Role of Masjid and Role of Imam 

Transcript of the Talk delivered by Dr Munawar Haque on Friday, January 10,  2014 on the occasion of his appointment as the Head of Religious Affairs and Activities at AMDA Masjid 

الحمد لله رب العالمين والصلاة والسلام على سيد المرسلين وعلى آله وأصحابه أجمعين

Brothers and sisters, Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh, Indeed I am honored and humbled to be given an opportunity to serve this community, and to be a part of it. Thank you Br Muhammad Azim for introducing me to the distinguished members of the community. All praises and thanks belong to Allah (SWT). It is with His blessings that all good and righteous deeds happen. It is with His tawfiq that we have gathered here tonight in this Masjid.

I wish to remind myself and you that the ongoing project of construction of the AMDA Masjid to be accomplished by May of this year insha’Allah is one of Sadaqah Jariyah; an on-going charity, the reward of which is reaped even after one passes away to the next world. May Allah (SWT) bless all those brothers and sisters who have contributed, are still contributing, and will continue to contribute in the future in this project through their donations, whether in cash or kind. Their time, energy, effort, skill, experience, and other resources expended in this noble cause will all be recorded in their books of good deeds.

It is important to understand that we can’t fulfill our duties towards our Masjid unless we know what the role of Masjid is. We must allow the Masjid to play its proper role as desired by Allah (SWT) and His Messenger (SAW).  One of the many blessings which Allah (SWT) has bestowed upon the Muslim Ummah is to make the earth pure and to make it a Masjid. The Prophet (SAW) said, “The whole earth has been made a Masjid, and pure for me, so whenever the time of prayer comes for anyone of you, he should pray wherever he is."

Since the earth is meant to be a Masjid, the Muslim Ummah should work towards purifying the earth by carrying the message of Islam all over it, in order to lead people away from the worshiping of false deities, and bringing them to the worship of Allah (SWT) alone. Since Islam is a complete and comprehensive way of life, the Masjid has to be at the heart of a believer’s activities. As mentioned in the Qur’an, frequenting the Masjid is only the prerogative of the believing men and women.

إِنَّمَا يَعْمُرُ مَسَاجِدَ اللَّهِ مَنْ آَمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآَخِرِ وَأَقَامَ الصَّلَاةَ وَآَتَى الزَّكَاةَ وَلَمْ يَخْشَ إِلَّا اللَّهَ فَعَسَى أُولَئِكَ أَنْ يَكُونُوا مِنَ الْمُهْتَدِينَ

“The mosques of Allah should only be frequented by those who have iman in Allah and the Last Day and establish salat and pay zakat, and fear no one but Allah. They are the ones most likely to be guided” ((at-Taubah, 9:18).

The Masjid plays a vital part in the life of the Muslim Ummah. This can be seen in the example of the Messenger of Allah (SAW), who began to build a Masjid as soon as he established the first Islamic State in Madinah. This Masjid served as the launching point towards the practical implementation of Islam within the state and the society. In Islam, mosques are not just “places of prayers.” They are—in modern terminology—community centers. The role of the mosque in Islam is one of the major things that have to be reformed before the Muslim nation is capable of recovering from its present status. The Prophet’s mosque during his lifetime played many roles. It was a place for collective prayers, a place for socialization, a place for da’wah, a place for meetings and deliberation, a place for education, and so on. There are numerous evidences that show that the Masjid Nabwi was a “community place,” full of all sorts of activities.

We must understand the nature, purpose and functions of the Masjid as an institution so that it does not remain confined to being a space for ritual worship, but regains its role as a place where education is imparted, social welfare schemes are implemented, and discussion and dialogue on a range of social issues takes place. The Masjid is a vital cornerstone in the building of any Muslim community and it is the responsibility of the community to ensure that the Masjid is always a reflection of Islam. May Allah (SWT) bless us to use the AMDA Masjid to its full capacity. "Ameen"

What about the role of an Imam? Primarily, the Imam leads the ritual Islamic prayers, but may also take on a larger role in providing community support and spiritual advice. In addition to being a prayer leader, he may also serve as a member of the larger leadership team in a Muslim community. If needed, the Imam's spiritual counseling may be sought in personal, family, or religious issues. The Imam may be involved in visiting the sick, engaging in inter-faith service programs, officiating marriages, and organizing educational gatherings in the mosque. He may, rather he should reach out to youth, inspire them in peaceful pursuits, and teach them the correct understanding of Islam so that they don’t fall prey to misguided teachings.

The position of an Imam is not like that of a member of the clergy. Muslims do not need an intermediary to approach God. They connect directly with their Creator—Allah (SWT). Yes, an Imam is looked up as an individual who can guide his community members in a knowledgeable and insightful manner on religious and spiritual issues. An Imam is therefore expected to be educated, supportive, and good-natured. While having an understanding of Islamic sources, the members of the community living in the West, and especially, here in North America expect their Imam to have not only an intellectually sophisticated understanding of Islamic sources but also a keen appreciation of the western contexts in which they are living. Among other issues, Imams are expected to be informed on issues like (1) the halal and haram in food and medicine, (2) issues surrounding Islam and Muslims in the media, (3) contemporary issues facing Muslim youth in the West, (4) political involvement of Muslims living in the West, and (5) interfaith dialogue n multi-religious settings.

If Muslims are the citizens of a country in which their honor and properties are protected and they are at liberty to profess and propagate their religion and manage their religious institutions and organizations without any interference, then it is the duty of every Muslim to be loyal to the country, extend all possible help to the government. He must prove himself to be a living embodiment of true patriotism through his exemplary acts and deeds.

It is one of the fundamental teachings of Islam that we must maintain peace and treat all the human beings at par irrespective of their religion, caste, color, creed or their geographical location. Thus, there is no place for tribalism, regionalism and racial discrimination in Islam and our Masajid and their Imams have to extend the message of national unity to one and all. Islam has placed before the whole world recognized principles of unity amongst human beings. There is no room for narrow mindedness and narrow outlook in Islam.  

Having said all this, you can well imagine the onerous task placed on my shoulder and your shoulders. It is in working together as brothers and sisters in faith, and in humanity that we can do individually and collectively what we are expected to do as obedient slaves of Allah (SWT). And Allah is the source of strength.

May Allah (SWT) bless us all with physical, mental, and spiritual health, with pure Islamic fitrah and sound hearts. May Allah bless our families, our communities, and the humanity at large. Allahumma Ameen.

أَقُولُ قَوْلِي هَذَا وَأَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ لِي وَلَكُمْ وَلِسَائِرِ المُسْلِمينَ وَالمُسْلِمَاتْ فَاسْتَغْفِرُوهْ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ 

وصل الله عَلَى خيرِ خَلقه مُحمَّدٍ وعلى آله وأصحابه أجمعين- بِرَحْمَتِكَ يا أرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِين

Wassalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. 

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