Have We Turned our Masjids into Caves?

Praise be to Allah and blessings on Prophet Muhammad (SAW)

All praise belongs to Allah (SWT) who has allowed us to humbly reach the 100th khutbah, with this present text. The aim of this initiative was to enhance the khutbah and to be an inspiration to imams and khateeb in order to improve the content of their khutbah as well as restore the sacred role of the mimbar, and by extension, improve our masajid. We would like to extend our appreciation to the numerous persons who have and who continue to support our endeavour and to the numerous khateeb who have adhered. May Allah (SWT) reward one and all.

Allah has indeed purchased from the believers their lives and wealth in exchange for Paradise. They fight in the cause of Allah […] [At-Tawbah, 9:111]

You are the best community ever raised for humanity—you encourage good, forbid evil, and believe in Allah […] [Al Imraan, 3:110]

As for those who struggle in Our cause, We will surely guide them along Our Way. And Allah is certainly with the good doers. [Al Ankabut, 29:69]

The title of this khutbah will probably shock as our masajid, are currently filled to the brim, in this month of Ramadan; those who had left the doorstep are back, full of zeal, which we hope will perdure. We have also rediscovered those who are actively engaged in the different tasks linked to the mosques in the time of Ramadan. But is this what we have come to expect from our mosques?

Have we heard a single khutbah regarding the fight against drugs, immorality, scourges that are threatening our society? Have we had a single khutbah calling for Muslims to reflect? Have we had a single khutbah that motivates Muslims to think critically, to raise the bar of reflection within the Ummah? Have we had a single khutbah inciting us to take a stand, encouraging us to demonstrate or protest?

On the contrary, from one Friday to the next, we have to endure tall tales, instructions on how to drink water, and that too during five consecutive Fridays; or stories on talking camels, or even kings who escape from fire on the altar of jahiliyah. And that too, deviating from the Quranic verse relating to jihad in the most puzzling manner.

We need to acknowledge that the standard of the khutbah reflects the level of mosque engagement in societal matters. The truth is that most of the mosque leaders are not worthy of their position, with a focus on improving structure rather than the spiritual and ideological improvement of muswallis.

We have forsaken part of the Qur’an, favouring that which is easy, and have led our youth to an “Islam” which finds itself from societal change. Unfortunately, a number of Islamic societies and masajid promote a quietist Muslim.

[…] Do you believe in some of the Scripture and reject the rest? […] [Al Baqara, 2:85]

This scathing observation incites us to question the role of our mosques? Have we turned our mosques into caves where we run away from the world – contrary to the model of the mosque in Madina, where the first Muslims had changed the world? Caves which are out of touch with the realities of the jahiliyah society, of Islamophobic threats, the insidious infiltration of the racist far right disguised as religion? Of the dictatorship of the psychopath who sits in the Oval Office, who unashamedly dictates his material interests on Ummah territory?

Most of our mosques have become caves, isolating spaces rather than centres for engagement and we are all responsible for this state of affairs. We are falsely led to believe that Muslims should stay away from activism, from active engagement.

He is the One Who has sent His Messenger with true guidance and the religion of truth, making it prevail over all others, even to the dismay of the polytheists. [At Tawbah, 9:33]

The first generations of Muslims were not passive believers but active agents of change. The mosque of Madina was the heart, the brain of the Ummah, where all decisions were taken.

The Ummah urgently needs to recognise that sacredness and institutional value of the mimbar. We have unfortunately come to expect everything from the mimbar, except an intellectual contribution, an invitation to reflect.

The muswalli expects the khutbah to be a reminder, an encouragement for contemplation, and not a platform to settle scores.

Those who hold the responsibility of the mimbar of the Prophet (SAW) need to reflect upon the responsibility bestowed upon them, and that they can also contribute to reclaim the mimbar of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and restore its value.

But this is not only the khateeb’s and other preachers’ task. Muslims have to also step up, to support khateeb and imams, by not reaching the mosques two minutes before the end of the khutbahs.

This brings us once more to the role of the mosque. It is common knowledge that the mosque is the lung of society, and the hotspot of the community. It is known that the mosque should be a reflection of the environment in which it is found, as the critical thinking Muslim, the actively engaged Muslim, is one whose opinion is sought and respected. Hence, the mosque can influence social harmony.

It's high time that mosques were revolutionised, the word is far from being extreme, given the different perceptions according to school of thought. This responsibility should not sit uniquely on the shoulders of the mosque leaders. It is our collective and individual responsibility to take up the mantle of witnesses of humanity and engage into the reconstruction of our mosques. Muswallis should demand an awakening and participate in the rehabilitation of the mosques in its capacity as catalyst and motivator.

From the point of view of Islamic legislation, demanding the good and prohibiting wrong is a communal obligation, as per the hisbah.

And so We have made you believers an upright community so that you may be witnesses over humanity and that the Messenger may be a witness over you. […] [Al Baqarah, 2:143]

O believers! Respond to Allah and His Messenger when he calls you to that which gives you life. And know that Allah stands between a person and their heart, and that to Him you will all be gathered. [Al Anfal, 8:24]

To the desperate ones, who pretend to be weak or not having enough time, let this verse be a reminder:

[…] Allah will certainly help those who stand up for Him […] [Al Hajj, 22:40]

May Allah (SWT) help and guide us.