Building a mosque in Islam is a highly meritorious act with immense rewards. Have you ever wondered what significance constructing a mosque holds in Islam? Did you know that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) stated that whoever builds a mosque for Allah, even as small as a bird’s nest, Allah will build for them a house in Paradise? This act is considered a form of Sadaqah Jariyah (continuous charity), where the builder continues to receive rewards as long as the mosque is used for worship and good deeds. Building a mosque also brings divine favor, forgiveness, and blessings, and leaves a lasting legacy of piety and community service, inspiring future generations to engage in acts of charity and worship in hadith about building a masjid.
Hadith about building a masjid
There are many hadith about building a masjid, one of them is:
عَنْ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنَّهُ قَالَ: مَنْ بَنَى مَسْجِدًا لِلَّهِ كَمَفْحَصِ قَطَاةٍ أَوْ أَصْغَرَ بَنَى اللَّهُ لَهُ بَيْتًا فِي الْجَنَّةِ. رواه ابن ماجه وصححه الألباني
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Whoever builds a mosque for Allah, even as small as a bird’s nest or smaller, Allah will build for him a house in Paradise.”
reported by Ibn Majah and authenticated by Al-Albani.
Importance of building a mosque in Islam
Mosques are not merely structures of mud and stone; rather, they are centers for spreading knowledge and guidance. Their message should extend to all aspects of society. The primary purpose of building mosques is to invite people to the religion of Allah, educate Muslims about the fundamentals and teachings of their faith, and facilitate prayers, Islamic teachings, jurisprudential lessons, and Friday sermons.
Building a mosque holds significant importance in Islam for several reasons highly noticed in hadith about building a masjid:
1. Place of Worship:
A mosque (masjid) serves as a dedicated place for Muslims to perform their five daily prayers (Salah) in a congregation, which strengthens community bonds and fosters a sense of unity and equality among worshippers.
2. Spiritual Rewards:
– Hadith Promises:
In hadith about building a masjid, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) emphasized the immense rewards for those who build mosques.
3. Community Center:
– Social Hub:
Mosques serve as community centers where educational activities, social gatherings, and community events take place. This includes religious education, lectures, and other programs that benefit the community.
4. Charitable Acts:
– Supporting the Needy:
Mosques often function as centers for distributing charity (sadaqah and zakat), helping the poor and needy within the community. This reinforces the Islamic principle of social welfare and responsibility.
5. Educational Role:
– Teaching and Learning:
Historically, mosques have been centers of learning. They host classes for Quranic recitation, Hadith studies, and other Islamic sciences. They also provide a space for children and adults to learn about their faith.
6. Promotion of Unity:
Congregational Prayers: Performing prayers in a congregation is highly emphasized in Islam, and the mosque facilitates this practice. It brings together people from different backgrounds, promoting brotherhood and equality according to Hadith About Building a Masjid..
7. Cultural Preservation:
Islamic Heritage: Mosques play a crucial role in preserving Islamic culture and heritage. They are often adorned with Islamic art and architecture, reflecting the cultural and historical identity of the Muslim community.
8. Symbol of Islam:
Visible Presence: A mosque serves as a visible symbol of Islam in any given area. It represents the presence of a Muslim community and their commitment to worship and community service.
9. Place for Solitude and Reflection:
Spiritual Retreat: Mosques provide a serene environment for individual worship, meditation, and spiritual reflection, helping Muslims strengthen their personal connection with Allah.
10. Encouragement of Good Deeds:
Motivating Others: Building and maintaining mosques encourages others in the community to engage in good deeds and charitable activities, creating a ripple effect of positive actions.
Read about: Hadith about Sadaqah
Quran verse about building a mosque
There are several hadith about building a masjid as well as Quran verses. Here are a few of them :
Surah At-Tawbah, Verse 18
“The mosques of Allah are only to be maintained by those who believe in Allah and the Last Day and establish prayer and give zakah and do not fear except Allah, for it is expected that those will be of the [rightly] guided.”(Quran 9:18)
“إِنَّمَا يَعْمُرُ مَسَاجِدَ اللَّهِ مَنْ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَأَقَامَ الصَّلَاةَ وَآتَى الزَّكَاةَ وَلَمْ يَخْشَ إِلَّا اللَّهَ فَعَسَىٰ أُولَٰئِكَ أَنْ يَكُونُوا مِنَ الْمُهْتَدِينَ.” ( سورة التوبة، الآية18)
“In houses (mosques) which Allah has ordered to be raised and that His name be mentioned therein; exalting Him within them in the morning and the evenings, [are] men whom neither commerce nor sale distracts from the remembrance of Allah and performance of prayer and giving of zakah. They fear a Day in which the hearts and eyes will [fearfully] turn about – That Allah may reward them [according to] the best of what they did and increase them from His bounty. And Allah gives provision to whom He wills without account.”
(فِي بُيُوتٍ أَذِنَ اللَّهُ أَنْ تُرْفَعَ وَيُذْكَرَ فِيهَا اسْمُهُ يُسَبِّحُ لَهُ فِيها بِالْغُدُوِّ وَالْآصالِ رِجالٌ لا تُلْهِيهِمْ تِجارَةٌ وَلا بَيْعٌ عَنْ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَإِقامِ الصَّلاةِ وَإِيتاءِ الزَّكاةِ يَخافُونَ يَوْمًا تَتَقَلَّبُ فِيهِ الْقُلُوبُ وَالْأَبْصارُ لِيَجْزِيَهُمُ اللَّهُ أَحْسَنَ ما عَمِلُوا وَيَزِيدَهُمْ مِنْ فَضْلِهِ وَاللَّهُ يَرْزُقُ مَنْ يَشاءُ بِغَيْرِ حِساب) [سورة النور 36-38]
Hadith about donating to masjid
Here is a hadith that emphasizes the purity and goodness of charity in hadith about building a masjid, highlighting how Allah accepts and magnifies even small acts of charity done sincerely and from lawful earning.
Narrated Abu Huraira (RA): The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “Whoever gives charity equal to a date from good (halal) earnings – for Allah accepts only what is good – Allah takes it in His right hand and grows it for its owner (as one of you raises his foal) until it becomes like a mountain.” [Sahih al-Bukhari 1417]
عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه، قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: “من تصدق بصدقة بابٍ من أبواب المسجد، أو بشجرةٍ، أو بماءٍ، فجعلها الله في عملٍ صدقةٍ، حتى يرد إليه صدقته يوم القيامة” (رواه الترمذي وقال: حديث حسن صحيح).
Tips on Following the Hadith About Building a Masjid
1. Sincerity and Seeking Allah’s Pleasure in Its Construction:
– Allah says: “Verily, the mosques of Allah shall be maintained only by those who believe in Allah and the Last Day, perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat), and give Zakat and fear none but Allah. It is they who are expected to be on true guidance.” (Quran, Surah At-Tawbah, 9:108). Begin the construction of the mosque with sincere intentions, seeking Allah’s pleasure.
“إنَّمَا يَعْمُرُ مَسَاجِدَ اللَّهِ مَنْ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَأَقَامَ الصَّلَاةَ وَآتَى الزَّكَاةَ وَلَمْ يَخْشَ إِلَّا اللَّهَ ۖ فَعَسَىٰ أُولَٰئِكَ أَنْ يَكُونُوا مِنَ الْمُهْتَدِينَ” (التوبة: 108). ابدأ بناء المسجد بنيات صادقة، وابتغاء مرضاة الله
2. Avoiding Construction on Graves:
– Ensure the mosque is not built on a grave or intended to house a grave. In Islam, a mosque and a grave should not be combined.
3. Moderation in Ornamentation and Construction:
– Avoid excessive decoration and extravagance in the construction of the mosque. Refer to fatwa number 10687 for guidelines on maintaining simplicity in mosque architecture .
4. Building the Mihrab (Prayer Niche):
– It is permissible to construct the mihrab in the mosque. Refer to fatwa number 2031 for details on the specifications and placement of the mihrab according to Hadith About Building a Masjid.
5. The Pulpit (Minbar) Should Ideally Have Three Steps:
– It is recommended for the pulpit to have three steps, following the example of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). If there are practical benefits to adding more steps, it is permissible according to Hadith About Building a Masjid.
6-Ownership of Land:
Scholars unanimously agree on the prohibition of building mosques on land forcibly taken from its rightful owners. Islam respects individual rights and safeguards their properties. Seizing lands from their rightful owners constitutes a grave sin, even if the intention is to build mosques.
Therefore, it is essential to acquire ownership of the land through legitimate means, such as donations, before erecting the house of Allah. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “Verily, Allah is pure and accepts only that which is pure.
«إن الله طيب لا يقبل إلا طيبا»
This principle guides our projects for mosque construction, ensuring adherence to Islamic ethics and legal norms according to Hadith About Building a Masjid..
Are There Specific Hadiths that Provide Guidance on Building a Masjid?
There isn’t a specific hadith that provides a detailed step-by-step instruction on how to physically construct a mosque. However, Islamic teachings and principles guide Muslims on the proper conduct and considerations when building a mosque. Several hadith about building a masjid highlight the rewards and virtues of building a masjid (mosque) in Islam. Here are a few of them:
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “Seven deeds continue to reward a person even after death while they are in their grave: (1) teaching knowledge, (2) digging a canal, (3) digging a well, (4) planting a palm tree, (5) building a mosque, (6) leaving a copy of the Quran as inheritance, and (7) leaving behind a righteous child who prays for them after their death.
قال رسول الله ﷺ: «سَبْعٌ يَجْرِي لِلْعَبْدِ أَجْرُهُنَّ وَهُوَ فِي قَبْرِهِ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهِ: مَنْ عَلَّمَ عِلْمًا، أَوْ أَجْرَى نَهْرًا، أَوْ حَفَرَ بِئْرًا، أَوْ غَرَسَ نَخْلًا، أَوْ بَنَى مَسْجِدًا، أَوْ وَرَّثَ مُصْحَفًا، أَوْ تَرَكَ وَلَدًا يَسْتَغْفِرُ لَهُ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهِ»
Narrated Abu Huraira (RA): The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “Indeed, among the deeds which continue to benefit a believer after his death are: knowledge which he taught and disseminated, a righteous child whom he left behind, a Quran which he bequeathed, a mosque which he built, a house he built for travelers, a canal which he dug, or charity which he gave from his wealth while he was in good health and alive.” (Sunan Ibn Majah, graded Hasan by Al-Albani)
أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: إِنَّ مِمَّا يَلْحَقُ الْمُؤْمِنَ مِنْ عَمَلِهِ وَحَسَنَاتِهِ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهِ عِلْمًا عَلَّمَهُ وَنَشَرَهُ، وَوَلَدًا صَالِحًا تَرَكَهُ، وَمُصْحَفًا وَرَّثَهُ، أَوْ مَسْجِدًا بَنَاهُ، أَوْ بَيْتًا لِابْنِ السَّبِيلِ بَنَاهُ، أَوْ نَهْرًا أَجْرَاهُ، أَوْ صَدَقَةً أَخْرَجَهَا مِنْ مَالِهِ فِي صِحَّتِهِ وَحَيَاتِهِ يَلْحَقُهُ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَوْتِهِ. رواه ابن ماجه وحسنه الألباني.
What Lessons Can Be Learned from the Hadith about Building a Masjid
Community Service:
Building a masjid is not just a personal act but a service to the entire community. It highlights the importance of contributing to communal spaces that facilitate worship, learning, and community cohesion.
Legacy and Impact:
By building a masjid, one leaves behind a tangible legacy of faith. It serves as a lasting contribution that benefits generations to come, providing a place for prayer, education, and spiritual growth.
Educational and Social Responsibility:
In hadith about building, a masjid Masjids are centers for spreading knowledge, guidance, and community support. The hadith encourages Muslims to build and maintain places that not only facilitate prayers but also promote learning, social cohesion, and charitable activities.
Stewardship and Accountability:
Some hadith about building a masjid reminds Muslims of their responsibility to use their wealth and resources in ways that benefit society and earn Allah’s pleasure. Building a masjid requires lawful (halal) earnings and adherence to Islamic principles of property rights and community welfare.
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