What is a Mosque?

The word mosque is derived from the Arabic word مَسْجِد (masjid). It is a place of worship for followers of Islam, muslims. It serves as a social & spiritual hub for them. The main purpose of the mosque is to practice the congregation of 5 daily prayers and Jumu’ah, a special prayer on Friday. In addition to this primary activity, a mosque is used for other activities including religious studies, community events etc.

A mosque has many components like Mihrab, Minbar regardless of it’s size & shape. Some mosques has shared or dedicated prayer space for women.

Who builds a Mosque & how it is operated?

From the definition, it’s probably obvious now that muslims build mosques to create a dedicated space for worship and community bonding.

A mosque’s operation and maintenance varies by its location and the local practices. In many places community handles these responsibilities. Usually, they form a group, committee or board of trustees. In the USA, mosques are usually registered as tax-exempted non-profit organization.

This group manages the day-to-day operations. These tasks include cleaning, repairing, and maintaining the building. The committee also organizes the mosque’s activities. They set prayer times and appoints an Imam. The Imam is a religious leader who leads the prayers and provides religious guidance.

In some Muslim-majority countries, the government plays a central role in the construction and operation of mosques. Ministries or departments dedicated to religious affairs handle these tasks, such as constructing new mosques, appointing Imams, and providing funding.

Regardless of the management, the operation of a mosque is a team effort that reflects the commitment of muslims to their place of worship and their faith.

Why a mosque is built?

As mentioned earlier, a mosque is primarily a place for Muslims to perform their five daily prayers. Muslims are required to pray five times each day. Performing these prayers in a group, or congregation, holds great spiritual value. This idea is reflected in a saying from Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

The prayer in congregation is twenty seven times superior to the prayer offered by person alone.

Sahih Al-Bukhari

On Fridays, the usual afternoon prayer replaced with Jumu’ah. This prayer should also be performed in congregation.

Many Muslim scholars believe that it’s mandatory for Muslim men to perform all five daily prayers, in addition to Jumu’ah, in the mosque. There are exceptions for valid reasons. For muslim women, praying in the mosque is optional. Highlighting the importance of congregational prayers, the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) once expressed:

No doubt, I intended to order somebody to pronounce the Iqama of the (compulsory congregational) prayer and then I would go to the houses of those who do not attend the prayer and burn their houses over them.

Sahih Al-Bukhari

This statement underscores the significance Islam places on communal worship, leading us to understand why a proper place for congregation is crucial. Therefore, mosques are built to provide Muslims with a dedicated space to fulfill these religious obligations appropriately.

Can non-muslims visit a mosque?

Non-Muslims can usually visit a mosque. Most mosques welcome everyone, regardless of their faith. They often invite visitors who want to learn about Islam. However, each mosque might have its own visiting policies. Also not every mosque has arrangement for non-muslims. So, it’s a good idea to call the mosque before you visit. They can guide you about the best times to come and any specific rules to follow.

You should dress modestly when you visit a mosque. This act shows respect for the religious space. Also, you usually need to remove your shoes before entering the main prayer area. You should behave quietly and respectfully. Visiting a mosque offers a chance to learn about Islamic culture and religion firsthand.

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“Peace Be Upon Him (pbuh)”, often said as sending salam, is an honorific phrase used by Muslims whenever the name of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) or any other prophet in Islam is mentioned or written. It is an abbreviated form of the arabic phrase عَلَيْهِ ٱلسَّلَامُ (ʿalayhi as-salām) which means Peace Be Upon Him. There is a longer variant of it which is صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ (ṣallā -llāhu ʿalayhī wa-sallam) which means Allah’s peace & blessings upon him. Sometimes, it is also presented like ﷺ.

This is not just an honorific phrase but also a supplication to God (Allah) that muslims make not only for Prophet Muhammad but also other prophets including Nuh (Noah), Musa (Moses), ‘Isa (Jesus); may peace be upon them all.

Why muslims utter it?

This practice of sending salat & salam is not just a cultural or traditional formality. Based on the teachings of the Quran and the Sunnah, traditions of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), the heartfelt utterance of this is a requirement and sign of reverence and respect that muslims must adhere to.

In Quran, Allah commanded all believers that

Indeed, Allah showers His blessings upon the Prophet, and His angels pray for him. O  believers! Invoke Allah’s blessings upon him, and salute him with worthy greetings of peace.

Al-Quran 33:56

The Messenger of Allah, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said

He who blesses me once, Allah would bless him ten times.

Sahih Muslim 408

This implies that by saying “Peace Be Upon Him” muslims also gain spiritual rewards!

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Fast forward to 1790, the country’s early years saw the introduction of the Naturalization Act, which stipulated that only free whites of good moral character could become citizens. This legislation discouraged many non-white Muslims, including Arabs, Indians, and Africans, from immigrating to the country.

However, by the late 1870s, a surge of immigrants from the Middle East, notably from present-day Syria, Jordan, Palestine, and Lebanon, began to enter the United States. They were classified as “Turks” and deemed ineligible for citizenship for being Asiatic. These individuals sought greater economic stability on American shores. Many found work as miners, factory workers, peddlers, grocers, shopkeepers, or petty merchants, with a significant number establishing themselves in the Midwest​.

In 1914, the number of Arab Muslims in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, was just 45. But within a decade, they had built a full-scale Muslim community, which included over 50 shops and grocery stores by the mid-1920s. In 1925, a group known as ‘The Rose of Fraternity Lodge’ rented a building to serve as a temporary mosque, sparking the dream of constructing a permanent place of worship​.

Finally, on February 15, 1934, in the midst of the Great Depression, the Mother Mosque of America opened its doors for the first time, serving as both a mosque and a social center. This simple, one-story wood frame building was the first mosque designed and built in America, marking a significant chapter in the nation’s religious and immigration history​​.

As the muslim community grew, a new mosque was constructed on 1st Ave SW, Cedar Rapids in 1970. However, it was later sold and repurposed. The Islamic Council of Iowa purchased and renovated the building in the early 1990s. Today, it serves as a place of worship and a resource center, preserving the history of muslims in America.

The Mother Mosque of America stands as a testament to the resilience and contributions of African Muslim slaves to the struggle for equality and justice, their faith shaping the early civil rights discourse. The mosque also marks a milestone in the acceptance of Islam, epitomized by Abdallah Ingram’s successful endeavor to establish Islam as a valid faith within the U.S. military. stands as a beacon of Muslim prosperity in America, a testament to the vibrant community that continues to enrich the nation’s cultural fabric.

Source: https://www.nps.gov/articles/mothermosque.htm

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In the 2023 report, Zimbabwe was ranked as the most miserable country in the world due to soaring inflation, followed by Venezuela, Syria, Lebanon, and Sudan. The high inflation rate, especially in Zimbabwe, contributed significantly to the country’s misery level​. On the other hand, Switzerland was ranked as the happiest country, just edging out Kuwait and Ireland. The countries that followed in the happiest list were Japan, Malaysia, Taiwan, Niger, Thailand, Togo, and Malta​.

Happiness in Islam

From an Islamic perspective, happiness and misery can be understood in a deeper and more spiritual context. In Islam, happiness is not just a temporary state of joy or delight but a lifelong process aiming primarily at bringing eternal happiness, peace of mind, tranquility of heart, and contentment in this world and the Hereafter​​. True happiness and contentment in Islam are the results of striking a balance between the material and spiritual aspects of life​​.

Contentment is a crucial aspect of happiness in Islamic teachings. It is regarded as a marker of happiness, richness, self-sufficiency, and tranquility, and it is seen as one of the acts of worship of the heart. The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) has emphasized the significance of contentment in various ahadith​.

In this context, the high misery index in some countries could be seen as a result of a lack of balance between the material and spiritual aspects of life, leading to dissatisfaction and unhappiness. On the other hand, the high happiness index in countries like Switzerland could be attributed to a more balanced approach to life, although the HAMI does not directly measure this balance.

Moreover, from the Islamic perspective, true happiness is ultimately aimed to bless the individual with a blissful life in the Hereafter. This purpose motivates Muslims to strive to become better and seek contentment in this life​​.

It is important to note, this is a broad interpretation and application of Islamic teachings to the process of the misery index. There are also many other factors that contribute to the happiness or misery of a country, such as political stability, social structures, cultural norms, and individual attitudes, which are not directly covered by the HAMI.

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Creation of the Mosque: The Early Days

The Prophet’s Mosque was established by the Prophet Muhammad himself in 622 CE. This was the year of the Hijra, the migration of Muhammad (pbuh) and his companions from Mecca to Medina. Upon arriving in Medina, the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) decided to construct a place for Muslims to gather and pray. The location for this mosque was chosen because it was the land he was offered by two orphan brothers when he arrived in Medina.

The original mosque was a humble structure, measuring approximately 30 meters by 35 meters. It was made of palm trunks and mud walls, with a simple palm thatch roof. This was a direct reflection of the simplicity and modesty that characterized early Islam. The mosque also had a shaded area to the south called the Suffah where visitors could shelter.

The Prophet’s Mosque was much more than a place of worship. It was the hub of the Muslim community in Medina, serving multiple functions. It was a place of prayer, a community center, a court, and a religious school. It was also the Prophet’s (pbuh) residence, as his house was attached to the mosque.

Expansion Over Time

As the Muslim community grew, the mosque was expanded several times. The first significant expansion took place under the reign of Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab, who ruled from 634 to 644 CE. He extended the mosque on all sides, almost doubling its size.

The second Caliph, Uthman ibn Affan, who reigned from 644 to 656 CE, further expanded the mosque due to the growing number of Muslims. He added more columns and pushed the walls out, enlarging the prayer area.

The mosque continued to be extended and renovated throughout the Umayyad and Abbasid periods, but the most substantial modifications occurred during the Ottoman Empire. In the 16th century, the Ottoman Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent ordered the construction of the iconic green dome over the tomb of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). This distinctive feature, known as the Green Dome, is one of the most recognizable elements of the mosque today.

In recent history, Saudi rulers have also carried out extensive expansion and renovation projects. One of the most significant expansions was undertaken by King Fahd in the late 20th century, which increased the mosque’s capacity to accommodate hundreds of thousands of worshippers.
Conclusion

Today, the Prophet’s Mosque stands as a testament to the growth and development of Islam. Its humble beginnings, significant expansions, and continual renovations reflect the journey of the Muslim community from its inception to the present day. Despite the changes over time, the mosque continues to hold its place as a symbol of Islamic faith and devotion, drawing millions of pilgrims from around the world each year. Its historical and spiritual significance makes it an essential destination for Muslims and a fascinating site for people of all faiths interested in understanding the history of Islam.

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