|
We were discussing that while keeping the
sanctity of a mosque, how could we make it more useful for the
community so that according to the changing needs of community
it could be fully utilized.
So we do come to the conclusion that taking
the example of prophet (pbuh) we should use the mosque as a
multipurpose place. We, being not such a resourceful people,
need to maximize the use of what we have and try to contribute
to the social needs of community as much as we can afford.
If we become successful in making mosques a
more useful place, we can solve many problems that our community
is facing. Here we come across a problem that needs resolution
since the economy, particularly in the west, is based on
interest, which cannot be used in building a mosque. How do we
collect enough money for such mosque projects? May be we can
use the money that is obtained with usury involved, for the
other facilities such as adjacent multipurpose hall, play room
etc. I will give you an example in this regard. When Sir Syed
Ahmed Khan was collecting donations to build the Muslim
University, some prostitute contributed a big amount to this
fund and people asked him questions as to how could he use such
money for a Muslim University? His answer was that he would use
the money to build latrines for the university. This was his
conscious, so I will not elaborate on this as I try to take
examples from the prophet’s (pbuh) life or from Quran. We can
use such money collected for the auxiliary purposes if not for
the building of a mosque. Here I would like to put an example of
a pious man. He was an employee in police; he started to build
mosque from his own savings
People offered money but he did not accept
it because of possible impurity but from his small saving it was
not completed in his life and after his death completion was
made by others by impure money.
If we want to live progressively, we will
have to be innovative. If we did not provide Islamic venues for
the mothers of Islamic nation then who would produce people like
Tariq bin zayyad (RA). Children might find other activities,
which may not be Islamic, and our children might go astray. If
not involved with Islamic activities the same mothers may get
interested in sexy Indian dramas and movies which have more
nudity than the Canadian movies and there mind will be busy in
next and past episodes instead of Islamic thinking. In their
preoccupation with other activities they may not even get time
to think of Islamic ways and may not be able to convey these to
the children and this may go on generation after generation.
This is a horrible situation that we may end up with if we are
not careful now. May Allah give us the right vision now.
Amen.
Let us now go back to the plan I was
suggesting to keep women and children interested in the mosque
as our communal place. It was suggested that we should have
multipurpose halls, play rooms, a playground and possibly a
library adjacent to the mosques. Let us talk about the benefits
we will get from this. First of all the children would like to
go to mosques happily if these are made attractive to them and
their mothers will not need to leave them with babysitters at
home and this will save them some money. However if they take
small children with them they may not be able to pray peacefully
as the children would be asking for their attention constantly.
If they get rebuked then there is danger of them losing interest
in going to the mosque altogether. However if there are things
of interest, like play area and toys, then they would be happy
to come along. There we could have VCR showing the Islamic
education tapes for their interest and there are institutions,
which have made interesting videotapes for small Muslim
children, and children can learn from these. Some people
however may not like the presence of TV and VCR considering
these un-Islamic. The utility of such things depends on what
they are used for. Islam only prohibits things that are
forbidden in Quran. To illustrate this point if a gun is bought
to hunt or self-protection then it is justified, however it is
acquired to kill somebody then it is not. So if we use the new
inventions for betterment then their use should be allowed
because Islam is religion for all times and is progressive.
Individual or regional liking or disliking should not determine
its principles. Also we should not be hypocritical in the sense
that we use these amenities at home but vehemently reject them
for public use or community places like mosques. One Muslim
delivering the speech that I don’t like la’anat of TV at my home
when real situation was that he has the two TVs. One in living
room and an other one in bed room . you call it what you like |
