Islam in America: Mosques and Things
Dr Pasha
(Bringing Islam to America and the World One Simple Concept at a Time)
http://www.IslamicSolutions.com
DrSyedPasha@aol.com
Assalamu Alaikum,
Please see below a letter I wrote. Feel free to put it on Islamicsolutions.com and share it otherwise, if you think it is appropriate to do so.
Let us not forget that it is the duty of every single one of us to take Allah’s Message and share it with the rest of the world.
That is Islam 101.
Much of what is wrong with America and the world today is due to Muslims not doing their duty of sharing God’s Message with others.
So, let us start doing our duty as Muslims, and as Citizens of America and the World right from this point on.
I have done my best to proofread this email, but you can always do more.
And if you want to make Du’a for Nilofer and her children for making a new computer available to me and setting it up for me, please feel free to do so.
Wassalam,
And now,
A Letter to a Mosque Management
Assalamu Alaikum
Here is what I wrote to those who asked me to give a Jumu’ah Khutbah recently.
Something Mosques do not generally ask me or allow me to do.
I said in my email:
Going to be another long email, I am afraid.
Allah bless you and your family for what you do and for what you may intend to do in future.
I did not have a computer all these several weeks.
You can make Du’a for Nilofer and her children, as she has made a new computer available to me, Alhamdulillah.
But it took a couple of months to get all that done.
And this is the first e-mail I am writing using that new computer.
A Divine Concept Called Itqaan: Nothing but the Best
My other computer was and is also fairly new.
A little more than a year old.
Top of the line, Dell. Vostro.
But Warranty expired at end of One Year. Forgot to renew it.
And now they want me to ship it to Texas for diagnostics and repairs.
Well? There are questions about the advisability of that.
“Top of the Line,” for one simple reason: That is the threshold Allah and his Rasul, Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam, have laid down. They do not want us to be Bottomfeeders.
If I recall the words of the Hadith Sharif right. Make sure you check the Hadith for accuracy.
Innallaha Yuhibbu Idhaa ‘Amila Ahadukum Shaiy-an, An Yutqinahu.
My rough rendering of this Hadith in English would be:
Whenever you do something, do it right. Make sure it is done the best.
So, when you get a computer, get the best.
But without Israaf — Wasting Resources — and without Showing Off — Ostentation.
And when you hire a Technician, hire the best.
And when you do a program of any kind, make sure it is done the best.
Remember the word in the Hadith Sharif is Itqaan.
And that means doing things the best possible way.
Adhering to the best and highest standards.
Mosques Need to Prepare
Now, on July 19, I was at this Masjid to give Khutbah. A little after 1:15, as the Khutbah begins at 1:25.
Masjid was far from ready for Jumu’ah. That is not how it should be. Those responsible were nowhere to be seen.
I recruited someone to call the Adhan on time. Poor man could hardly speak the words clearly, but he did a brave job of calling Adhan.
Microphone did not work for half the Khutbah. Then, the organizers suddenly rushed up to me and proceeded to assault my person with a different microphone.
They began to reach in my pockets, pull out the old mic and install the new one.
That whole thing was not right.
They should have offered me the new mic, from a safe distance and left the rest to my judgment and discretion.
The Khutbah Giver — Khateeb — should always be in full and complete control of the Khutbah.
Unless, of course, he does something clearly in violation of Qur’an and Sunnah.
I was too stunned to say anything. But that is not how things are supposed to happen.
We Are Muslim Americans
Especially as we are in America. And yes, we are Muslims, and yes, we are American.
To the extent Islam allows people identify with any geography or ethnic or national or tribal identity.
All this fall under the controlling meaning of the Aayat of the Qur’an:
Wa Ja’alnaakum Shu’ooban wa Qabaa-ila Li-Ta’arafoo.
Naturally, some Shu’oob and Qabaa-il we are born in.
And some Shu’oob and Qabaa-il we acquire as we journey through different stages of our life.
So, those of us who are in America today, as Citizens or Immigrants, have a new and additional identity as Americans.
We are Muslim Americans. There is no getting around that. And there is no getting away from that.
So, seeing what was happening on that day on July 19, during Jumu’ah, the thought did occur to me: Are we praying Jumu’ah for the owners of the premises, who are not here today?
Or are we praying for Allah, who is always here, watching us?
And then there were those who were bent on ruining their own Jumu’ah as well as the Khutbah for others.
They ran around greeting the congregation members and shaking hands, right in front of the Khateeb, and right as the Khutbah was proceeding.
These are things that the Hadith clearly and emphatically forbids.
And then they left the Prayer Hall — Musalla — and I did not see them till the Salah was over.
Responsibility for What Goes on in Mosques
Of course, the individuals concerned are responsible for their actions.
But ultimately it is the responsibility of those who may claim ownership of the Mosque premises in any form and to any degree.
And of the Mosque Administration Committee if there is one in place.
As they all do own and operate and manage the Masjid in some form.
And then there is another angle to this: The entire Congregation — the Jama’at — is responsible for what goes on in the Masjid, including Jumu’ah and other things.
And now about a couple of weeks ago, or so, I called the Masjid and told them I will not be in town for Khutbah on August 9. I am not sure the message was clearly understood.
I am not sure till now what exactly is going on.
I am sorry, I do not text. That is a deliberate choice I have made for the time being.
A University Course called
Social Media in Public Relations and Advertising
Even though I was perhaps the first professor to teach a University Course called Social Media in Public Relations and Advertising.
Myself and another gentleman at MIT, except that, predictably, his course was about the Hardware and Technology side of it. And mine was about applying the Social Media to the fields of Public Relations and Advertising.
Naturally, this was almost a decade or so ago, when the Social Media suddenly burst upon the scene and took the world by storm.
Therefore, my only means of communication these days is the telephone.
And the Computer Email. Allah bless Nilofer for making this new computer available to me.
But my other “new” computer has been out of service for close to two months now.
Returning to the topic of the Mosque and the Khutbah, I do fear that there are those in the various congregations who are out to sabotage the work, especially when it involves me. Whatever their reasons and motivations.
I try to help as much as I can, and I always will, Bi-Idhnillah. Just as others try to help me to do my work and achieve my goals.
I am sorry my circumstances did not allow me to contact you earlier. Even though I did let the Masjid know more than a week and a half ago.
I think, this makes it imperative more than ever that we talk.
I don’t know if you are in town, or even in the country. May Allah keep you and your family well and successful wherever you are and whatever you may be doing.
Yes, I will be happy and honored to visit your Farm whenever you invite me, provided the timing works for both of us.
But the decisions have been made by the Decision-Maker-In-Chief a long time ago.
Which is Allah, Subhanahu wa Ta’alaa!
Rufi’atil Aqlaam, Wa Jaffatis-Suhuf!
And there is nothing you or I can do about it.
Wassalam,
Husain Pasha
