By Shaykh Abdul Qayum
28 February 2025

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All praise belongs to Allah The Most High who has blessed us with the completion of Phase 3 of our masjid expansion just in time for month of Ramadan. It is impossible for us to have reached this milestone without His tawfiq and your support. We are now pleased to pray together in this larger hall, accommodating more brothers, with our sisters also benefiting from expanded facilities upstairs. We ask Allah to accept all our contributions towards His house.

Allah has made the masajid His houses on earth, connected directly with Him. To build the houses of Allah, to maintain them, bear all the costs, clean them, volunteer in them, and donate generously towards them – all these actions are directed towards Allah and His house, with the hope that He will accept our deeds and elevate our status among those whom He loves.

In the Noble Qur’an, Allah says:

Maintaining the masjid carries a wide meaning – building it, donating towards it, cleaning it, serving it, volunteering in it. Any service to the masjid places you in the category of those who maintain the houses of Allah.

Allah also says in Surah An-Nur:

Allah has established these houses in this world for us to worship Him in congregation, and they serve as the markaz (centre) of the Muslim community and ummah, in the improvement of Islamic knowledge, and in pursuit of continuous spiritual growth.

The Special Status of Masajid

The masjid itself is not an ordinary place. Our beloved Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said in a hadith:

The most beloved places to Allah on earth are the mosques, and the most disliked places to Allah are the markets.

This does not mean business and commerce are prohibited – of course Allah has permitted buying and selling. But it emphasises that unnecessarily spending time in markets is not encouraged, while coming to the masjid and spending time in learning and worship is highly appreciated.

On the Day of Judgement, Allah will provide shade for seven categories of people when there will be no other shade. Among them, as our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:

A person whose heart is attached to the masjid.

How does one become attached to the masjid? By coming to pray in congregation rather than at home (especially for men), by cleaning and maintaining it, and by donating towards its upkeep. This connection is a sign of true faith, and those who maintain it will receive Allah’s shade on the Day when no other shade will be available.

The Rewards of Contributing to Masajid

Contributing and donating generously towards the masjid is highly rewarded. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:

Whoever builds a house (mosque) for the sake of Allah, Allah will build for him a house in Paradise.

But who among us can build an entire masjid? This seems impossible for most individuals. That is why there is another beautiful hadith that gives us hope:

Whoever builds a mosque for the sake of Allah, like a sparrow’s nest or even smaller in size, Allah will build for him a house in Paradise.

The size of a sparrow’s nest – how small is that? It’s not even the size of a full prayer space! This hadith gives good news to those of us who cannot donate huge amounts. Small contributions, medium contributions – all are guaranteed to be rewarded by Allah if they are given with pure, sincere intention.

Even maintaining the masjid by removing dust and cleaning is highly appreciated. Our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:

I was shown my ummah’s good deeds which took them to Jannah. I found among the significant actions the cleaning of the masjid from dust.

Many of you participated in the big clean that happened last week as we prepared our expanded facilities. May Allah accept these efforts from all of you.

Proper Etiquette in the Masjid

As we welcome Ramadan in our newly expanded facility, let us be mindful of proper adab (etiquette) when attending the masjid. Personal cleanliness is essential – taking a shower before Jumu’ah, wearing clean clothes, and using miswak helps ensure we don’t disturb fellow worshippers with unpleasant odors, especially as we stand shoulder to shoulder in prayer. 

While sisters are welcome in the masjid – as the Prophet ﷺ instructed: “Do not prevent the women from coming too” – they should come with proper hijab, though he also taught that “their prayer at home is better for them.”

With our increased capacity, mutual respect becomes even more important; we must cooperate with the volunteers and staff who guide the larger crowds, remaining patient if misunderstandings arise. After all, we gather in Allah’s house as brothers and sisters, seeking His pleasure and blessings during this sacred month. 

Our Purpose in Coming Together

As we gather in this newly expanded masjid, let us remember that our purpose is to worship Allah and seek His pleasure. Our hearts should be filled with gratitude, patience, and love for one another. We come here not just to pray, but to build a strong, united community cantered around faith and service.

The Prophet ﷺ reminded us that among the seven categories of people who will be granted shade on the Day of Judgement are:

Those who love each other for the sake of Allah.

This bond of brotherhood and sisterhood should define our interactions within the masjid. We should support and respect each other, ensuring that our place of worship remains a source of tranquillity and harmony.

Our attachment to the masjid – whether through prayer, learning, teaching, donating, or maintaining its cleanliness – is a reflection of true faith. Let us honour this space by filling it with acts of devotion, remembrance, and generosity. 

May Allah accept our efforts, forgive our shortcomings, and grant us all a spiritually uplifting Ramadan.

Ameen.

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Help us complete our Phase 3 expansion for the new prayer halls!