ALLAH USES HIS HOUSES, I.E. THE MASAAJID TO EXPOSE THE ZAALIMEEN – THOSE WHO PREVENT MUSALLIS FROM THE MASAAJID
Allah Ta’ala states: “Who is a greater zaalim (oppressor) than the one who prevents (others) from the Thikr of His Name in the Masaajid whilst he (the zaalim) strives in its destruction?” (Surah Baqarah – Aayat 114)
(1) THE MASJID IS THE HOUSE OF ALLAH
Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam said: “Verily, the Houses of Allah on earth are the Masaajid.”
The Masjid is the House of Allah. This fact more than adequately illustrates the significance, virtue and importance of this sacred place of Ibaadat.
The Honour of a place is commensurate with the honour of its owner. Every Muslim understands or should be able to understand the degree of honour which has to be offered to Allah Ta’ala. No building or place on earth can therefore be equal in honour and sanctity like the Masjid which Allah Ta’ala proclaims as ‘His House’.
Thus, when you visit the Masjid, you visit Allah Ta’ala. When you honour the Masjid, you honour Allah Ta’ala. And, how do you honour the House of Allah Ta’ala? The Shariat teaches us the ways in which we have to honour the Masaajid.
The first and foremost act of honouring the Masjid, is to discharge the obligation of Fardh Salaat for which the Masjid has been constructed. The purpose of the Masjid is Ibaadat – Salaat, I’tikaaf, Tilaawat, Thikr and Dua. For the realization of the best and maximum benefits of Ibaadat, there is no other venue which can compete with the Masjid – the House of Allah Ta’ala.
Therefore, if the Masjid has to be restricted to five Musallis or the Masjid has to be ‘closed’ for Salaat – both acts being Haraam in all circumstances, then this Kufr law should be more applicable to every other place or building on earth because no building or place on earth can be equal in honour, significance, virtue and importance as the Masjid!
(2) GUESTS OF ALLAH AT THE MARKETS OF THE AAKHIRAT
Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam said: “The Masaajid are the markets among the Markets of the Aakhirah. He who enters it (the Masjid) becomes the guest of Allah. The hospitality of Allah (towards His guest) is Maghfirat (forgiveness of sins), and Allah’s gift (for the Musalli – His guest) is Honour and Respect.”
Can anyone be a more honourable guest than the Musalli who becomes Allah’s guest when he enters the House of Allah Ta’ala? Is there a more wonderful gift than the Divine Gift of honour and respect which Allah Ta’ala bestows to the Musalli of His House? Is there a greater hospitality which anyone can show towards a guest than the Divine hospitality which is Maghfirat? In other words, the sins of the Musalli are forgiven by his mere entry into the Royal and Divine Sanctity – the Masjid of Allah.
Those who prevent the guests of Allah should take heed. Whilst it is understandable for Kuffaar to prevent Allah’s guest from entering the Markets of the Aakhirah and attaining Maghfirat, it is only a Munaafiq or Murtad who would agree to the government banning congregational Salaat at the Masaajid. Allah declares them not as Zaalims, but the worst of Zaalims…
What better trade can there be than to conduct the trade in a Market which will be among the Markets in Jannat, namely, the Masaajid? And, what greater profit is there than the profit obtained from a trade conducted inside the Market of the Aakhirah, namely, the Masjid? The trade referred to here does not have the least reference to worldly money. ‘Trade’ refers to Salaat with Jamaat performed in the Masjid – not Rands, Pounds or the Dollars of the ‘Scholars for Dollars’.
(3) THE BEST PLACE – NOT TO BE “SUSPENDED”
Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam said: “The worst places (on earth) are the market-places. And the best places are the Masaajid.”
A Muslim of intelligence whose spiritual thinking has not been deranged by ujub (vanity), kibr (pride) and bughd (malice) will not prefer a venue over and above the Masjid for his Salaat when the House of Allah is the Best place.
But for the Munaafiqeen, the supermarkets are more important than the Masaajid!!! If the best of places is to be “temporarily suspended” in the terminology of the Zindeeqs, then what about the worst of places?
(4) ORCHARDS OF JANNAT
Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam said: “When you pass by the Orchards of Jannat, consume of its fruit.”
The Sahaabah queried: “O Rasulullah! What are the Orchards of Jannat?”
Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam said: “They are the Masaajid.”
The Sahaabah asked: “O Rasulullah! What is the meaning of consuming its fruit?”
Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam said: “Recite: Subhaan-Allah, Walhamdulillah, Wa Laa Ilaaha IllAllahu Wallahu Akbar.”
Is it possible for a genuine Mu’min to deprive himself like a Munaafiq of the glory and blessings of the Orchard of Jannat and of its celestial fruit? You – if not a Zindeeq/Murtad/Munaafiq (no thawaab for them) – can recite the above Tasbeeh a thousand times in your home, office, surgery, etc., but never will you acquire the thawaab (reward) of reciting this Tasbeeh once in the Orchard of Jannat – in Allah’s House. The difference is like that between Heaven and earth. Reflect and consult your conscience.
Now just imagine the stupidity of those arguing in favour of not performing Salaat in the Orchard of Jannat merely for the fear of a virus!!! In Qur’aanic terms:
“(They are) deaf, dumb and blind. Hence they cannot understand.”
DON’T FEAR THE MUNAAFIQEEN
Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam said: “There will ever remain a group in my Ummah who will fight on the Haq. Those who oppose them (this group) or do not aid them, will not be able to harm them (this group). They will remain steadfast on the Haq until the command (Qiyamah) of Allah arrives.”
The Ulama have the full backing of Allah Ta’ala in the execution of the sacred duty of Amr Bil Ma’roof Nahi anil Munkar. Therefore, when fulfilling this great and noble duty, the Ulama must seek inspiration from the following words of spiritual power uttered by Muhammadur Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam— the Nabi of Allah whom they (the Ulama) represent:
- “Speak the Haq, even though it be bitter.”
- “Never let the fear of the people prevent you from proclaiming the Haq when you know it.”
- The noblest Jihaad is to utter the Haq in the presence of a tyrannical ruler.”
Fearless proclamation of the Haq earns for the Ulama the Quranic designation: