Just before entering the mosque there are slopes on each side of the steps. They are for safety reasons as it would be easier for the old people or even people with disabilities and for the elderly.
Entrance lobby
Her are where shoes are removed before entering the mosque. This is the reason why there are shoe racks outside the entrance, as removing shoes is necessary inside the mosque in order to keep in clean, because cleanliness for a Muslim is half of Imaan (faith).
Before entering the prayer hall, everyone is supposed to be in the state of Wudhu (ablution). This is known as washing the specific parts of the body
as salaah (prayer) is not accepted without Wudhu. Gjgjgj. Having performed Wudhu, Muslims from the surrounding area gather together and they all meet in the Jamaat Khana (main prayer room). The Jamaat Khana is the large hall in the centre of the mosque. It is simply decorated, with no pictures and no statues, as, Muslims believe in simplicity. The hall is kept pure and clean from worldly temptations and is deeply respected as the room for prayer.
The Jamaat Khana of the pulpit’s view.
In the Jamaat Khana there are carpets which have been laid down in rows facing the Qiblah (direction facing towards the house of Allah in
Makkah). These carpets have been laid for the people who come to worship, as a means of comfort when kneeling or sitting.
The Mehrab is at the front of the prayer hall, it is an alcove or niche in the wall. This shows the worshippers the direction of the Qiblah (the direction they have to face when they pray). This is considered as the most holy place in the mosque.
The Imaam stands at the front, near the alcove and this is where the microphone system is which amplifies the Imaam’s voice.
The alcove in the wall will have patterns around it of many different colours.
There is also a mimbar; this is the only piece of furniture needed in the mosque. This is a raised platform where the Imaam of the mosque delivers
the Khutba (sermons). The Mimbar is usually kept near the Mehrab.
The Mehrab
The mosque is also used as an education centre where people of all ages are able to learn and study about their sacred religion Islam. This is important youth education for boys and girls from 5 to 15 years of age, which is attended for 2 hours everyday, between 5pm to 7pm, for religious education.
A Classroom where the Islamic classes take place.
To help worshippers with the changing of the times of prayer according to the season, Masjid-e-Noor display monthly timetables which shows the timings of each prayer.
The picture above shows a timetable displaying six clocks. The first 5 clocks show the daily five prayers. The next 4 clocks show the time of sunrise, sunset, Zawaal (Midday) and Ju’mah (special Friday prayer).
Masjid-e-Noor also sections a part of the mosque for devout worshippers during the month of Ramadhaan (an Islamic month, where the Muslims will fast for the thirty days). This enables the Men to stay over for ten nights which has been displayed in the picture above.
It is therefore part of the comity leader’s duty of the Mosques to make sure that the Imaams are knowledgeable, wise and devoted so they can keep
sections, such as the area for the people in the month of Ramadhaan as mentioned earlier.
It is important to select Imaams according to their knowledge of the Holy Qur’aan. The Imaams should have memorised the Holy Qur’aan and have knowledge of its interpretation. They should be able to recite it in a perfect way the way it has been revealed. They should also have knowledge of the Prophet’s Sunnah (actions of the last prophet) his deeds and the history of Islam. They must be good instructors, modest and should have a good moral character.
It is very important to have an Ideal Imaam because he is the positive reflection of the mosque as an instrument of guidance. He should set a good example for all others and must therefore be conversant, tolerant and must good-naturedly bear the responsibilities of his jobs.
The holy Qur'aan reveals:
“Invite call to the way of thy lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching.”
(Surah: 16 -Al Wahl, verse: 12 5)
With the high qualities in the Imaam, people will be encouraged to come with open minds, clean hearts and attend to their prayer in peace and comfort.
Also through these attributes he is able to perform a variety of actions, such as leading the five daily prayers. In order for the imam to do this, he
needs to know how to lead the prayers. He even needs to be aware of how to lead the special prayers of the deceased. The Imam also needs to know more
languages especially Arabic as he can deliver the Khutbas in an Arabic medium.
The Imaam also needs to know how to deal with problems according to the Islamic law for example dealing with divorces. To do this, an Imaam needs to be eloquent in speech in order to keep ties between the husband and the wife.
When people get married, according to the Islamic law, they need to go to a local Mosque where the Imaam can pray the nikaah (marriage).
As a result from all the above, it shows that the Mosque is not only a place for worship and similarly history in Islam shows a very close attachment and association with Mosques. This is
because Islam has given the mosque a much broader mission besides the important function of being the place for prayer.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) has expanded the function of the Mosques to become a place for reciting the Holy Qur’aan and thinking deeply of its rich meanings and implications.
The Holy Qur’aan reveals:
In houses which god had permitted to be raised to honour, for the celebration in them, of his name, of is name: in them is he glorified in the mornings and in the evenings (again and again).
The Mosque is also a place for education and refinement; a place of judgement and
reconciliation; a gathering for co-operation and command exchange of help; a place of consultation among fellow Muslims and place of exchange of advice. It is also the guest place where the Prophet used to receive visitors, and the place of pure worshipping to Allah wholly.
Such qualities make the mosque distinct from the worshipping places of other faiths, which have been confined to the mere exercise of worshiping
rites alone.
It has therefore been an essential part of the mosques missions to teach and spread pure religious knowledge to all beliefs in Islam in order that people
will do acceptable deeds.
These are the essential functions of a Muslim at all times. It is the mission of monotheism guidance, truth, good conciliation, unity and a fact holding to the convert of Allah.
Consequently not everybody would disagree with the statement:
“You do not need to attend the mosque to be a good Muslim.”
However, I disagree with this view. The reason being, that the reward of a Mosque is unanimous just for
building a mosque there is great reward, as it has been stated:
“Anyone who builds a mosque; which is purely dedicated to Allah, Allah will
reward him by preparing a house in paradise for him.’’
In order to be a good Muslim, you should attend a mosque as it is like a training camp, instilling discipline and order in consciousness of individuals. This shows how central and pivoted the mosque is for the religious, social, political aspirations of the community.
The holy Qur'aan praises those who attend the mosques by building them,
cleaning and maintaining them and by regularly observing the worshipping of
Allah in them. Qur'aanic verses testify that only good and true believers
would care for the maintenance of mosques, they become regular visitors them. The verses describe such people as being possessive of good qualities
which will endeavour their entry in to Paradise by the grace and mercy of God.
The Qur’aan states:
“The mosque of god shall be visited and mankind by such as believe in god and the last day, establish regular prayer, and fear alone (at all) except God. It is they who are accepted to be on true guidance.’’ (Surah at- Tawbah - Verse: 18)
On the other hand, some people may agree to the statement. It is not necessary that those who go to the Mosques are good Muslims as they may be indulging themselves in Haraam (forbidden things) and the only good thing they may be doing is attending the mosque.
However, some Muslims will say that going to the mosque is not an essential part of Islam because you do not need to be in a specific building to pray
or learn about Allah and the religion. It may be that going to the mosque interferes with a person’s job, in which they would find it hard to attend. Also in some parts of the world today, there are no Mosques. Also, in the early days of the Islamic religion there were no Mosques, yet followers of Muhammad were still called Muslims. Therefore Muslims can worship at there home and pray there too. They can also
meet other Muslims and it doesn’t have to be in Mosque.
I believe that Muslims should attend the mosque, especially here in Britain where Islam is a major religion. I think Muslims should meet together to keep there faith strong, as it is good to spend time with the Muslim community.
Muslims share experiences with each other, and celebrate festivals together. In modern times, there are a lot of things that can tempt Muslims away from their religion, and going to the mosque would keep their life on track with their religion. Going to the mosque enables the Qur’aan to be taught to them so they understand it, and so they will take away from the Mosques good values hence helping themselves and others.
