The honor and prosperity of a town are fundamentally based on the masjids located there. Similarly, the excellence and elevation of a community are tied directly to the masjid. This is why, immediately upon arriving in Madinah, the first task of Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) was to establish a masjid. It was from there that he carried out his prophetic dawah (preaching) and cultural services for humanity.
That blessed mosque, known as Al-Masjid an-Nabawi, served as the central hub for Islamic activities.
From that very place, the Prophet (ﷺ) taught the people of the entire world all the principles of this life and the hereafter, including: Eeman (faith), worship, education, morality, trade, agriculture, financial transactions, marriage, family life, community living, ethics, good character, physical training, mental discipline, spirituality, and Taqwa (piety/Allah-fearing consciousness).
The foundation for all of these was the mosque. Therefore, the Prophet (ﷺ) stated that the best of places in a town are its mosques.
Allah says in the Qur’an:
فِي بُيُوتٍ أَذِنَ اللَّهُ أَن تُرْفَعَ وَيُذْكَرَ فِيهَا اسْمُهُ يُسَبِّحُ لَهُ فِيهَا بِالْغُدُوِّ وَالْآصَالِ
“[Such niches are] in mosques which Allah has ordered to be raised and that His name be mentioned therein; exalting Him therein in the mornings and the evenings.”
— Surah An-Nur: 36
In the verse above, the purpose of building a masjid is commanded: to perform good deeds that remember Allah, and to protect the sanctity and honor of the masjid.
The Present-Day Reality
However, what is happening in modern times? People often desire that their own names be remembered in the mosque.
After providing some financial assistance to a mosque, they put up an advertisement board stating that the construction was completed by so-and-so. They place this board in a prominent spot where everyone coming to pray can see it, thereby seeking praise for themselves.
In a large number of mosques, disputes arise over who gets to manage them.
In the masjids—where honor must be maintained—we witness shouting, chaos, and in some places, the miserable sight of people physically assaulting one another.
By using foul language, fighting, and cursing each other in places where peace should be preserved, the tranquility that must be maintained in the masjid is shattered.
Allah says in the Qur’an:
وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّن مَّنَعَ مَسَاجِدَ اللَّهِ أَن يُذْكَرَ فِيهَا اسْمُهُ وَسَعَىٰ فِي خَرَابِهَاۚ أُولَٰئِكَ مَا كَانَ لَهُمْ أَن يَدْخُلُوهَا إِلَّا خَائِفِينَ ۚ لَهُمْ فِي الدُّنْيَا خِزْيٌ وَلَهُمْ فِي الْآخِرَةِ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ
“And who is more unjust than he 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 they 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.”
— Surah Al-Baqarah: 114
Insights from Tafseer (Exegesis)
The commentary (Tafseer) explains the core messages of this verse as follows:
- One must enter Allah’s house with His fear.
- Only activities like Salah (prayer), Dhikr (remembrance of Allah), reciting the Qur’an, Salawat (blessings upon the Prophet), good counseling, and righteous deeds should be performed there.
- Stopping someone from entering, speaking in a way that disturbs those who pray, crossing in front of someone praying, engaging in worldly or vain talk, laughing, playing, arguing, and fighting are major sins.
- Those who commit such acts will face humiliation in this world and a severe punishment in the Hereafter.
The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
“A time will come when people will show off and boast about the mosques, but they will respect them very little.”
— Bukhari
Qualifications of the Masjid Management
Regarding the qualifications required for those who manage the masjid, Allah says in the Qur’an:
إِنَّمَا يَعْمُرُ مَسَاجِدَ اللَّهِ مَنْ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَأَقَامَ الصَّلَاةَ وَآتَى الزَّكَاةَ وَلَمْ يَخْشَ إِلَّا اللَّهَ ۖ فَعَسَىٰ أُولَٰئِكَ أَن يَكُونُوا مِنَ الْمُهْتَدِينَ
“The mosques of Allah are only to be maintained by those who believe in Allah and the Last Day and establish prayer and give Zakah and do not fear except Allah, for it is expected that those will be of the [rightly] guided.”
— Surah At-Tawbah: 18
- Must perform prayers regularly: A person who manages the mosque must strictly maintain their Salah. A primary reason for a mosque’s administration to deteriorate is having a non-praying person as its manager.
- Must possess Taqwa: They must completely abstain from major sins. Only a person of Taqwa (piety) is qualified to manage the mosques.
- Must act solely for Allah: The management must be carried out for the sake of Allah alone, without catering to the personal likes and dislikes of people.
Since a mosque is a place visited by various types of people, the administrator (Mutawalli) must fear Allah alone, maintain absolute honesty, never embezzle mosque funds, and never fear any creation.
‘Mutawalli’ is a Responsibility, Not a Power Trip
An administrator (Mutawalli) is not the ‘ruler’ or ‘boss’ over the people of the Mahallah (locality); rather, he is a trustee and a servant.
- He must act with justice, giving no room to personal biases or favoritism.
- He must constantly harbor the fear that he will be questioned about his responsibility in the Hereafter.
- He is accountable for the well-being and welfare of all Muslims within that Mahallah.
If the managers of a masjid uphold its rights and fulfill their duties, they will receive a share of the rewards for every good deed performed within that mosque.
The Prophet (ﷺ) issued a stern warning that every leader/guardian will be questioned about those under their responsibility in the Hereafter, and their feet will not move an inch until they answer for it. Therefore, those who take care of the masjid must manage it according to the guidance shown by Allah, ensuring its rights are never compromised.
The Sanctity of the Baitul Maal (Public Fund)
The public fund (Baitul Maal) of the masjid consists of resources contributed by the people for the sake of Allah. The public fund of a mosque is effectively the property of Allah.
Misusing this public fund for personal work or stealing from it are major sins that lead directly to Hellfire. The righteous predecessors (Salaf) used to say that if anyone uses the Baitul Maal without proper authorization, their family line for seven generations may face hardships and distress.
Conclusion
Rather than beautifying masjids merely with stones, bricks, and expensive marbles, the pressing need of the hour is to revive them with an approved, righteous administration and Mu’mineen (believers) filled with Taqwa.