt al maqdis or masjid al isra. It was the first qiblat for Muslims. It is the second mosque. The prophet ordered salat in al masjid al aqsa. Such salat has a lot of good. The dajjaal will not be able to enter bayt al maqdis.