Your Responsibility and Your Obligation
A recent habit has developed this summer. Some parents come to the mosque and leave their kids unattended in the parking lot. This is a formula for sure disaster, and a potential for lawsuits. While you are attending functions in the mosque, some of your children have been shredding Islamic leaflets in the paper shredder upstairs. Others have been getting free rides in a "Kroger Shopping Cart" which is propelled by another 6 year old down Riverview Drive.
I am not sure who is to blame, the undisciplined child or the careless parent? If you cannot keep your children under control and do not know what they are destroying during your visit to the mosque, then perhaps you should leave them at home with the other parent. I always believe that a child imprisoned at home is much better than a dead child on Riverview Drive.
At this time I would like to encourage the fathers to donate 2 hours a week to give a chance to their wives to have quality time in the halaqahs for sisters. This was the common practice of our brother, Dr. Ibrahim AI-Hadban. No parent should be permanently stuck home with the kids.
Khalid Farag
Dear Editor
Confusing Committees
In the last issue of IQRA, the MSA announced the formation of a new committee. The name of the committee was "Media Awareness". The goals of this committee were:
1. Handle the increasing frequent communication with the commercial media.
2. Prepare press releases.
3. Hold news conferences.
4. Prepare statements.
Although forming new committees should be commendable, especially in our current situation, I would like to point out a paragraph in the MSA constitution that really confuses the roles played by this committee. The paragraph in the constitution is the following: "The Information Coordinator shall be responsible to the President for:
9.1 Coordinating the Islamic Children school and Adult Education Programs.
9.2 Preparing circulars, bulletins and newsletters of the Association and presenting the same before the Committee for their views.
9.3 Circulating the Association's publications (i.e. prayer calendar, etc.)
9.4 Editing and publishing literature on behalf of the Association.
9.5 Organizing and directing the use of the library, media center, television programs, Islamic book service, exhibitions, etc."
I would like to emphasize points 9.2 and 9.4 and ask what is the difference between this new committee and the information committee? More specifically how does the MSA plan to prevent duality between the newly formed committee and the Information committee? Finally, I would like to ask the MSA to clarify who is responsible for the committee and who are the members? The announcement said that the committee had been formed. It is only logical to give a contact name or list the members of that committee.
Rached Zantout
Showing posts with label mosque manners. Show all posts
Showing posts with label mosque manners. Show all posts
Friday, March 5, 2010
Saturday, February 27, 2010
May 1994 In Response to You
Due to editing decisions, some minor changes were made to the article "Religion Not Culture" by sisters Inas Hendawy and Farida EI-Hennawy, published in the March [April] issue. At the request of the authors, we here publish a part of their article that was edited:
" ... Also, many women do not respect hijab regulations (especially being not tight or short), and some uncover (partially) their hair. Aisha (RAA) said: 'If the Prophet (PBUH) saw what women did, he would prevent them (from praying in the mosque) like the women of 2:349) ... "
We would like to comment on this saying of Aisha. Though we certainly respect her opinion, she was a scholar and a judge of the highest caliber in the early Muslim community, there is a distinction between a hadith from the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and one from Aisha. More importantly, the context of her statement is not clear. However, we did not feel omitting this material changed or weakened the authors' letter.
We regret that we didn't define our editorial policy clearly enough in, advance. Since we are reorganizing with the MSA for future issues of Iqra!, we will, insha'allah, publish a detailed policy statement on editing next issue.
" ... Also, many women do not respect hijab regulations (especially being not tight or short), and some uncover (partially) their hair. Aisha (RAA) said: 'If the Prophet (PBUH) saw what women did, he would prevent them (from praying in the mosque) like the women of 2:349) ... "
We would like to comment on this saying of Aisha. Though we certainly respect her opinion, she was a scholar and a judge of the highest caliber in the early Muslim community, there is a distinction between a hadith from the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and one from Aisha. More importantly, the context of her statement is not clear. However, we did not feel omitting this material changed or weakened the authors' letter.
We regret that we didn't define our editorial policy clearly enough in, advance. Since we are reorganizing with the MSA for future issues of Iqra!, we will, insha'allah, publish a detailed policy statement on editing next issue.
April 1994 Religion Not Culture
By Inas Hendawy and Farida EI-Hennawy
We thank our sister who wrote the article "Is It Simply Culture or Religion?" for criticizing what she thought of as bad things. We think that she had good intentions, although we disagree with her on many points we will be as objective and fair as we can.
During times of regular sisters' meetings, the door is always unlocked, but you need to pull it hard enough to open it. In other times, it is locked for security purposes, keeping in mind the serious accidents which happened last year. But you may ask your husband to unlock it from inside. This has nothing to do with your right to enter the mosque.
Sisters who can't pray, yet come with their husbands, may sit and talk in the lecture room, which has a door that can isolate it from the prayer room, preventing any nuisance. Eating in mosque is also allowed. Abdullah Ibn Al Harith (RAA) said that they used to eat bread and meat in the mosque in the era of the Prophet (PBUH)(Ibn Majah 2: 1097). Aggressive efforts are exerted to control cockroaches by regular thorough cleaning after each meeting. We will seek professional help for pest control soon. We need more real help, and less sarcasm from those who like to be just "visitors." Some sisters look through window blinds for their husbands to inform them of something Important. They never have bad intentions in doing so.
Our children are ours, and it is not practical to leave them with baby sitters each time we go to the mosque. In addition, we have to train them r to attend the mosque frequently. Children stay in the toy room, unless one of them needs r something from his/her mother. The Prophet (PBUH) carried his granddaughter on his back during prayers. (Nasa'y 2:45). He also shortened the prayers when he heard a child's cry, to avoid hurting his mother. (Bukhari 2:349) We have to make some sacrifice to raise truly Muslim generation.
During azan, we are urged to repeat what the mua'zzin says (person who says azan is called mua'zzin, while imam is the person who leads the prayers). Talking in addition to that repetition is not forbidden, and the hadeeth mentioned by the writer was about the imam giving Jumma' speech.
Women are allowed to pray behind men. Um Salama narrated that women used to leave when the Prophet (PBUH) finished prayers and be used to stay in his place for awhile to give them a chance to leave before men reach them. (Bukhari 2:352) Due to our mosque structure, when men come from wudu' section in the rear of the mosque, they can - without intention - see the women's backs, especially during ruku' and sujud. This makes women praying in men's section inappropriate at this time. Also some women may not respect hijab regulations (especially being not tight, or short).
Muslims (men or women) may pray separated from the imam by a partition if they can know his actions, either by seeing or hearing him, or seeing or hearing whoever is praying behind him. (Majmooa' by AI-Nawawy 4:201) So, praying in the women's section of our mosque is appropriate as long as they know (through the loud speaker) the imam's or men's actions. In fact the farther women stay away from men the better. Abu Hurayrah (RAA) said that the Prophet (PBUH) said: "The best of men's rows is the first, and the worst is the last; and the best of women's rows is the last and the worst is the first" (Muslim I:326).
At the end, we thank our sister for her criticism, we need constructive criticism. Please be of help in maintaining our mosque.
We thank our sister who wrote the article "Is It Simply Culture or Religion?" for criticizing what she thought of as bad things. We think that she had good intentions, although we disagree with her on many points we will be as objective and fair as we can.
During times of regular sisters' meetings, the door is always unlocked, but you need to pull it hard enough to open it. In other times, it is locked for security purposes, keeping in mind the serious accidents which happened last year. But you may ask your husband to unlock it from inside. This has nothing to do with your right to enter the mosque.
Sisters who can't pray, yet come with their husbands, may sit and talk in the lecture room, which has a door that can isolate it from the prayer room, preventing any nuisance. Eating in mosque is also allowed. Abdullah Ibn Al Harith (RAA) said that they used to eat bread and meat in the mosque in the era of the Prophet (PBUH)(Ibn Majah 2: 1097). Aggressive efforts are exerted to control cockroaches by regular thorough cleaning after each meeting. We will seek professional help for pest control soon. We need more real help, and less sarcasm from those who like to be just "visitors." Some sisters look through window blinds for their husbands to inform them of something Important. They never have bad intentions in doing so.
Our children are ours, and it is not practical to leave them with baby sitters each time we go to the mosque. In addition, we have to train them r to attend the mosque frequently. Children stay in the toy room, unless one of them needs r something from his/her mother. The Prophet (PBUH) carried his granddaughter on his back during prayers. (Nasa'y 2:45). He also shortened the prayers when he heard a child's cry, to avoid hurting his mother. (Bukhari 2:349) We have to make some sacrifice to raise truly Muslim generation.
During azan, we are urged to repeat what the mua'zzin says (person who says azan is called mua'zzin, while imam is the person who leads the prayers). Talking in addition to that repetition is not forbidden, and the hadeeth mentioned by the writer was about the imam giving Jumma' speech.
Women are allowed to pray behind men. Um Salama narrated that women used to leave when the Prophet (PBUH) finished prayers and be used to stay in his place for awhile to give them a chance to leave before men reach them. (Bukhari 2:352) Due to our mosque structure, when men come from wudu' section in the rear of the mosque, they can - without intention - see the women's backs, especially during ruku' and sujud. This makes women praying in men's section inappropriate at this time. Also some women may not respect hijab regulations (especially being not tight, or short).
Muslims (men or women) may pray separated from the imam by a partition if they can know his actions, either by seeing or hearing him, or seeing or hearing whoever is praying behind him. (Majmooa' by AI-Nawawy 4:201) So, praying in the women's section of our mosque is appropriate as long as they know (through the loud speaker) the imam's or men's actions. In fact the farther women stay away from men the better. Abu Hurayrah (RAA) said that the Prophet (PBUH) said: "The best of men's rows is the first, and the worst is the last; and the best of women's rows is the last and the worst is the first" (Muslim I:326).
At the end, we thank our sister for her criticism, we need constructive criticism. Please be of help in maintaining our mosque.
March 1994 Is It Simply Culture or Religion?
By Meriem Djafi
My husband and I arrive at the mosque through the back door as I walk around to the front entrance However, when I arrive at the front door, I usually have to knock and wait patiently because the door is locked. As I stand in the cold, I feel isolated and locked out. What should I do? Is it acceptable for me to go around to the back door to enter the mosque or should I continue to knock and wait? I wait because I know that no Muslim can be denied the right to enter a mosque and offer prayers therein. After a few minutes or so, a sister answers the door, and I enter the mosque to pray. I remove my shoes as I prepare to enter the room for prayer.
Can you imagine what I find? Many women are sitting in several groups talking in numerous languages, children are running around as they scream and play, sisters and children alike are eating and gossiping instead of preparing for prayer, and I almost always find a cockroach crawling on the floor or walls. This is not what I expect to find when I enter a room for prayer. In addition to this, I always find women the bent, broken metal blinds the bent, broken metal blinds peeking at the men.
This is really bizarre to me, and I have much difficulty comprehending this whole situation. Aisha said, The Messenger of Allah, PBUH, ordered the building of the mosque and that it should be kept clean and perfumed (AD-Msh.4:7). Is it not the responsibility of all brothers, sisters, and their children to show the utmost RESPECT for the mosque since "the mosques are Allah's" (72:18)? We all need to work together to correct this!
The imam turns on the microphone and makes the athan, the noise and utter chaos continues even though Salman said on the authority of the Prophet, PBUH, "one should remain silent when the imam speaks" (Bukhari, 11:35). During, the prayer, the sisters are silent even though the children continue to yell, scream, cry, and run between the lines. Unfortunately, some of the sisters make as much noise as the children when the imam gives his lecture, whether in English or Arabic.
This is so frustrating because I come to the mosque to worship Allah, pray, and learn Qu'ran. After all, the mosque, being the essential meeting place of Muslims five times a day, is also a general center where all important matters relating to the welfare of the Muslim community are transacted and where Muslims gathered together on all important occasions. What can I do? I ask a sister to please be quiet or stop the children from running through the doors to the men's side, but some sisters seem to be offended.
I am comforted to know that at least my husband can concentrate on his prayer in peace because he is not stranded on the noisy, dirty, "baby-sitting" side of the mosque. Why am I not permitted to join the men in prayer and accomplish my objective for coming to the mosque?
I am convinced that separating the men from the women is cultural. As long as men and women are dressed appropriately, then why can they not pray together in congregation. Ibn 'Umar said, A wife of 'Umar used to attend the morning and 'Isha prayers In congregation in the mosque. It was said to her, why do you go forth and you know that 'Umar does not like this and is adverse to it? She said, what prevents him from prohibiting me? He said, what prevents him is the saying of the Messenger of Allah, PBUH: "Do not prohibit the handmaids of Allah from attending the mosques of Allah" (Bukhari 11:12)
In a sense, I feel like I am prohibited from attending the mosque. My husband encourages me to attend the mosque as much as I desire to go. However, when I attend the mosque, I usually leave frustrated and unfulfilled. Why should I drive a long distance to the mosque and leave my clean, 'peaceful home Perhaps, I want to pray with my brothers and sisters in order to learn more about my religion. I believe that Muslims' iman decreases when an individual practices his/her religion alone; while on the other hand, a Muslim's iman can only strengthen and increase in congregation.
What is our solution? As an ummah, we must correct this situation because no one has the right to interfere with another brother's or sister's prayer or opportunity to learn• more about Islam. I am not going to stop coming to the mosque. I am going to persevere and continue to be patient. It is our obligation to educate our fellow brothers and sisters in a polite manner. One day, I am sure that I will go through the double doors that separate the men from the women and pray behind the men as I did in the mosques in Canada. I do not wish to offend any of the brothers, but I have come to the mosque to pray and hear Qu'ran. Our religion does not prohibit us from praying together. Abu Musa said, the Messenger of Allah, PBUH, said: "When you pray, set right your ranks; then one of you should act as your imam, so when he says takbir, say the takbir, and when he says ghairi-l-rnagh-dzub-i 'alia-him wa la-dzal-lin, say amin, Allah will accept your prayer (M, Msh 4: 12).
Honestly, I want to stop the ritual of constantly complaining to my husband when I join him once again as we leave the mosque. He always finds himself in the situation of having to repeat the lecture that the imam gave so that I can learn. If the doors that separate the men from the women are to remain, let them separate the people that want to worship from those who want to socialize, gossip and eat.
My husband and I arrive at the mosque through the back door as I walk around to the front entrance However, when I arrive at the front door, I usually have to knock and wait patiently because the door is locked. As I stand in the cold, I feel isolated and locked out. What should I do? Is it acceptable for me to go around to the back door to enter the mosque or should I continue to knock and wait? I wait because I know that no Muslim can be denied the right to enter a mosque and offer prayers therein. After a few minutes or so, a sister answers the door, and I enter the mosque to pray. I remove my shoes as I prepare to enter the room for prayer.
Can you imagine what I find? Many women are sitting in several groups talking in numerous languages, children are running around as they scream and play, sisters and children alike are eating and gossiping instead of preparing for prayer, and I almost always find a cockroach crawling on the floor or walls. This is not what I expect to find when I enter a room for prayer. In addition to this, I always find women the bent, broken metal blinds the bent, broken metal blinds peeking at the men.
This is really bizarre to me, and I have much difficulty comprehending this whole situation. Aisha said, The Messenger of Allah, PBUH, ordered the building of the mosque and that it should be kept clean and perfumed (AD-Msh.4:7). Is it not the responsibility of all brothers, sisters, and their children to show the utmost RESPECT for the mosque since "the mosques are Allah's" (72:18)? We all need to work together to correct this!
The imam turns on the microphone and makes the athan, the noise and utter chaos continues even though Salman said on the authority of the Prophet, PBUH, "one should remain silent when the imam speaks" (Bukhari, 11:35). During, the prayer, the sisters are silent even though the children continue to yell, scream, cry, and run between the lines. Unfortunately, some of the sisters make as much noise as the children when the imam gives his lecture, whether in English or Arabic.
This is so frustrating because I come to the mosque to worship Allah, pray, and learn Qu'ran. After all, the mosque, being the essential meeting place of Muslims five times a day, is also a general center where all important matters relating to the welfare of the Muslim community are transacted and where Muslims gathered together on all important occasions. What can I do? I ask a sister to please be quiet or stop the children from running through the doors to the men's side, but some sisters seem to be offended.
I am comforted to know that at least my husband can concentrate on his prayer in peace because he is not stranded on the noisy, dirty, "baby-sitting" side of the mosque. Why am I not permitted to join the men in prayer and accomplish my objective for coming to the mosque?
I am convinced that separating the men from the women is cultural. As long as men and women are dressed appropriately, then why can they not pray together in congregation. Ibn 'Umar said, A wife of 'Umar used to attend the morning and 'Isha prayers In congregation in the mosque. It was said to her, why do you go forth and you know that 'Umar does not like this and is adverse to it? She said, what prevents him from prohibiting me? He said, what prevents him is the saying of the Messenger of Allah, PBUH: "Do not prohibit the handmaids of Allah from attending the mosques of Allah" (Bukhari 11:12)
In a sense, I feel like I am prohibited from attending the mosque. My husband encourages me to attend the mosque as much as I desire to go. However, when I attend the mosque, I usually leave frustrated and unfulfilled. Why should I drive a long distance to the mosque and leave my clean, 'peaceful home Perhaps, I want to pray with my brothers and sisters in order to learn more about my religion. I believe that Muslims' iman decreases when an individual practices his/her religion alone; while on the other hand, a Muslim's iman can only strengthen and increase in congregation.
What is our solution? As an ummah, we must correct this situation because no one has the right to interfere with another brother's or sister's prayer or opportunity to learn• more about Islam. I am not going to stop coming to the mosque. I am going to persevere and continue to be patient. It is our obligation to educate our fellow brothers and sisters in a polite manner. One day, I am sure that I will go through the double doors that separate the men from the women and pray behind the men as I did in the mosques in Canada. I do not wish to offend any of the brothers, but I have come to the mosque to pray and hear Qu'ran. Our religion does not prohibit us from praying together. Abu Musa said, the Messenger of Allah, PBUH, said: "When you pray, set right your ranks; then one of you should act as your imam, so when he says takbir, say the takbir, and when he says ghairi-l-rnagh-dzub-i 'alia-him wa la-dzal-lin, say amin, Allah will accept your prayer (M, Msh 4: 12).
Honestly, I want to stop the ritual of constantly complaining to my husband when I join him once again as we leave the mosque. He always finds himself in the situation of having to repeat the lecture that the imam gave so that I can learn. If the doors that separate the men from the women are to remain, let them separate the people that want to worship from those who want to socialize, gossip and eat.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Sept.1994 Conflict at Omar mosque
by Rashid Zantout
August was indeed a very eventful month as far as the Omar Ibn El Khattab Mosque was concerned. Many events happened during the month that put our small community under big tests. Did our community pass or fail? Only time will tell. In an effort to pass this test we will try in this article to explore what went wrong and try to suggest remedies. These suggestions could then be developed through community discussions and on the pages of IQRA!
The problems that happened in the Masjid lately were obviously a result of lack of communication. The leadership is trying hard to perform its duties, yet mistakes do happen. How should the community correct those mistakes. In fact the bigger question is what is the relationship between the community in general and the leadership of the Masjid. Are those whom we have elected free to do whatever they want without any interference from the community? That's one extreme. Or should they call for a general assembly every time any decision arises? That's another extreme.
First of all let us affirm that as Muslims we should all have good faith in each other. Therefore we believe that the leadership of the Masjid is acting out of good intentions. We also believe that whoever tries to correct the mistakes of the leadership is doing that based on good intentions. Furthermore, it is important to notice that we are a diverse group of people that are united solely because of Islam. We speak different languages and come from very different backgrounds and cultures. Accepting all this is the first step towards solving our problems.
The lessons that we can learn from such conflicts are many and one writer cannot gather them all. Still through interaction with brothers and sisters, the following suggestions are offered:
Passing judgment on an issue should only be done after gathering all the facts from all the different parts. Like the blind men that went to "see" the elephant. Each one of them came with a different description of the elephant depending on which part of the elephant he felt. such is the example of someone who hears the story from one side and then passes judgment. The elephant for that person can then be a long and thin creature.
Knowledge was a key factor in all the conflicts that happened. The MSA should keep brothers and sisters abreast of current events and decisions as much as possible. If a decision can be delayed till after the community is informed about its consequences, then it should be delayed! Announcements after Isha and Friday prayers should be used more effectively by the leadership in order to inform and educate the community.
In turn, brothers and sisters should go through the official channels when trying to protest or change something. Self-appointed "officials" lead to chaos. The leadership of the Masjid was elected by us and as such it has a right to receive our advice and cooperation.
The leadership should come up with guidelines for conduct inside the Masjid. Such guidelines must pass through an amelioration process where every member of the community tries to make it better. Then such a list can be adopted and punishment procedures set for people who break those rules.
Allah (SWT) described us in the Quran as those who are merciful amongst themselves. Therefore, any one of us who sees his brother or sister doing mistakes should search for the best way to correct that mistake. Publicly defaming the brother or sister almost always does not correct their mistakes. Furthermore, each one of us should have good intentions when thinking about their brothers and sisters. If certain action of a brother or sister can be explained in different ways according to different intentions, then it is the duty of a Muslim to think as highly as possible of his brother or sister and assume the best intentions.
Islam came to wipe out differences between believers. Whether I come from one part of the world or another, my native language is one or the other, or my skin color is one or the other, I should always think of the other Muslims as my brothers and my sisters and deal with them accordingly.
August was indeed a very eventful month as far as the Omar Ibn El Khattab Mosque was concerned. Many events happened during the month that put our small community under big tests. Did our community pass or fail? Only time will tell. In an effort to pass this test we will try in this article to explore what went wrong and try to suggest remedies. These suggestions could then be developed through community discussions and on the pages of IQRA!
The problems that happened in the Masjid lately were obviously a result of lack of communication. The leadership is trying hard to perform its duties, yet mistakes do happen. How should the community correct those mistakes. In fact the bigger question is what is the relationship between the community in general and the leadership of the Masjid. Are those whom we have elected free to do whatever they want without any interference from the community? That's one extreme. Or should they call for a general assembly every time any decision arises? That's another extreme.
First of all let us affirm that as Muslims we should all have good faith in each other. Therefore we believe that the leadership of the Masjid is acting out of good intentions. We also believe that whoever tries to correct the mistakes of the leadership is doing that based on good intentions. Furthermore, it is important to notice that we are a diverse group of people that are united solely because of Islam. We speak different languages and come from very different backgrounds and cultures. Accepting all this is the first step towards solving our problems.
The lessons that we can learn from such conflicts are many and one writer cannot gather them all. Still through interaction with brothers and sisters, the following suggestions are offered:
Passing judgment on an issue should only be done after gathering all the facts from all the different parts. Like the blind men that went to "see" the elephant. Each one of them came with a different description of the elephant depending on which part of the elephant he felt. such is the example of someone who hears the story from one side and then passes judgment. The elephant for that person can then be a long and thin creature.
Knowledge was a key factor in all the conflicts that happened. The MSA should keep brothers and sisters abreast of current events and decisions as much as possible. If a decision can be delayed till after the community is informed about its consequences, then it should be delayed! Announcements after Isha and Friday prayers should be used more effectively by the leadership in order to inform and educate the community.
In turn, brothers and sisters should go through the official channels when trying to protest or change something. Self-appointed "officials" lead to chaos. The leadership of the Masjid was elected by us and as such it has a right to receive our advice and cooperation.
The leadership should come up with guidelines for conduct inside the Masjid. Such guidelines must pass through an amelioration process where every member of the community tries to make it better. Then such a list can be adopted and punishment procedures set for people who break those rules.
Allah (SWT) described us in the Quran as those who are merciful amongst themselves. Therefore, any one of us who sees his brother or sister doing mistakes should search for the best way to correct that mistake. Publicly defaming the brother or sister almost always does not correct their mistakes. Furthermore, each one of us should have good intentions when thinking about their brothers and sisters. If certain action of a brother or sister can be explained in different ways according to different intentions, then it is the duty of a Muslim to think as highly as possible of his brother or sister and assume the best intentions.
Islam came to wipe out differences between believers. Whether I come from one part of the world or another, my native language is one or the other, or my skin color is one or the other, I should always think of the other Muslims as my brothers and my sisters and deal with them accordingly.
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