Mosque
Congregational prayers are offered in the Mosque or Masjid. In each mosque, there is an ‘Imam’, a person who leads the prayer and a Muezzin a person who calls out the Azan. Facing the Qiblah, there is a place for the Imam to stand while leading the prayers. There is another place known as Mimbar on which the Imam stands and delivers the sermon known as Khutba during Friday and Eid prayers. Behind the Imam, long carpets or mats are laid in rows. Here the Muqtadis or the persons offering the prayers stand in straight lines to pray in congregation.
In the early days of Islam in Makkah, the Muslims had no special place of worship. The Holy Prophet(sal lal la ho alai he wasalam) used to perform the prayers secretly with his Companions. After migration to Madinah, the Holy Prophet(sal lal la ho alai he wasalam) with his followers built the mosque known as Masjid-e-Nabawi, where the Muslims assembled for congregational prayers under the leadership of the Holy Prophet(sal lal la ho alai he wasalam)
In the time of the Holy Prophet(sal lal la ho alai he wasalam) and his early successors, the mosque was the center of all religious, educational, political and social activities of the Muslims. The Holy Prophet(sal lal la ho alai he wasalam) therefore, told the Muslims to build mosques in every community. He is reported to have said: “Whoever builds a mosque for Allah, Allah will build an abode for him in Paradise.
The mosque is a place of worship. It is forbidden to enter the mosque in an unclean state with dirty clothes. It is also forbidden to jump over people or to pass in front of those who are praying. Talking loudly or gossiping is not allowed in the mosque. Very small children should not be taken inside the mosque. It is undesirable to stay in the mosque just for passing time or sleeping. Buying and selling is forbidden inside the mosque. While entering the mosque, a person should first take off his shoes. He should then put his right foot inside the mosque and recite the following prayer: “O Allah! open for me your doors of Mercy.” When he leaves, he should first put his left foot outside the mosque and say: “O Allah! I seek your bounties and Blessing.”
