Which success does it mean, the success in the world or hereafter? Why haven’t we realized yet that Allah (SWT) has chosen ‘success’ to be associated with masjid?
By Qutub Ahmed Siddiqui
The mua’zzin pronounces Adhan five times a day and the words are also repeated during Iqamah. This phenomenon started with the advent of Islam and would continue till the Day of Judgement, inshallah. We listen to the Adhan and respond to it by visiting Masjid for obligatory prayers and our scholars often speak about the virtues of Adhan, but one question that bothers my intellect is – Have we really been able to comprehend the wisdom behind the wordings of Adhan? I believe that the Adhan cannot be just an invitation to visit Masjid for Salaah, it is much more than it.
When I ponder upon the wordings of Adhaan, I find it marvelous, beautiful and full of wisdom; which allures the heart. Among all the beautiful phrases of Adhaan, one specific phrase that echoes in my mind is ‘Haiya alal falaah – come towards Success’ and the word ‘success’ strikes my intellect again and again and raises this question – which success does it mean, the success in the world or hereafter?
Masjid –e-Rasheed at Darul Uloom Deoband
The Quran says ‘fidduniya hasanah wa fil akhirati hasanah…’, therefore, the ‘success’ as pronounced in the Adhan also means and includes both the successes. Surely, we all know that by performing obligatory acts prescribed by Islam, we can attain success hereafter by visiting Masjid and, performing Salaah can lead us to Jannah for sure. But how does it give us success in this world?
Let us analyze the areas where a Muslim is seeking success in this world. We all strive hard to succeed in finding solutions to our basic problems of education, employment, legal help, career guidance, marriage counseling, safety & security, financial help, civil disputes, etc. These are the “worldly” problems that each Muslim, irrespective of nationality is trying to solve. The Muslims of Indian sub-continent, too, run from pillar to post to succeed in finding solutions to these problems.
Let us pause for a second and ask ourselves: Is the role of masjids limited to that of a prayer hall only? Do masjids function as only prayer halls during the time of our Prophet? Was it so at the time of Khulfa e Rashida? History tells us that masjids had been an integral part of the Muslim Ummah and played a great many roles besides that of a prayer hall. Masjids were the Centres of Learning, Libraries, Dispensaries, Darul Qaza etc.
When the Mua’zzin calls ‘Haiya alal falaah’, the true meaning would imply to come to masjid not only to offer Salah but also to find solutions to your problems. Five times a day, the masjid is calling out loud and clear to all Muslims confirming that it is not just a place of worship rather it is a Community Centre, where there is a solution to every problem of the Ummah. No other place of worship in the world would call out five times a day as a masjid does.
I feel disheartened that we Muslims have forgotten the true meaning of ‘Haiya alal falaah’; we have totally forgotten that success is associated with Salah as well as masjid. Why haven’t we realized yet that Allah (SWT) has chosen ‘success’ to be associated with masjid? Why would he associate the word ‘success’ with a place of worship? It is quite understandable that He also wants us to be approachable by fellow Muslims and he wants his house (masjid) to be a place where every person can expect love, compassion and help for their problems. The Holy Prophet is reported to have said, “None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself”.
We have accepted that masjid belongs to the Imam, Muezzin & few handful masjid committee members.
Our masjid has lost the true essence of being a community centre which offers a platform for all Muslims to share their problems and find solutions through fellow Muslims. The need of the hour is to revive our Masjid from a place of worship to a community centre for Muslims.
Let us stop expecting from scholars of deen to change the perception of masjid in peoples’ mind and accept that it is the duty of each and every individual who is associated with a particular masjid to revive the status a masjid deserves. As our scholars of Islam complain that more and more people are abandoning obligatory prayers and limiting themselves to avoid Salah or offer it at home, if we honor the true respect a masjid deserves, it won’t be far when our masjid are filled with Muslims and the first thing which would strike a person’s mind when in need, would be a masjid.
When I speak to my Muslim friends from America and other developed countries, I feel happy that they have understood the true meaning of a masjid and they are succeeding in making their masjids as a community centre for learning, education, community development, sports activities, charity, etc. I truly wish to see masjids in the Indian sub-continent receiving the same respect and love as per the guidance set by our beloved Prophet Mohammed (PBUH).
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(Qutub Ahmed Siddiqui works as a Human Resources Officer in Doha, Qatar.)