Surah Yunus (10) — Ayah 87

(Ayah 87) ➊ { وَ اَوْحَيْنَاۤ اِلٰى مُوْسٰى وَ اَخِيْهِ اَنْ تَبَوَّاٰ …:} It is a characteristic of our Ummah that the entire earth has been made a mosque for it. A Muslim can pray wherever the time for prayer comes. The previous nations did not have this facility; rather, it was necessary to pray only at designated places of worship, whether you call it a mosque or a synagogue. Pharaoh could not tolerate the gathering of the Children of Israel in any way, especially at a place that was a sign of the denial of Pharaoh’s lordship and the affirmation of the sole lordship and worship of Allah, and where the worshippers of the One Allah, the Children of Israel, would gather several times a day. Therefore, it is clear from these verses that Pharaoh had prohibited them from going to their places of worship. Allah Almighty revealed to Musa and Harun (peace be upon them) to designate some houses in Egypt as places for their prayers and to make their houses face the qiblah. In this way, they would still have some opportunity to gather, mutual love would increase through meeting each other, congregational prayer would continue, and they would remain aware of each other’s conditions. In such a situation, the obligation for the Children of Israel to go to the mosques was waived due to necessity, but still, permission was not given to pray just anywhere; rather, they were commanded to make their houses face the qiblah and pray secretly in them. The verse indicates that all houses were ordered to be made facing the qiblah, but only a few houses were specified for prayer, the knowledge of which was only with the Muslims. If the secret of any house was exposed, another house would be designated, and because all houses faced the qiblah, there would be no difficulty. One proof of this is that it is said: «اَنْ تَبَوَّاٰ لِقَوْمِكُمَا بِمِصْرَ بُيُوْتًا » {’’ بُيُوْتًا ‘‘} that is, designate a few houses as places of refuge for the whole nation. Secondly, the command was: «{ اَقِيْمُوا الصَّلٰوةَ }» and the establishment of prayer is not possible without the straightening of rows, which is only formed in congregation, as the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ سَوُّوْا صُفُوْفَكُمْ فَإِنَّ تَسْوِيَةَ الصُّفُوْفِ مِنْ إِقَامَةِ الصَّلاَةِ ] [ بخاری، الأذان، باب إقامۃ الصف من تمام الصلاۃ : ۷۲۳، عن أنس رضی اللہ عنہ ] “Straighten your rows, for straightening the rows is part of establishing the prayer.” Thirdly, the Children of Israel were also commanded to pray in congregation like our Ummah (when there is no excuse), as it is said: «{ وَ ارْكَعُوْا مَعَ الرّٰكِعِيْنَ }» [ البقرۃ : ۴۳] “And bow with those who bow.”

➋ { وَ اَقِيْمُوا الصَّلٰوةَ :} Even in such difficult circumstances, the Children of Israel were not excused from prayer; rather, they were especially commanded to establish it, because patience and prayer are the means of seeking help from Allah Almighty in times of difficulty, as it is said: «{ وَ اسْتَعِيْنُوْا بِالصَّبْرِ وَ الصَّلٰوةِ }» [البقرۃ : ۴۵ ] “And seek help through patience and prayer.” And it is prayer that connects the servant with his Lord several times a day and provides the opportunity to converse with Him. Zakat is obligatory only once a year if one has wealth, fasting is obligatory only for a few days in the year, Hajj is obligatory only once in a lifetime if one has the means, but it is prayer through which a person, whenever faced with any difficulty, can connect with his Lord, and through it, a person is given the opportunity to present himself before his Master and plead at least five times a day.

➌ { وَ بَشِّرِ الْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ :} That is, give glad tidings to the believers. The mention of this glad tidings is in Surah Al-A’raf (129) that the days of the destruction of your enemies and your freedom are near.