Maseehullah Goes to the Musjid

Ask our children:

1. What is the position of the musjid in Islam, and how should a person behave in the musjid?
2. When should a young boy start going to the musjid?
3. How should we dress when we go to the musjid for salaah?
4. Where should a young boy stand at the time of salaah?

Now tell them the story:

Maseehullah was very happy and excited. Today was the day he had been eagerly anticipating for a long time – the day when he would start going with his father to the musjid for the five daily salaah.

Before leaving for the musjid, Maseehullah’s father sat with him and explained to him the great position of the musjid in Islam, and how one should behave in the musjid. His father said, “Maseehullah! The musjid is the most beloved place to Allah Ta‘ala, while the shopping centres are the most hated of places to Allah Ta‘ala. The musjid is filled with noor and shines so brightly that it can be seen by the angels in the heavens. The musjid is the house of Allah Ta‘ala. When it is the house of Allah Ta‘ala, then we must show the musjid the highest respect and honour.

“When coming to the musjid, we must not run. We must walk in a calm and respectful manner. We must not make a mess in the musjid or keep any dirt in the musjid. We must not make a noise and disturb the people engaged in ibaadah. We must not laugh and joke, or speak about worldly things, like cars, and money, and food. We must not fidget or play in the musjid. Rather, we must engage in ibaadah, such as performing salaah, reciting the Qur’aan Majeed, making zikr and   making dua. We must make sure that we are wearing the kurta and topi, with our pants above the ankles, and our bodies and mouths must not have a bad smell.

“When a person becomes big and has a cell phone, then he must make sure that his cell phone does not ring or make any noise in the musjid. Also, he must not take out his phone in the musjid. If he needs to answer a call or see a message, he must go out of the musjid and do it. When he is in the musjid and wants to read the Qur’aan Majeed, then instead of reading from his phone, he should rather read from the actual Qur’aan Majeed.

“At the time of salaah, the men will stand in the front of the musjid, behind the imaam. You, and the other young boys, will stand in a separate saff behind the saff of the men. You must not play, talk, laugh or look around in salaah. You must read salaah properly.

“When a person goes to the musjid, he is the guest of Allah Ta‘ala. The more he respects and honours the musjid, the more Allah Ta‘ala will bless him and reward him. However, if he does not behave correctly and disrespects the musjid, then Allah Ta‘ala will be displeased with him. Instead of receiving reward from Allah Ta‘ala, he will become sinful.

“Maseehullah! I feel that you are now responsible and will behave correctly in the musjid, and that is why I am now taking you to the musjid.”

Maseehullah listened attentively as his father spoke, and then, hearing the azaan, he left for the musjid with his father, wearing his kurta and topi.

On reaching the musjid, his father parked the car carefully, making sure that he was not blocking any cars or driveways. Then, they removed their shoes and placed them in the shoe rack so that their shoes will not lie on the path where people walk, causing them to trip and get hurt. Thereafter, they entered the musjid with the right foot, reciting the sunnah dua:

بِسْمِ اللهِ وَالصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ عَلٰى رَسُوْلِ اللهِ رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِيْ ذُنُوبِيْ وَافْتَحْ لِيْ أَبْوَابَ رَحْمَتِكَ

Maseehullah stood towards the back of the musjid and performed his sunnah salaah. Then, while he waited for the salaah to start, he sat and recited durood shareef silently so that he will not disturb the other musallees.

A few minutes later, as the iqaamah started, Maseehullah went to the boys’ saff, behind the mens’ saff, and stood with the other boys in a straight line, with no gaps. When the iqaamah finished, the imaam called out the takbeer and started the salaah.

The imaam was reciting most melodiously, and all the musallees were enjoying his recitation, when suddenly, they could hear the sound of laughing from the sehn area. The noise was disturbing all the musallees and was spoiling their salaah.

Finally, when the imaam made salaam and finished the salaah, the musallees looked towards the sehn and saw two small boys who were chasing each other and laughing aloud as they played.

Seeing the small children who were disturbing the entire musjid, the imaam stood up after the dua and said, “My respected brothers! Please do not bring small children to the musjid who are not responsible and do not know how to behave in the musjid. These small children are disturbing everyone and spoiling their salaah! These small children should stay at home until they are big enough to understand the etiquette of the musjid and behave with respect in the musjid.”

As Moulana said this, the fathers of the two small boys quickly went to the sehn area, picked up their small sons, carried them to their cars and took them home.

Now that the fardh salaah was complete, Maseehullah performed his sunnah salaah. He and his father then sat for a short bayaan. In this bayaan, the Moulana spoke about the importance of salaah. Maseehullah learnt many important things in this bayaan, and he was glad that they sat and listened to the bayaan as he had benefited a lot.

After the bayaan, when they came out from the musjid, Maseehullah could feel the powerful and positive effect of the musjid, salaah and bayaan on his heart. He felt so happy and peaceful that he could just not wait to come to the musjid for the next salaah! He promised himself that he would try his best to not miss any salaah with jamaat in the musjid, and that he would always respect and behave correctly in the musjid.

Lessons:

1. The musjid is the house of Allah Ta‘ala and it is the most beloved of places to Allah Ta‘ala. A person must respect and honour the musjid by upholding all the etiquettes of the musjid.
2. A young boy should only start going to the musjid when he is responsible and understands how to behave in the musjid.
3. When going to the musjid for salaah, we must ensure that we are dressed with the kurta and topi, and that our pants is above the ankles.
4. At the time of salaah, young boys should stand in their own saff, behind the saff of the men.