islam21c - The Obligation to Support the Proposed New Mosque in East London

The Obligation to Support the Proposed New Mosque in East London

Tuesday, 30 January 2007

A fatwa concerning the obligation to support the establishment of the new mosque in East London (London Markaz)

There has been an ongoing debate concerning the proposed establishment of a new mosque in East London. It is true that many Muslims and some non-Muslims are supporting it, yet we have also witnessed opposition to it from many including some members of the Muslim community. I find myself obliged to clarify the Islamic opinion regarding supporting the establishment of this mosque in particular and any other mosque for that matter.

Mosques are blessed premises where the words of the Creator are recited and taught. They are centres of mercy and peace for the whole of humanity. They are houses where monotheism is proclaimed enabling people to receive rays of guidance. It is for this reason that mosques are the most beloved places to Allah as the Prophet (sallaAllahu alayhi wa sallam) declared in an authentic hadith. In addition, the act of establishing mosques is one of the best deeds according to Islamic teachings. Allah says in the Quran [translation of the meaning of (9:18)], ‘The mosques of Allah shall be maintained only by those who believe in Allah and the Last Day; who perform Salat, give Zakat, and fear none but Allah. It is they who are expected to be on true guidance’. It is authentically reported that the Prophet (sallaAllahu alayhi wa salla) said, ‘Whoever builds a mosque for the sake of Allah, seeking by it Allah's grace, Allah will build for him a house like it in Paradise’. (Related by Al-Bukhari & Muslim). The first action carried out by the Prophet (sallaAllahu alayhi wa sallam) when arriving at Madinah was to establish the mosque. The Mosque in Islam has a central role in a Muslim’s life; the Prophet [sallaAllahu alayhi wa sallam] would spend a great amount of time in it meeting with people, receiving foreign delegates, co-ordinating activities, and holding public gatherings to discuss matters of public concern. It is the place at which the life of Muslims is centred.

In contrast, Allah condemns in very harsh terms those who prevent people from establishing the remembrance of Allah in mosques. Allah says in the Quran [translation of the meaning of (2:114)], ‘And who is a greater wrongdoer than one who forbids that Allah's Name be glorified and mentioned much in Allah's mosques and strives for their ruin? It was not fitting that such should themselves enter them except in fear. For them there is disgrace in this world, and they will have a great torment in the Hereafter.’

Allah described the destruction of places where He is worshipped as an action of mischief and corruption. Allah says in the Quran [translation of the meaning of (22:40)], ’For had it not been that Allah checks one set of people by means of another; monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques wherein the Name of Allah is mentioned much would surely have been pulled down.’ Allah also commands us to help one another when doing righteous deeds by saying [translation of the meaning of (5:2)], ’Help one another in virtue, righteousness and piety; but do not help one another in sin and transgression. And fear Allah. Verily, Allah is severe in punishment.’

Based on these and other texts, I conclude that it is obligatory upon each and every Muslim who bears witness that Allah is the only God to be worshipped and Muhammad is His final Messenger to aid and help the establishment of this aforementioned mosque and any other mosque in the UK. This obligation is ever the more binding when we bring to our minds the unprecedented challenges the Muslim community in Britain is currently facing. This should oblige Muslims to be united and to be vigilant of any harmful or hidden agenda as well as of the possible ramifications of such debates.

Finally, it is not acceptable for any Muslim in the UK or elsewhere to refrain from supporting a mosque that he knows needs moral support, especially when seeing many adversaries actively working to stop Muslims from preserving their identity and religion. I warn the Muslims who are working and striving against the establishment of this mosque that they may in effect be aligning themselves with those who are classified as hindering people from the path of Allah as mentioned in the Quran; Allah says: [translation of the meaning of (22:25)], ‘Verily! Those who disbelieve and hinder (people) from the Path of Allah, and from the Sacred Masjid (at Makkah) which We have made (open) to (all) men - the dweller in it and the visitor from the country are equal there (as regards its sanctity and pilgrimage) - and whoever inclines to evil actions therein or to do wrong, him We shall cause to taste a painful torment."

Shaykh Haitham Al-Haddad

11th Muharram 1428

29th Jan 2007.

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written by Talibu ilm, January 31, 2007

Jazakallah hu khair ustad for clarifying.

Great Timing
written by Abu DhulQarnayn, January 31, 2007

Mashallah at a time when the web is full of discussions about wether to support or not, it is reassuring to see our beloved leaders providing clarification. May Allah reward you.

In Support of the Mosque
written by Dr Bilal Philips, February 01, 2007

May Allah bless Sh Haitham for his support of the effort in East London and the religion of Allah in general. I would just add that the role of the mosques as the heart of the community can only be enhanced by the building of more multi-purpose mosques and musallaas. Especially in the West where there is a lack of Islamic environment, the more accessible we can make mosque/islamic centers to the community, the more we will be able to preserve our Islamic culture and values, and further, promote them to the rest of society.

Empty masajeds and end of time!
written by Dis solutioned muslim, February 02, 2007

If masajeds are houses of Allah - why do so many masajeds run like a private house - enough - STOP using Allah and houses of worship as excuses for personal gains and start first by filling the already empty houses.
Secondly it is not enough to build just houses but what about the education to the immediate community - what masajed can say they are offering education fe sabeelillah?
Arabic for starters, tajweed, et al???
As our prophet has stated - the time is very near - we can see for our own eyes the empty masajeds already - why the need for confirmation of the end of time???

Mashallah
written by Slave of Allah, February 03, 2007

May Allah reward you in abundance sheikh. We ask Allah to bless this cause and establish the truth in the hearts of the people inshallah.

Support the Mosque
written by abuahmed, February 03, 2007

may allah help us to support the masjid jazakallah sheikh

Dr
written by Osman Ahmed, February 07, 2007

Thank you for this letter of support. Who would have thought that it would be Muslims who would pose obstacles to the building of a masjid. Especially as my Christian neighbour had been so active in negotiations to try to put it through! We are one Ummah. I hope Muslims put the sectarian agenda aside and do what is right.

Helping each other
written by someone, February 07, 2007

re Dr, I think we may see this more and more: faiths helping each other beacuse we are actually helping ourselves! Rights of Christians and to be a practicising Christian are slowly and slowly being diminished in this country. All we have is scare-mongering!

...
written by Rahima, February 07, 2007

yep, just the clarification we needed...yes, boot the sectarianism for once...we need a united front when places of worship are in the heart of debate

Mosques must serve their Purpose!
written by Mohammed Kadir, February 07, 2007

The whole point of us Muslims backing the planned masjid, is simply due to the significance that a "masjid" holds in Islam. In Islam, a masjid is more than just a "temple of worship". Its meant to be a multi-faceted, communal, educational AND spiritual establishment. Will this masjid serve this purpose, or will it end up as an old folks home by day, where the youth are nowhere to be seen and all you hear about is stories of our past glory - with no mention or resolution of the issues which face our society today? I'm ALL in support of an "islamic masjid". But I am against the plundering of our financial resources for something that doesn't befit being called a "masjid".

Before anyone decides to cast me as an "obstacle", please bear in mind what I actually said! Which is that I am in support of a true masjid which stands for Islam and stands against all things UNISLAMIC in our society - a masjid that speaks out and involves the COMMUNITY!

Wasalam.

Mosques must serve their Purpose!
written by Abdullah, February 07, 2007

Anyone who has visited the existing Masjid -on a thursday night for example- will know how active the Masjid is with regards to the youth and how populated the Masjid is by the youth. The proportion of youths in the English section is just as populated as the Urdu.

See it for yourself
written by Abu-Musab, February 08, 2007

Assalamualikum

Zazakallah Sheikh
May Allah reward you for demonstrating your priceless support to establish this mosque, which will bring endless benefits to our community. It came to my attention that many brothers and sisters do not know what happens in the Markaz and how brothers and sisters around the world work relentlessly in spreading the deen from such place. I therefore request brothers to visit the current Markaz on Thursday night gathering and then judgement on the effort through which countless number of Muslims worldwide are now worshiping Allah and non Muslims accepting Islam by observing the effort of such people who associate themselves with the effort of the Markaz. As we all know that deen spread from Masjid Nabawi, therefore we should treat all mosques equally to such and help in all means. I myself been an associate of this mosque and effort for more than 10 years and never experienced any activity which violates Islam. Trust me, one need to see this effort before making any judgement merely on hearsays. May Allah guide us all.

Masalam

All local resident's have something to gain
written by just another Muslim, February 08, 2007

The proposed sight is a derelict piece of land, with a recluse nearby walk way which is very dangerous to walk down. The Masjid will help re-generate the area and help to reduce the number of muggings that occur purely by the fact it will make the area less recluse.

I have the right to know
written by Raya, February 11, 2007

Assalamu Alaikum,

As a Muslim it would be an honour for me to support the building of a mosque particularily in the west, yet Muslims are encouraged to be intelligent about the choices they make for the better of the community. As is well-known Muslims are currently under fire for what extremist Muslims are doing and saying in the name of Islam. It is my right, as a Muslim, to know before voting whether this mosque is going to be used by or its facilities become accessible for extremists. It's is both my duty to protect my religion, and my right not to be subject to discrimination by society becasue of the extremists doings. I think it would be very assuring and a positive step of good intentions towards the British community, if the responsibles for this project assure the Muslim and non-Muslim community about the activities, facilities, and most importantly, the people who will be holding posts in the administration of mosque, particularly the imam and Friday sermon deliverer(s). The mosque should be a beacon for light and good not exclusion and extremisim. Becasue I am a Muslim and that is my duty...I have the right to know.

Is it permissible?
written by Salafi, February 12, 2007

I would like to know whether it is permissible for one who is upon the Qur'an and sunnah to join the mubtadi's in order for them to carry on with their bid'ah? Surely it is wrong for the salafiyeen to help them in their destructive cause.

How about using the money to build OTHER crucial facilities?
written by Abu Ismaeel, February 15, 2007

Jazakumullah khayran.

The many millions would be better spent building other institutions and facilities to serve the critical needs of our Muslim community.

Let's think:
How many muslim mosques do we already have in London, to fulfill the obligation to pray in? Roughly? Many hundreds, right?

Ok.
1. How many muslim shelters?
2. How many muslim cemetaries?
3. How many muslim hospitals?
4. How many muslim universities?
5. How many muslim orphanages?
6. How many muslim shelters?

Do we not need these??
Will building a megamosque fulfill these needs??
NO.

What is WRONG with us?!

Why do we, instead of competing in building beautified mosques, not take a wholistic view of what our re-ordered priorities should be vis a vis our situation in the UK and what other muslim needs we must fulfill?

May Allah grant us wisdom.
May Allah grant us imagination and vision.
And may Allah grant us the correct balance between them, and fiqh fi'd deen.

I agree
written by Salafi, February 15, 2007

I agree with brother Ismaeel. 100 mill is a serious waste considering all of the other beneficial institutions that can be constructed for Muslims.

answering the armchair critics
written by ***********, February 19, 2007

Answers to people not supporting mosque:

1. You think the money should be better spent elsewhere.

Frankly there is no reason why you can’t think this and still support the mosque. After all nobody said you have to contribute anything from your pocket. Surely you cannot believe that a building where the remembrance of Allah is established is a complete waste?

2. You think you will be helping people in their innovation.

Let us assume that you are right and the mosque is full of innovators, even though I disagree. (N.B. I hope you are aware that not every person who commits an act of innovation is an innovator). How exactly will making it larger help them in their innovation?

Wake up call!!
written by abu Musab, February 24, 2007

Brothers really need to define bidah, the people running the Markaz in almost every country and carrying out the dawah work are very sincere... many people I have spoken to cannot even define bidah. One should study first then accuse because most of you are so illiterate and don’t even know what you are talking about. Only take the opinions of the people who you look up to and don’t even question them on their belief, don’t blind follow. Not even once one a brother told what sort of bidah the tabligi people are doing, they merely say that, 40days, 4months are not in the sunnah, well they don’t claim its sunnah nor in the Quran, they say its a course just like what you do for your degree and Islamic studies i.e. 4 years in Medina university so this must be also bidah because were in the hadith or Quran the prophet peace be up on him said one should go for 4 years to study Islam at medina university. But they emphasised on 40 days and 4 months because these two figure of time has significant value in Islam i.e. every 40 days the foetus in the mother’s whom morphs and the companions used to go out in the path of Allah for no more than 4 months and they used to return home (if possible) and many other factors which are narrated in many ahatih.

In this messaging list I can see there are so many hideous bothers out there think that they are on the right path and so sure that they are not doing bidah, then why the hell do you go out for the weekend with the sheikh to gain knowledge, isn’t that bidah? Or is that from Quran and Sunnah?

Many of you discussed about money, have even donated a penny to wards the effort of the Markaz or did anyone ever came to you for money, answer ‘NO’, because this effort does not need your money neither does it need you, so why are you so concern about the money, if you got money of your own go and open your own madaras. What ever Allah decreed for this place will happen with or without your support. Islam was not established with money, numbers, criticism etc it was though purity, unity

I know I have been very harsh in this message, please do forgive me if I insulted you in anyway. I am so hurt by other people’s sayings and seem to me that we are so liberated from our teaching.

Masalam

Yes I Agree
written by Unknown, March 13, 2007

Of course I agree Having A Masjed In London

40 days VS 4 years...
written by Ex-Tablighi... Now... A Muwahid, March 27, 2007

As'salaamu Alaikoum,

Abu Musab..get real bro!
The sahabahs would go in the "path of Allaah" for jihaad. They did NOT set aside 40 or so days to go round knocking on peoples door and preaching shirk from books fadha'il e-amal.

And NO!... going to "study" in Madina, India, Pakistan, Egypt, Yemen etc and going on Tablighi "field trips" for 40 days are not the same thing.

Hmmmm... I wonder you only mentioned madinah university.

Take care and get knowledge of TRUE Islam through studying Tawheed and Shirk, from REAL scholars who cite proofs and evidences.

BTW... Well said brother Abu Ismail, I could not have said it better.

PS... I am NOT against building a house of Allaah. I am against people who define Islamic terms incorrectly while giving pathetic examples.

Fee Aman Illaah Ya Muslimeen.

Salamo Alaykom
written by Ibnul Adam, March 27, 2007

Right brother Ex, we are not against building a mosque.

Tablighis do not understand the concept of Bida'h. If they did, they would not start this group 80-90 years ago (1920s), which by the way was started by a exterme sufi, Muhammad Ilyas of Bangladesh.

May Allah guide these people. Their niyah is good, but manhaj is not.

Wa salamo alaykom

The Tabligh
written by Ismail Farraj, April 01, 2007

May Allah make this Mosque a source of mercy for the people. Ameen.

I totally support this mosque, but only because not supporting it is tantamount to supporting the kuffar. I used to be a tablighi and I am extremely unhappy that the masjid is going to the Tablighi's. Whatever happened to Muslim cohesion? In response to Abu Musab's ranting, the money is coming from the government, and I believe they should be more selective about who they allow to run his mosque.

As for the work of tabligh, it is something righteous, but the actual hizb (group)mostly consist of (religiously) ignorant men who go about calling people to innovation (though they have the best of intentions!). They either misquote hadith or they give it a false interpretation in order to fulfil their Tablighi agenda's. Going on three days mainly consists of reading fazail A'mal (a book with some really dodgy contents), the 6 tablighi points (not to be confused with the 6 articles of faith which would probably be much more beneficial!) and have tea breaks every couple of hours. I actually used to put on weight when I went on Jamaat!!

Before disseminating knowledge you must learn. Most tablighi's I've come across have not managed to tell me the difference between Emaan and Yaqeen even they it comes out of their mouth every couple of minutes. If they would only study Tawheed and Aqidah they would truly be upon the understanding of the salaf instead of rambling on about that which they have no knowledge.

I know I've gone on alot about the Tablighi's but only to voice my concerns as to the caretakers and decision makers of this mosque. The Muslims need to build a shura, to start of with they can have one for every city. I think London shura should consist of sh. Haitham Haddad, sh. suhaib Hasan, sh. Abu Hanifah, sh. Sulaiman Ghani (to represent the Hanafi's), sh. Abu Ithar, and other members from different aspects of the community (eg Doctors, lawyers etc). I believe every city should choose their shura and thereafter we can talk about unity.

Saudi Arabia - Riyadh
written by faisal al otaibi, April 05, 2007

Thank you for this effort and blessed Ntmi to set up the mosque and pleased with this mosque in London,

faisal al otaibi

Asalamuwalaykum warahmatallah
written by I'm also an Ex Tablighi from Leeds, April 10, 2007

Lol @ Drs and lawers included in ashurah. Why? a person might be a lawer or Dr but thr most ignorant of people with regards to this deen. Anyway, I dont even live in London, I just came across this site Qadar Allah. I am aware people will wish to go back to the main topic but while i'm here id say:
1. Yes to a new Masjid if it is needed.
2. No to ashura being shared amongst ahlus sunnah with ahlul biddah.
3. No for Masjid to be given to Tabligh for 2 main reasons;
A) As Tabligh dont comand the good of forbid the evil properly as this takes Ilm and does not fit in to their numbers / people gathering aims, then this is why extreme takfiree types go undetected amongst them and also there i not enough teaching against these incorrect ideologies so the youth can avoid it if they come across it. Therefore it is better to have the Masjid managed by those who have Ilm and or having Ilm are not scared to distrubute it and comand the good and forbid the evil, including against the takfiree / 'jihaadist'.
b) The main bidda in Tableegi (dawah) jamaat is in their method of the very thing they are suppose to be experts in i.e. Dawah / Call to Islam.
I was with them from age of 12 to 18 but from other people experiences, their teachers and their books one sees that they avoid calling to Worshiping Allah (alone) and the avoidance of worshipping other than Allah. They will call and call to Allah but only to His Lordship / Tha he alone is Rabb. But the Pagan arabs in the time of the Prophet SAw already believed this, but when they worshipped they directed some of it to other than Allah. The reason why Tabligh only call to Allahs Rabb / Robabiyah and his Uluhiya (worship only for Allah alone) is so that a sufi, shia, Mutazilee, Ash'aree and even those of other faiths can sit with them a they all agree that Allah is Lord. But Allah swt says : we sent a messenger to every nation ordering them that they shud worship Allah alone....16:36 So the Messenger's before throughout time were not ordered to just tell people to believe Allah is Lord and gather the people under that...rather it was for the people to worship Allah Alone...regardless of who it upsets and f no one follows.. May Allah guide me and these brothers to the the truth, ameen.

...
written by John Gibson, April 15, 2007

In any modern country a proposal to build a structure which will attract large crowds on a weekly basis has to be considered having regard to the amenity of the neighbourhood. The scale of this mosque is too great for the area.

There will be no mosque
written by Abdul Khaliq, September 16, 2008

There will be no mosque now that so many terrorists have been linked to Tablighi Jamaat, now that so many think tank reports have exposed our plans to take over Britain, now that there is disunity in the Jamaat. Now the Pakistan army is declaring war on Britain I fear we will see who rules the UK and we shall have to flee to Pakistan, Dubai or other Muslim lands. We have gone too far.

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