"ACTIVITIES IN THE MASJID ?" : A brief comment ... also An-Naseehah on Adab

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
from a discussion on Singapore Da'wah Community group on FB (FaceBook)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=154870848540&topic=14384
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

As-salaa-mu 'alaykum warahmatullaah,

Let me begin by reminding myself towards TAQWA and offer some advice to guide us towards seeking Mardhaatillaah:

AN-NASEEHAH:

Be very careful of the Adab in discussion.

Whenever we are shown guidance, restrain from tendencies to oppose and doubt it before fully understanding what has been given as the guidance. If we are patient to listen and try to understand what has been conveyed, rather than be quick to retort or question, because when we really understand, perhaps much of these questionings are actually redundant.

Perhaps many of us are trained in using skepticism as though to display intellectuality - e.g. by posing other hypothetical scenarios and further assumptions to what has been explained, as though to still doubt it; adding the phrase "however.." so that it justifies further doubting even though he claims to agree and understood what has been explained; or failure to deeply reflect and understand the guidance given but is preoccupied with his own inner intellectual curiosity and questioning. He may not be in a learning mode - but doubting mode, so how can he be guided?

Alas, some of us may confuse skepticism as though it equals to knowledge. Whereas, what we may be displaying in skepticism is only our admission of our ignorance and not displaying our profoundness.

Reflect:

وَمَنۡ أَظۡلَمُ مِمَّن ذُكِّرَ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ رَبِّهِۦ فَأَعۡرَضَ

عَنۡہَا وَنَسِىَ مَا قَدَّمَتۡ يَدَاهُ‌ۚ إِنَّا جَعَلۡنَا عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمۡ

ڪِنَّةً أَن يَفۡقَهُوهُ وَفِىٓ ءَاذَانِہِمۡ وَقۡرً۬ا‌ۖ وَإِن تَدۡعُهُمۡ إِلَى ٱلۡهُدَىٰ

فَلَن يَہۡتَدُوٓاْ إِذًا أَبَدً۬ا

"And who doth more wrong than one who is reminded of the Signs of his Lord but turns away from them, forgetting the (deeds) which his hands have sent forth? Verily We have set veils over their hearts lest they should understand this, and over their ears, deafness.

"If thou callest them to guidance, even then will they never accept guidance. But your Lord is Most Forgiving, Full of Mercy. If He were to call them (at once) to account for what they have earned, then surely He would have hastened their Punishment: but they have their appointed time, beyond which they will find no refuge."

(Q: Kahf: 18: 57-59)

PRIMARY FUNCTION OF MOSQUE

Beware of the trend to divert the mosque from its primary function by shifting towards some of its secondary or exceptional usage - even though it can be substantiated with Hadith or Seerah. Inability to differentiate primary from secondary; the rule from the exception; the essential from the non-essential; the urgent from non-urgent; the serious from the mundane; the sacred from the profane, etc - leads to leveling, which cause the loss of Adab.

Let me share my concern regarding the mosque which is on my blog:

"Parable: Beware of Masjid Dhirara wa Kufr"

And please try to understand first the message I wish to convey, because the nature of parables and similitudes is that it demands deep reflection. Retorting before understanding does not do justice to one's intellect.

ISLAM: NOT A SPORT

Although Islam allows for sports, entertainment, healthy recreation etc. which are ma'ruf (well-known), our concern is that there are people who promotes "fun" when we ought to be concerned for the loss of seriousness and urgency in our community, we laugh too much when we ought to weep. Is our religion to be mocked?

Reflect:

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَا تَتَّخِذُواْ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّخَذُواْ دِينَكُمۡ هُزُوً۬ا

.

وَلَعِبً۬ا مِّنَ ٱلَّذِينَ أُوتُواْ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبَ مِن قَبۡلِكُمۡ وَٱلۡكُفَّارَ أَوۡلِيَآءَ‌ۚ

.

وَٱتَّقُواْ ٱللَّهَ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤۡمِنِينَ

.

"O ye who believe! Take not for friends and protectors those who take your religion for a mockery or sport,― whether among those who received the Scripture before you, or among those who reject Faith; but fear ye Allah if ye have Faith (indeed)."

(Q: Ma-idah: 5: 57)

SO HOW...?

Do we have the same understanding?

Do we share the same concern?

Do we really care?

"Allaa-hum-mah-di-naa fee-man haa-da-it..."

waAllaahu a'lam

zhulkeflee