Fath al-Rabbani

Benefits: … A luminous (nurani) creation can also become a servant to an earthly (khaki) creation, provided that one attaches oneself to Allah Ta'ala. What more can be said than this: the mosque is the house of Allah Ta'ala, the place of prostration for the believers. How blessed and sacred must that place be, where for years upon years the praises (tahleelat), glorifications (tasbihat), praises (tahmidat), and declarations of Allah’s greatness (takbirat) have been mentioned; where for years His arranged speech, the Noble Qur’an, has been recited in abundance. The mosque is a strong fortress for protection from devils. Whoever loves the mosque, whoever takes part in maintaining the mosque, whoever finds tranquility there—how fortunate and blessed he will be. But alas! The majority of the Muslim Ummah is far removed from this station, and the worshippers have come to believe that by collecting a few rupees and appointing, as employees, a traditional imam and a servant, the requirements of the mosque are fulfilled. After doing this, no worshipper feels inclined to sweep the mosque, to arrive early and give the call to prayer (adhan), to lay out the rows for the worshippers, or to fill water for ablution (wudu)… His feeble mind has decided, and he has come to think, that by giving fifty rupees a month to the mosque fund, he is absolved of responsibility. Respected readers! Examine your daily routines, and then, in the light of the station of humanity and the station of faith, examine your actions and habits.

Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah radi Allahu anhu narrates that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: “Seven types of people Allah Ta'ala will shade in His shade on the Day when there will be no shade except His shade… and a man whose heart is attached to the mosque; when he leaves it, his heart remains attached to it until he returns to it…” (Bukhari, Muslim). “Allah Ta'ala will grant shade to seven types of people in His shade, on the Day when there will be no shade except His: (among them is:) the man who, when he leaves the mosque, his heart remains attached to it until he returns.”

While we should certainly make arrangements to perform voluntary prayers (nawafil) and recite the Noble Qur’an in our homes, we must never forget that the houses of Allah Ta'ala also have their rights. When we delay visiting the house of a close relative, he complains in a particular manner; perhaps the angels of Allah Ta'ala are complaining about us. This is an extremely important matter, and it requires a unique kind of longing: that a person feels tranquility while sitting in the mosque, and when he goes out to fulfill worldly needs, his heart remains suspended in the mosque. Ordinary worshippers are deprived of this honor.