My Masjid

[Abu Loren]

Asalaamu Alaikkum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuhu

This is a true story.

I live in the UAE and when I moved into my flat there was an area cordoned off next to it for a new building. At that time there was a worldwide recession and most building projects were on hold. I asked the caretaker of my flat what kind of building the foundation was for and he said it was for a new masjid. This was during my days of Jahiliya and when I heard the news I was not too happy to hear that news. For thing, that meant the adhan going in the early hours of the morning and I knew this would disrupt my sleep. Ever since my childhood I just loved to sleep.

Anyway after a year or so they re-started the building programme and I thought to myself 'here we go'. The building of the masjid was completed quiet quickly and it was operational soon afterwards. Sure enough the adhan was called, sometimes at 4 in the morning and sometimes it would make me uncomfortable. One thing that really sticks in my mind is one Ramadan during tarawih (of course at the time I didn't know what tarawih was) the most beautiful recitations I ever heard were coming through the loudspeakers of the masjid. At this time I was a member of another Islamic forum and I made lot of friends there and learned quiet a bit about Islam. so something stirred within me, I began to read the English translation of the Holy Qur'an and I thought it was interesting the first time I read it. Surely this Muhammad borrowed bits and pieces from the Bible. Surely?

One night after Isha I went to see the imam of the masjid downstairs and I told him that I want to convert. He gave me advise about what to do and where to go for help, he referred me to an Islamic Centre and a day or two later I took the Shahada there.

Then I really didn't do much for about a week or two, I was learning how to make wudu, how to pray etc. I was given plenty of literature by the Islamic centre Alhamdulilah. I learned two short surahs and in my mind I knew that I had to take a big step and go to the masjid and pray. I would put it off for days then took the courage and went in. Well for one thing I did not have to go far, I only had to take about 10 to 15 steps outside my front door. My friends on the Islamic forum would tease me and say that there is more barakat if you had to take more steps to reach a masjid. But I started to call this masjid 'my masjid'. Alhamdulilah one advantage of having a masjid outside your front door is that you have the best seat in the house, which is right at the front.

O Allah I just want to say that you are the greatest. Allahu Akbar!

 

[Mabsoot]

wa alaykum salam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh brother, that is a great story. It shows how our hearts can be blessed and soften with Allah's love and guidance.

 

[Mahzala]

True, it shows how Allah is indeed the turner of the hearts, but I think it also shows that a conscious or an unconscious connection or disconnection with or from something is something that is the cause of our gratitude when we realise its purpose. We often find ourselves saying: I've always felt or I've always thought and to me these statements are part of a much deeper idea and that is understanding that truly Allah works in ways we can never know, let alone comprehend. For example, when someone passes on from this world, many a time, people who were only acquainted with the deceased will have something to recount, some connection, some story, and this is when you realise that meeting was planned for the day we lift our hands and make dua for that person and praise them in their absence, in their death. So that connection with a certain time and place that we don't give too much thought to, when in effect, the cause becomes so much more clear ... SubhanAllah.

Have I lost you?

 

[SonOfAdam]

Thanks for sharing. You get one sin erased and one good deed per step but since you are so close to the mesjid you will go there more and these steps will add up! Why not take smaller steps? Just kidding. Also, the ajr you get when a man prays in the Mosque is multiplied several times (25 or 27 I believe if I am not mistaken) when He prays at the mesjid. And women get this if they pray at home. So compared to the walking steps, the ajr of praying at the mesjid (which should be so easy for you inshallah) is far better in my opinion... I used to live very close to a Mosque (a block away)... best time of my life.

Hadith 466. (Shahi Bukhari)
Narrated By Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, "The prayer offered in congregation is twenty five times more superior (in reward) to the prayer offered alone in one's house or in a business centre, because if one performs ablution and does it perfectly, and then proceeds to the mosque with the sole intention of praying, then for each step which he takes towards the mosque, Allah upgrades him a degree in reward and (forgives) crosses out one sin till he enters the mosque. When he enters the mosque he is considered in prayer as long as he is waiting for the prayer and the angels keep on asking for Allah's forgiveness for him and they keep on saying: 'O Allah! Be Merciful to him, O Allah! Forgive him, as long as he keeps on sitting at his praying place and does not pass wind.

Hadith 618. (Shahi Bukhari)
Narrated By 'Abdullah bin Umar: Allah's Apostle said, "The prayer in congregation is twenty seven times superior to the prayer offered by person alone."

This second hadith didn't mention it should be in Masjid (Cut pasted this from another site)

 

[Eman Yousuf]

nice story ,yes I too have a masjid near our house not one but two .It is wonderful at the time of Ramadaan prayers, beautiful recitation of quran, perfume smell of the musallis.
Yes it is great to be a muslim alhamdulillah. Sadly, I can only feel it because we dont have
a seperate section for women.

fi amanillah