Neighbor of the Masjid

Since 2012-11-26

Brother, You whose ears hear words of the Adhan from the morning till the evening: "come to prosper", have you ever contemplated these words: come to prosper?

 

In the name of Allah most gracious most merciful
 
Praise be to Allah who revealed the Holy Quran, who guides us to righteousness, peace be upon His Messenger and his family and companions.
 
Dear Muslim Brother, Assalamu Alaikum wa rahmatu Allahi wa Barakatuh (Peace, mercy and blessings of Allah be upon you).
 
Oh brother: who have been graced by Allah with Islam, He has bestowed upon you lights of guidance, and you have known right by its signs and marks.
 
Brother, You whose ears hear words of the Adhan from the morning till the evening: “come to prosper”, have you ever contemplated these words: come to prosper?
 
Brother! You: who live near the best and purist places on earth?
 
A man came to the Prophet –prayers and peace of Allah be upon him- and asked: ‘Oh Allah’s Messenger! Which place is most favorable to Allah? And which place is most odious to Him?’ He answered: “I will not know until I ask Jibreel, peace be upon him.” Jibreel told Him that the most favorable places to Allah are the Masjids, and the most odious places are the marketplaces. [Al-Albani, good authentic]
 
«جاء رجل إلى النبي -صلى الله عليه وسلم- فقال: يا رسول اللهّ أي البلدان أحب إلى الله؟ وأي البلدان أبغض إلى الله؟ قال: (لا أدري حتى أسأل جبريل عليه السلام) فأتاه جبريل فأخبره: إنَّ أحسن البقاع إلى الله المساجد، وأبغض البقاع إلى الله الأسواق» الألباني، حسن صحيح
 
I am writing this message for you: you who live near the Masjid and who hear the Adhan, I have spared no effort to show you the greater good you live nearby: this is the best and the only thing I can do. Please accept my words… keep them in your heart… contemplate on them; they are words where you will find a lot of good in.
 
 
Who is the neighbor of the Masjid?
 
Dear Muslim brother: do you know who the neighbor of the Masjid is?
Ali Ibn Abi Talib -may Allah be pleased with him- said: “there is no prayer for a neighbor of the Masjid except in the Masjid!”
Someone asked: “Who is the neighbor of the Masjid?”
He answered: “it is he who hears the Adhan.”
 
Dear brother in Allah: if you hear the Adhan you are the neighbor of the Masjid; the Masjid which is a house of Allah, the best place on earth.
 
You cannot argue with Allah; you have heard the Adhan day and night every day.
 
Dear brother: have you fulfilled the rights of this neighborhood?
 
This right of neighborhood calls for you five times a day to pray when you hear the Adhan; you must hurry to the Masjid once you hear: “come to pray, come to prosper”, you must attend the congregational prayer in the Masjid, you must never lag behind.
 
 
The obligation of performing prayers in congregation in the Masjid
 
Dear Muslim brother: I do not think that you hate knowing the importance of praying in the Masjid. Evidences have varied from the Qur’an, the Sunnah (teachings of Prophet Muhammad) and the Companions –may Allah be pleased with them– and their successors –may Allah bless their souls. Here brother are some of the evidences.
 
 
Evidences from the holy Qur’an
 
{When you (O Messenger Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) are among them, and lead them in As-Salât (the prayer), let one party of them stand up [in Salât (prayer)] with you taking their arms with them; when they finish their prostrations, let them take their positions in the rear and let the other party come up which have not yet prayed, and let them pray with you taking all the precautions and bearing arms} [Surat An-Nisa4:102].
 
{وَإِذَا كُنْتَ فِيهِمْ فَأَقَمْتَ لَهُمُ الصَّلَاةَ فَلْتَقُمْ طَائِفَةٌ مِنْهُمْ مَعَكَ وَلْيَأْخُذُوا أَسْلِحَتَهُمْ فَإِذَا سَجَدُوا فَلْيَكُونُوا مِنْ وَرَائِكُمْ وَلْتَأْتِ طَائِفَةٌ أُخْرَى لَمْ يُصَلُّوا فَلْيُصَلُّوا مَعَكَ وَلْيَأْخُذُوا حِذْرَهُمْ وَأَسْلِحَتَهُمْ} النساء: 102
 
Transliteration: Waitha kunta feehim faaqamta lahumu alssalata faltaqum taifatun minhum maAAaka walyakhuthoo aslihatahum faitha sajadoo falyakoonoo min waraikum waltati taifatun okhra lam yusalloo falyusalloo maAAaka walyakhuthoo hithrahum waaslihatahum 
 
Allah has ordered His Messenger to hold prayers in congregation in the most severe cases which is war. This is enough proof of the obligatory nature of performing prayers in congregations.
 
Imam Ibn al-Qayyim said: “when in the state of fear, people get separate from the Imam, they perform a lot of actions when praying positioning him in the middle, their sole purpose is to pray in congregations, they could have saved all the trouble and prayed individually. It is impossible to take such troubles for optional actions, to take or to leave, and with Allah all success.”
 
 
Evidences from the Sunnah
 
Abu Huraira - may Allah be pleased with him -said that the Messenger of Allah - prayers and peace of Allah be upon him – said: “ByAllah Whom my soul is in hands I have tended to order for some wood to be chopped (from trees) then order for salah (prayer) to be established, then order a man to lead the people in salah then I would go with some men to people not attending the salah and burn their houses on them.” [Agreed upon]
 
«والذي نفسي بيده، لقد هَمَمْتُ أن آمر بحطب فيحطب، ثم آمر بالصَّلاة فيؤذَّن لها ثم آمر رجلاً فيؤم الناس، ثم أخالف إلى رجال فأحرق عليهم بيوتهم..» متفق عليه
 
The Messenger said: “whoever hears the call to pray, and does not respond, then there is no prayer for him unless he has a valid excuse.” [Authenticated by Al-Albani]
 
«من سمع النِّداء فلم يُجب فلا صلاة له إلا من عذر» صححه الألباني
 
Abu Huraira - may Allah be pleased with him – said: “a blind man came to Prophet Muhammad (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) and said: “oh Messenger of Allah! I have no one to guide me to the Masjid.” And he requested the Prophet to give him permission to pray at home. The Prophet did that, when the man turned away, He called him back asking: “do you hear the Adhan?”. The man answered: “yes”. The Prophet said: “then you must respond”. (Reported by Muslim)
 
«أتى النبي -صلى الله عليه وسلم- رجل أعمى فقال: يا رسول الله إنه ليس لي قائد يقودني إلى المسجد.فسأل رسول الله -صلى الله عليه وسلم- أن يرخِّص له فيصلي في بيته، فرخَّص له، فلما ولَّى دعاه، فقال: (هل تسمع النِّداء بالصلاة؟) فقال: نعم. قال: (فأجِبْ)» رواه مسلم
 
 
Evidences from the sayings of the companions
 
Omar ibn al-Khattab -may Allah be pleased with him- said: “what is the matter with people lagging behind leading others to lag behind as well! By Allah I was thinking of sending for them, order their necks to be stabbed then order them to witness prayers in the Masjid”.
 
Abdullah Ibn Mas’ud said: “whoever would be pleased to meet Allah tomorrow as a Muslim, he must maintain performing these prayers where they are called for (Masjids) because they are of the ways of guidance (huda), and Allah has given to your Prophet the ways of guidance. And if you were to perform prayers in your homes, like that person lagging behind, you would be abandoning the Sunnah of your Prophet, and if you were to abandon the Sunnah of your prophet you would surely go astray. There is not a man who purifies himself properly (wash well), then heads to one of these Masjids, but that Allah will write for him (in the book of deeds) with each step he takes a merit (hasanah), and raises him a grade, and erase a demerit (sayyi’ah). And I have seen us, where not one of us would lag behind from prayer in congregation except for a well-known hypocrite. And the one that could not come on his own would be supported by two men until he is helped to stand in the line of prayers”.
 
Abu Musa al-Ash’ari - may Allah be pleased with him said: “whoever hears the call to pray, and does not respond, then there is no prayer for him unless he has a valid excuse”.
 
 
Words of the early Muslim scholars
 
Ibn Al-Monthir said: we have narrated from more than one of the companions of the Prophet -prayers and peace of Allah be upon him– that they said: “whoever hears the call to pray, and does not respond, then there is no prayer for him unless he has a valid excuse”. Among them are Ibn Mas’ud and Abu Musa al-Ash’ari.
 
Ibn Al-Qayyim concluded that congregational prayer is obligatory because:
 
First: it is permissible to combine two prayers during heavy rain in order to maintain the concept of congregation; otherwise it would rather be performed individually, which is not possible for a mere optional matter.
 
Second: if a sick person could not stand in congregation while praying, he should perform congregational prayer and quit standing (standing during performing prayer is an essential pillar of praying). It is not logical to quit a basic matter for an optional one.
 
Third: when in the state of fear, people get separate from the Imam, they perform a lot of actions when praying positioning him in the middle, their sole purpose is to pray in congregations, they could have saved all the trouble and prayed individually. It is impossible to take such troubles for optional actions: to take or to leave.” (Prayer Book - short and modified)
 
 
Fatwas (opinions) of contemporary scholars
 
Dear Muslim brother, contemplate on these chosen fatwas of scholars who are well established in the teachings of Islam, so that you recognize your standpoint in Shariah (Islamic laws and provisions).
 
 
- Advisory opinion of the Standing Committee for Scientific Research and Issuing Fatwas:
 
Q. What is the ruling concerning prayer in congregation? Does it only mean the congregation in the Masjid? What is the ruling concerning a man who prays at home without an excuse and whose home is near the Masjid?
 
A. Congregational prayer is obligatory; he who quits it without an excuse commits a sin. It is the congregation in the Masjid if available, and the Muslim was able to witness it.
(Fatwas of the Standing Committee / Advisory Opinion No. 6036)
 
 
- Advisory opinion of the Standing Committee for Scientific Research and Issuing Fatwas:
 
Q. Is it obligatory for a man to maintain all five prayers in congregation in the Masjid? Does he sin if he performed some at home without an excuse, provided that he can hear the Adhan each time and the house is not far from the Masjid?
 
A. The five mandatory prayers are obligatory to be performed in congregation in the Masjid for all adult males. He who neglects performing them in the Masjid commits a sin, in accordance with the Prophet (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him) saying: “whoever hears the call to pray, and does not respond, then there is no prayer for him unless he has a valid excuse.” [Reported by Ibn Majah and authenticated by Al-Albani]
 
«من سمع النِّداء فلم يأت فلا صلاة له إلا من عذر»رواه ابن ماجه وصححه الألباني
 
Ibn Abbas was asked about the excuse, he answered: fear or sickness.
(Fatwas of the Standing Committee, Advisory Opinion No. 7044)
 
 
To employers in companies and institutions
 
Q. A man works in a company surrounded by more than three Masjids where he always goes to pray, his colleagues pray in the company’s entrance, they ask him to drop going to the Masjid and pray with them, telling him that as he has more religious knowledge he must give them lessons after praying, however there is people amongst them who is more knowledgeable and who knows the Qur’an by heart. What should he do?
 
A. Those employers must pray in congregation in the Masjid as their colleague do; he is right and they are wrong. The teachings of Prophet Muhammad show that it is obligatory to perform prayers in congregation in the Masjid and that no one shall lag behind without a valid excuse.
(Fatwas of the Standing Committee, Advisory Opinion No. 5168)
 
 
To parents
 
Q. If a father prays in congregation with his less than 10 years of old children, is this considered a substitute of praying in the Masjid?
 
A. A father’s congregational prayer with his siblings at home whether adults or not; is no substitute of praying in the Masjid. He should perform obligatory prayers in congregation in the Masjid. The Prophet - prayers and peace of Allah be upon him – was about to burn the homes of the people who had failed to pray in congregation, even though they were praying in their homes, He did not inquire if they had been praying in congregation or not.
 
You have to perform the five mandatory prayers in congregation in the Masjid, let your children get used to it, be familiar with it.
(Fatwas of the Standing Committee, Advisory Opinion No. 2018)
 
Oh brother… a true believer maintains and attends the Masjid.
Oh brother… I believe that you will not accept being called untrue believer.
 
{The Masjids of Allâh shall be maintained only by those who believe in Allâh and the Last Day, perform As-Salât (Iqâmat-as-Salât), and give Zakât and fear none but Allâh. It is they who are on true guidance} [Surat At-Taubah 9:18].
 
{إِنَّمَا يَعْمُرُ مَسَاجِدَ اللَّهِ مَنْ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَأَقَامَ الصَّلَاةَ وَآتَى الزَّكَاةَ وَلَمْ يَخْشَ إِلَّا اللَّهَ فَعَسَى أُولَئِكَ أَنْ يَكُونُوا مِنَ الْمُهْتَدِينَ} التوبة: 18
 
Transliteration: Innama yaAAmuru masajida Allahi manamana biAllahi waalyawmi alakhiri waaqama alssalata waata alzzakata walam yakhsha illa Allaha faAAasa olaika an yakoonoo mina almuhtadeena
 
Al-Qurtubi elaborated that (Only he shall attend Allah’s places of worship that believes in Allah) is a proof that Masjid-goers are true believers as Allah connected going to Masjids with true faith.
 
Some of the forefathers said: “if you see a man attending Masjids, think well of him”.
 
Dear Muslim brother... attending Masjids is a distinctive characteristic of the righteous as you have observed, it is enough reason for believers to bear witness that a person is faithful; Omar Ibn Al-Khattab said: if someone witnesses prayers with us, we testify that he is a believer”, then he recited: {The Masjids of Allâh shall be maintained only by those who believe in Allâh and the Last Day} [Surat At-Taubah 9:18].
 
{إِنَّمَا يَعْمُرُ مَسَاجِدَ اللَّهِ مَنْ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ} التوبة: 18
 
Transliteration: Innama yaAAmuru masajida Allahi manamana biAllahi waalyawmi alakhiri
 
My brother... Beware of hypocrisy!
 
Beware of the characteristics of hypocrites! Leaving congregation in the Masjid is a sign of hypocrisy! Witnessing congregation prayers in the Masjid is a sign of faith!
 
If you wish to be sure read this saying of Prophet Mohamed (prayers and peace of Allah be upon him): “The most burdensome prayers for the hypocrites are Isha and Fajr but if they knew what good was in them they would have attended them even if it meant crawling, and I have tended to order for some wood to be chopped (from trees) then order for salah (prayer) to be established, then order a man to lead the people in salah then take a blaze of fire and burn down upon who doesn’t go out for prayer.” (Reported by Al-Bukhari)
 
«ليس صلاة أثقل على المنافقين من الفجر والعشاء ولو يعلمون ما فيهما لأتوهما ولو حبوًا، لقد هَمَمْتُ أن آمر المؤذن فيقيم ثم آمر رجلاً يؤم الناس ثم آخذ شُعَلاً من نار فأحرِّق على من لا يخرج إلى الصَّلاة بعد» رواه البخاري
 
Al-Hafidh Ibn Hajjar said: “this means that all prayers are burdensome for hypocrites, as Allah said: “and that they came not to As-Salât (the prayer) except in a lazy state” [Surat At-Taubah 9:54]
 
{وَلَا يَأْتُونَ الصَّلَاةَ إِلَّا وَهُمْ كُسَالَى} التوبة: 54
 
Transliteration: wala yatoona alssalata illa wahum kusala
 
Isha and Fajr are burdensome as Isha (evening) is the time of comfort and relaxation, Fajr (dawn) is the time when it is most favorable to sleep.
 
Ibn Omar -may Allah be pleased with them- said: when we miss a man in these two prayers; Isha and Fajr, we would think badly of him”.
 
Dear brother: be the best neighbor to the Masjid… maintain Allah’s houses by praying in them, perform good deeds, if you do so Allah will help you in all life matters, when your time comes, you will leave this world filled with good deeds, you will be granted immortality in paradise with other faithful righteous people as a result of your good deeds.
 
Anas Ibn Malik -may Allah be pleased with him- said: the Prophet -prayers and peace of Allah be upon him- said: “whoever performs prayers in congregation for forty days witnessing the first takbeera (Allahu Akbar: Allah is the great) is saved from hellfire and hypocrisy.” [Narrated by Tirmidhi who said (he don’t know someone who reported it from the prophet except what Salm bin Qutibh narrated, and he is only narrating what Anas said) and declared good by Al-Albani]
 
«من صلَّى لله أربعين يومًا في جماعة يدرك التكبيرة الأولى كُتبَ له براءتان: براءة من النار، وبراءة من النفاق» رواه الترمذي قال (لا أعلم أحدا رفعه إلا ما روى سلم بن قتيبة وإنما يروى عن أنس قوله) وحسنه الألباني
 
 
Glad tidings for the Masjid-Folks:
 
How poor those who had been deprived from the great blessings obtained by Masjid-Folks five times a day!
 
Dear brother: blessings are near your door; do not deprive yourself from them. Alas! Some reject the blessings thrown away at them!
 
Dear brother: let me show you these nearby blessings, if you see them you will not help yourself but yearning to enjoy them.
 
Abu Huraira -may Allah be pleased with him- narrated that the Prophet -prayers and peace of Allah be upon him- said: “Whoever goes to the Masjid and comes Allah has prepared for him an honorable place in Paradise every time he goes and comes.” [Reported by Al-Bukhari]
 
«من غدا إلى المسجد وراح أعدَّ الله له نُزله من الجنة كلَّما غدا أو راح» رواه البخاري
 
Buraydah -may Allah be pleased with him- narrated that the Prophet -prayers and peace of Allah be upon him- said: “Give glad tidings for those who walk during the darkness of night to the Masjids that they will be rewarded with the perfect light in the Day of Judgment”. [Reported by Abu Dawud and Al-Tirmidhi, authenticated by Al-Albani]
 
«بشِّر المشَّائين في الظُّلَم إلى المساجد بالنُّور التَّام يوم القيامة» رواه أبو داود والترمذي، وصححه الألباني
 
The Prophet -prayers and peace of Allah be upon him– said: “whoever walked in the darkness of night to the Masjid will meet Allah -the Almighty- illuminating on the Day of Judgment.” [Reported by Al-Monzery with a good chain of transmission]
 
«من مشى في ظلمة اللَّيل إلى المسجد لقي الله -عز وجل- بنور يوم القيامة» رواه المنذري بإٍسناد حسن
 
Abu al-Darda’ -may Allah be pleased with him- said: I heard the Messenger of Allah -prayers and peace of Allah be upon him– say: “the Masjid is the house of every pious, Allah has ensured mercy and compassion for those whose houses are the Masjids, they are to pass through the straight Path (sirat) to Allah’s Paradise and pleasure.” [Al-Albani, good due to other narrations]
 
«المسجد بيت كل تقي وتكفَّل الله لمن كان المسجد بيته بالرُّوح والرحمة والجواز على الصراط إلى رضوان الله إلى الجنة» الألباني، حسن لغيره
 
The Prophet -prayers and peace of Allah be upon him- said: “seven kinds of people will be sheltered under the shade of Allah on the Day of Judgment”, among them he mentioned: “and one whose heart is attached to the Masjid.” [Agreed upon]
 
«سبعة يظلهم الله في ظله يوم لا ظل إلا ظله» فذكر منهم: «ورجل قلبه معلق في المساجد..» متفق عليه
 
Imam al-Nawawi said: “one whose heart is attached to the Masjid” means that he has a great love for the Masjid and is committed to prayer in congregation in the Masjid.
 
Pity for those who die taking with them no provision for the Hereafter! Pity for those who labor to obtain valueless trivialities that are of no use in the Hereafter!
 
 
Benefits of praying in congregation in the Masjid:
 
Dear brother here are some of the benefits of praying in congregation in the Masjid:
 
The Prophet -prayers and peace of Allah be upon him– said: “Whoever prays the Isha prayer in congregation, it is as if he had prayed half a night long, and whoever prays the Fajr prayer in congregation, it is as if he had prayed the whole night long.” [Reported by Abu Dawud and authenticated by Al-Albani]
 
«من صلَّى العشاء في جماعة كان كقيام نصف ليلة، ومن صلَّى العشاء والفجر في جماعة كان كقيام ليلة» رواه أبو داود وصححه الألباني
 
Jundub ibn Abdullah -may Allah be pleased with him- said: The Prophet -prayers and peace of Allah be upon him- said: “Whoever prays Fajr is under the protection of Allah, so do not fall short with regard to the rights of Allah, for anyone who does that, Allah will seize him and will throw him on his face into the Fire of Hell.” [Authenticated by Al-Albani]
 
«من صلَّى الصبح فهو في ذمة الله فلا يطْلبنَّكم الله من ذمته بشيء فإنه من يطلبه من ذمته بشيء يُدركه ثم يكبه على وجهه في نار جهنَّم» صححه الألباني
 
Abu Huraira -may Allah be pleased with him- narrated that the Prophet -prayers and peace of Allah be upon him- said: May I show you the things with which Allah erases sins and exalts ranks? They said: Yes, O Prophet of Allah. He said: performing perfect ablution (wudu’) despite difficulties, increasing steps towards the Masjids, and awaiting after prayer, that is Ribaat (keeping firm), that is Ribaat.” [Reported by Muslim and Al-Tirmidhi]
 
«ألا أدلكم على ما يمحو الله به الخطايا، ويرفع به الدَّرجات؟ قالوا: بلى يا رسول الله؛ قال: إسباغ الوضوء على المكاره، وكَثرة الخُطا إلى المساجد، وانتظار الصَّلاة بعد الصلاة. فذلكم الرباط، فذلكم الرباط، فذلكم الرباط» رواه مسلم والترمذي
 
‘Uqba Ibn ‘Amer -may Allah be pleased with him- said that the Prophet -prayers and peace of Allah be upon him- said: whoever purifies himself then comes to the Masjid for prayers, his registering angles will register ten good deeds for every step he takes to the Masjid, whoever sits in the Masjid awaiting prayers is considered in a state of qunut (ongoing worship), he is considered in a state of prayer from the moment he goes out of his house till he returns.” [Authenticated by Al-Albani]
 
«إذا تطهَّر الرجل ثم أتى المسجد يَرعى الصَّلاة، كتب له كاتباه أو كاتبه بكل خطوة يخطوها إلى المسجد عشر حسنات، والقاعد يرعى الصَّلاة كالقانت، ويُكْتَب من المصلين من حين يخرج من بيته حتى يرجع إليه» صححه الألباني
 
 
The benefits of witnessing prayer in congregation
 
-      Angles will pray for him asking Allah to forgive him,
 
-      Angles will testify on his behalf,
 
-      Answering the Imam when saying: “Allah will respond to those who praise Him,
 
-      Reassurance against forgetfulness,
 
-      Finding peace and serenity against any distractions,
 
-      Being surrounded by angels,
 
-      Demonstrating the rituals of Islam,
 
-      Humiliating Satan by congregating to worship and collaborating to obey Allah and stimulating the slackers,
 
-      The innocence from hypocrisy or miss-thinking of him,
 
-      Neighbors become familiar and unite in times of prayers, and
 
-      Listening to the recitation of Imam, saying Ameen when he does and when angels do.
 
The Prophet -prayers and peace of Allah be upon him- said: “when the Imam recites {not (the way) of those who earned Your Anger (nor of those who went astray} [Al-Fatiha 1:], say: Ameen, because when you say ameen with angles you will be forgiven for your previous sins.” [Reported by Al-Bukhari]
 
«إذا قال الإمام {غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ} [الفاتحة: 7] فقولوا: آمين؛ فمن وافق قوله قول الملائكة غفر له ما تقدم من ذنبه» رواه البخاري
 
Al- Hafiz Ibn Hajjar mentioned these benefits; shortened and modified.
 
Neighbor of the Masjid: the previous blessings are bestowed upon those who enliven Allah’s houses with prayers and supplication. Do not forsake such solemn good, do not miss it to regret where there is no regrets.
 
Come and hurry, do not miss the convoy of faith.
 
 
Men who passed away in Masjids
 
Allah has devotees who are busy obeying Him that they do not think of the world, it is not strange that He grants them death on His purist places; Masjids.
 
- ‘Ata’ Ibn al-Sa’ib said: “we entered the Masjid where Abu Abd al-Rahmaan al-Salami was dying, we told him to move to his bed as it was more comfortable, he answered: someone told me that the Prophet -prayers and peace of Allah be upon him- said: “you are in a state of prayer as long as you are sitting in the Masjid awaiting prayers.” [Authenticated by Al-Albani] Then he said: I wish to die in the Masjid.”
 
لا يزال أحدكم في صلاة ما دام ينتظرها» صححه الألباني»
 
- ‘Amer Ibn Abdullah -may Allah bless his soul- heard the Adhan while in death bed and said: “take my hand (support me to the Masjid).” He was answered that he was sick, he said: “dare I hear the Adhan and not respond?” So they supported him to the Masjid during Maghreb prayer, he prayed one Rak’ah behind the Imam and then died.
 
Dear Muslim brother: this is the heat of faith and the light of belief of people whose deeds are whiter than milk and brighter than gems.
 
A man is what he seeks for
If you are a seeker you deserve glory
High determinations lead to high aspirations
No intrepid recedes
No slug proceeds
 
 
The companions’ keenness in performing prayers in congregation in the Masjid:
 
Brother! Read the stories of this nation’s righteous forefathers -Allah bless them- who spent their time performing acts of worship, they were like suns of the days and the moons in dark nights.
 
- Abu al-Darda’ -may Allah be pleased with him- during his death illness said: “carry me.” Then said: “listen and inform all! Maintain these two prayers; Isha’ and Fajr. If you know the good they have you would rather perform them even crawling.”
 
- Al-Harith Ibn Hassan -may Allah be pleased with him- got married one night. His companions saw him in the Masjid during Fajr prayer in his wedding night and asked him: “are you out on your wedding night?” He answered: “a woman who prevents me from congregation prayer is a bad woman.”
 
- The master of Tab’een Sa’eed Ibn al-Musayab -may Allah bless his soul- answered when told to miss congregation because someone is seeking to kill him: “do you mean I hear ‘come to prosper’ and not respond!”
 
These are the truly happy people; they found the treasures of happiness and used them well.
 
Brother! Have you not noticed they are immortalized by Allah, century after century and time after time?!
 
Dear brother: would you not like being immortalized? Spoken well of here and in the Hereafter? Do you not like to be happy winning the approval of Allah? Would you not like worries to be gone, and mercy to be present?
 
How about the sweetness of obeying Allah’s orders and being close to Him! How about matters go smoothly in your life and peace and pleasure in the Hereafter!
 
How happy you will be if this happens!
 
Brother! Neighbor of the Masjid: this is happiness, where are you?
 
Brother! Neighbor of the Masjid: Where do you stand from this happiness?
 
Brother! Neighbor of the Masjid: where does your heart go when you hear: “come to prosper?”
 
Brother! Neighbor of the Masjid: have you not ever thought that you are more deserving of gaining this prosperity?
 
Brother! Neighbor of the Masjid: is it reasonable that Allah calls for you five times a day and you just do not respond?
 
Brother! Neighbor of the Masjid: what if a king in this world called for you, would you not respond attentively and quickly?
 
Oh brother! The Lord of all kings is calling for you; for your own good.
 
Brother! Neighbor of the Masjid: how much good did you miss counting the days to get paid or refunded?
 
Brother! Neighbor of the Masjid: Allah has demonstrated His proof against you five times a day; if you fail to respond you must prepare yourself for the Day of Judgment.
 
Brother! Neighbor of the Masjid: have you ever wondered why not being one of those crowds coming and going; and win what they had won?
 
Brother! Neighbor of the Masjid: you would not like to end your life miserable while Allah is angry with you, is not it a sign of misery that Allah the Almighty is calling for you and you are not responding?
 
Brother! Neighbor of the Masjid: bear in mind that you are going to die, sooner or later, at that time you will learn that the best deed you have done is witnessing congregational prayers in the Masjids. Pity on you if you are a slacker, alas! What a great remorse when neither remorse nor regret is of any help.
 
Brother! Neighbor of the Masjid: death is hard. The grave is dark. You will stand in front of Allah; naked, barefoot and empty handed but from your good deeds. Recall walking through the sirat, hell fire beneath you. What horrible moments! Along the sirat there are huge hooks that ravage the miserable throwing them into the bottom of hell.
 
Remember that praying in congregation in the Masjid is the light that leads the way to Masjid goers on that great day.
 
Brother! Neighbor of the Masjid: today you are safe and sound, you can repent, you can turn to Allah. Do not let death surprise you while you are astray, thus doomed.
 
Brother! Neighbor of the Masjid: would you not be pleased to be hosted by one of the world kings?
 
No doubt you would be pleased! But the Lord of all kings has invited you to His house and you declined?!
 
Brother: if you responded to the Adhan five times a day in the Masjid, then you are hosted by Allah. Would that I knew who is like you? Who is happier than you? Who won more than you?
 
Brother! Neighbor of the Masjid: today you are the neighbor of the Masjid, tomorrow who will be your neighbor? People of paradise and eternal bliss? Or people of hell and permanent misery?
 
Brother! Be the best neighbor of the Masjid and adhere to it to be of the winning party, may Allah grant you and me with blessings.
 
Brother! Neighbor of the Masjid: this is my message for you; I am in agony fearing that you would have the least portion of Allah’s blessings in the Day of Judgment.
 
Brother: seek the help of Allah, throw away the robe of laziness, and hurry to these immaculate houses of Allah.
 
Brother: frequenting the houses of Allah is your path to paradise.
 
Brother: while bidding you farewell hope is floating that this message will find a good spot in your heart. Accept it as a precious gift, Allah the Almighty suffices as a protector to those who turn to him. {And Allâh is Sufficient as a Walî (Protector), and Allâh is Sufficient as a Helper.} [Surat An-Nisa4:45]
 
{وَكَفَى بِاللَّهِ وَلِيًّا وَكَفَى بِاللَّهِ نَصِيرًا} النساء: 45
 
Transliteration:wakafabiAllahi waliyyan wakafa biAllahi naseeran
 
May peace and Allah’s mercy and blessings be upon you.
 
 
Azhari Ahmed Mahmoud

 

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