Today • • 04 October

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Help Yourself by Helping Others Worship

Why We Need to Build a Mosque in Needy Countries

Most religions have a place for worship. For Islam, it is the mosque. 

The word Mosque or Masjid in Arabic, is derived from the root word sejadah or suju’ which means to prostrate. A commonly used term for the mosque is the Arabic word, Jemaah, derived from the root word meaning to gather, or gathering.

More than a house of worship, the mosque has an important and authoritative role in the cultural and political role of Muslims and for the Muslim community. It is the beating heart of the Muslim community – as centers of education and information, places for social welfare – and even has bits of cultural significance built into its architecture. Inside the hallowed walls of a mosque is the place where we teach our children about Islam, where we gather to honour and worship Allah s.w.t, where we come together for special occasions in the community. 

Mosques are as old as Islam itself. Based on Islamic tradition, Prophet Muhammad s.a.w helped in the construction of the first mosque in the city of Madinah. The area surrounding the Kaaba’ Stone in Mecca is often considered the oldest Muslim place of worship, revered since the 7th century. As Islam expanded, mosques started to be built in new territories. In modern times, migration processes have resulted in the expansion of Islamic communities all around the world, leading to the building of mosques in different regions of the globe.

Importance of having a mosque in a Muslim community

Try to imagine what a Muslim community might lose, if it did not have a Mosque?

There would be no place where the community can pray collectively. In Islam, congregational prayer or prayer in congregation (jemaah) is considered to have more social and spiritual benefit than praying by oneself.  Additionally, the mosque is a meeting place for the community, where they are informed of important religious events and duties. They are also centres of learning and study of the Quran, Sunnah, Hadith, Sirah and more. 

All these shows that it is very important for a Muslim community to have a mosque. Not having a mosque in the community might take away the ability of the community to pray in congregation, to be able to conduct proper Islamic lessons. 

While it is possible to pray five times a day and carry out the rest of the pillars of Islam even if there is no mosque nearby, but that is not ideal for a Muslim community. A Muslim should always desire to worship alongside other Muslims, their brothers and sisters in Islam – this unity and sense of brotherhood further strengthens the faith of Muslims and keeps them connected. 

How you can help build a mosque

At the heart of any Islamic community, a mosque can be found – a precious sanctuary that provides a place for individual spiritual enlightenment, education and moral guidance. As Muslims, we recognise the significance of these beautiful places of worship. 

Unfortunately, there are many of our brothers and sisters living in the developing countries and in a much more under-privileged condition than us. They struggle without having a proper mosque in their communities. While some communities have no mosque nearby, some are built without proper concrete foundations and require a massive reconstruction. 

Through our Global Waqf Projects and Waqf Masjid Construction, we aim to change that. Together with our international partners, we build new mosques and carry out reconstruction on damaged mosques in several countries. You can donate the whole cost of a masjid, or a part of it as well. 

The reward for building a mosque is great and continuous – for every prayer said inside a mosque that you have helped build, Allah s.w.t will reward you in Jannah. The community in which you have helped build the mosque will also continuously benefit, hence it is an excellent form of Sadaqah Jariyah (continuous charity).

Join us in elevating the plight of Muslim communities in destitute regions and help build a mosque today.