mosque, even though both men and women attended it, and even though there were incidents which would have caused the Prophet to erect it -- had it been permissible.
Added on: Nov 11, 1996
1) There are two masjids in my city. One claims to be following the Qur'an and Sunnah; the other is a ___________ mosque. In the Qur'an and Sunnah masjid there is also an Islamic school. In the school there are many pictures and often children bring idols and statues (eg. He-man, power rangers) into the school, which is enclosed within the same building as the musulla. In the other mosque I have not seen pictures. So I would like to know if it is better to make the fard salaat in the Qur'an and Sunnah masjid, __________ masjid, or outside. Also, what about jumma. Also, the imam of the Qur'an and Sunnah masjid told me and another salafi brother that Allah is everywhere. Subhana Allah. Jazzakum allah khairun.
Following the Quran and Sunnah is by actions not claims. This Imaam seems to have deviant beliefs and practices (from what you say). You should advise him and see how he reacts. As for the toys and statues, they do not affect the prayer since they are in a different room, even though within the same enclosure.
Added on: Nov 11, 1996
2) I am 24 years old and currently the Imaam of our local Masjid. Recently an issue has arisen in our Masjid concerning security. We have a brother who is the Mudeer of Security of the Masjid. He feels that it is absolutely neccessary (i.e. Waajib) for the people who are in the Masjid to keep the windows and doors locked and closed at all times. The people had convinced him that we should at least leave the doorsopen (i.e. unlocked) during the times of the Jama'ah Salaah. However, outside of that, he insists that the doors be kept locked because he feels that we could be attacked by military government agents, or other militant religious groups opposed to Islaam. We have never in the past experienced any such problems or violent threats, and the neighborhood surrounding the Masjid is generally "peaceful". The people feel as though this brother is being extreme, considering the fact that they (the ones who reside in the Masjid) have to constantly keep going to the door to let people in who just want to make Salaah or learn about Islaam. They feel that they are being put in a prison in the Masjid, or that they are being made to be like watchmen at some military post or fort. They don't have a problem with locking the doors if no one is going to be in the Masjid or if the people in the Masjid are sleeping. But they feel to keep all the doors locked while the Masjid is populated with alert people is an exaggeration. If you could please help me to resolve this issue as it has errupted into bickering, and several fights have almost broken out in my absense (Allaahul-Musta'aan). I am tending to lean towards the view of the people, but I thought I'd get the opinion of an outside party first, before making my decision in this regard.
From your description, the brother does sound to be excessive and paranoid in his fears. Unless there has been some incidents of violence or vandalism reported in that or other locations in the neigborhood, there does not seem to be reason for his fears. Indeed, it appears that he is turning people away from the mosque because of his excessively tight security measures. We had a similar problem with one of the security volunteers in our last QSS convention. You might want to consider releaving him from his post and replacing him with someone more lenient.
The way our Masjid is designed, there are separate entrances for brothers and sisters (as is the Sunnah). On the brother's side when one enters the door there is a small sitting area where one can sit down to remove his shoes. Then the next area opens up into a kitchen, and next a small study area with a desk and Islaamic library. Then there is a door that leads to the larger carpeted Masallah area where the people pray.
On the sisters side, their door opens up into a hallway that leads to a carpeted room where they pray (behind the men's area). Then, behind their prayer room is another room which has a desk and library. The floor in this room is hard tile, and the sisters don't use it to pray in. Then, this small room has a doorway leading to another large carpeted room that the sisters use for classes and sometimes prayer.
The issue at hand is what is considered the Masjid and what is not? Some people enter the Masjid and go to the areas where prayer is not made and sit down and talk or read without making tahiyyatul-Masjid (saying that the area they're in is not the Masjid so they don't have to make 2 raka'ahs). They also feel that it is permissable to do business in these non-prayer designated areas of the Masjid (selling incense, al-Jumu'ah Magazine, Hudaa newspaper, Ahlus-Sunnah al-Yawm newsletter, oils, food, etc.). Of course, others are opposed to this saying that, once you enter the Masjid door, this is considered the Masjid. Please help me resolve this issue as well, as I do not know of any daleel to clarify this issue.
It is not true that once you enter the masjid door you are in the masjid. Otherwise, by their logic, you should offer the tahiyyah prayer even if you are in the toilet! The masjid where the tahiyyah is offered, and where people may not raise their voices or do worldly transactions, is what you designate and agree to as being the Musallaa (prayer area) of the mosque. This does not include the extention areas that you would spill into on Fridays and Eeds.
Added on: Nov 11, 1996
3) At the Masjid I regularly attend the Imam has posted a sign announcing the time of Fajr as being 1 hour prior to sunrise. For quite sometime now a group of rather conscientious brothers have gathered for Fajr and Halaka afterwards. Lately another very learned brother has initiated establishing the Jaamat for Fajr at a time close to or at the time Fajr actually comes in. Meanwhile, the Imam has not abrogated the instructions for Fajr of the Masjid. Complicating the matter is the issue that the Imam seldom if ever comes to Fajr, which I realize is problematic initself. The brother establishing the Jaamat at the earlier time claims that this is the Sunnah of Allah's Messenger (SAWS). The brothers sticking to the posted time of the Imam claim that following the rules of the Imam, and making the Jaamat easy for more Muslims is Wasat (the middle ground) and therfore the better way. Ignoring the fact that the Imam is a weak position as it is, what is the best solution for this problem?
We are not sure what you mean by your statement "at the time Fajr actually comes in". Do you mean that that brother actually made a careful observation of the correct time for fajr? Did he go out on many clear days very early, away from city lights, and observed the fajr time in accordance with the Sunnah's description for the truthful fajr (al-Fajr us-Saadiq"? Or is it merely going by the computer-calculated tables. If it is the latter, then there is no point for making such a claim.
From ours, and other eye observations in many parts of the United States and other countries, fajr does not come in much more than one hour before sunrise. Thus the time set by the Imaam is perfectly acceptable, or might need to be reduced a little in some cases, because you need to give people enough time to pray the Sunnah. And remember that to pray sixty, thirty, fifteen, or even 5 minutes before sunrise, the prayer would still be acceptable, because it is prayed during its time (even though the rewards vary). But to pray it 90 minutes before sunrise, under pretence of added piety, could result in making the prayer totally unacceptable, being prayed outside its time!
Added on: Feb 1, 1997
4) 1. Can you comment on the fact that in the US some Islamic congregations make use of space rented/provided by Christian congrations. (Using the church building or meeting room for Friday prayers.) Is such fraternization approved?
Yes, as a matter of necessity, when they have no other alternative.
2. Could such an arrangement work in reverse (Christians renting from an Islamic group.)?
No, because in Islam this means that Muslims condone some wrong beliefs and practices.
MJ
Added on: March 10, 1997
5) In our masjid there is a set of partitions (office like partitions) dividing the mens area from the womens area. Recently there have been some people requesting that the partition be removed all together, claiming that it is the way it was in the Prophet's mosque.
This has been answered with some detail in a recent issue of Hudaa (~mid 96). The summary of that is
mosque, even though both men and women attended it, and even though there were incidents which would have caused the Prophet to erect it -- had it been permissible. , but women stay behind to talk and discuss their affairs, a partition may be set for their convenience and privacy, and not for the purpose of modifying the place of prayer. A similar exception may be granted to situations where the masjid is so limited in space, and the Muslims have no ability to enlarge it, as is ofter the case in this country (US), that women will have to come into very close proximity with men unless there is a defined section for them. Thus, partitions are only permissible when the reason for them is not to improve over the Prophet's worship and modesty, but for a matter of convenience that was not present in his mosque. Allaah knows best.
Added on: March 10, 1997
6) Does an Imam have the power or authority to banish or expel another Muslim from the Masjid, even if it is just because the Muslim disagreed with the Imam's actions?
This depends on the amount of authority given by the community to that imaam, as well as the amount of damage that the banished brother is causing to the community.