About Mosques Dedicated Only to the Lord God and How These Mosques of Islam Should Be

Published in December 10, 2018

Translated by: Ahmed Fathy

Introduction:

 Our dear son, Dr. Othman M. Ali, who is the supervisor of our Quranism website, has asked our person to write an article about how Islamic/monotheistic mosques should look like; we write this article, about this very important topic, in the form of questions and answers.  

QUESTION no. 1: Why do some people call a mosque (i.e., masjid in Arabic) by the Arabic word (jaami')?

ANSWER: Of course, the Quran mentions the word (masjid) and not (jaami') to describe a mosque. Literally, (masjid) means the location of prostration; the Arabic word (jaami') means the place of gathering; yet, in the Quranic text, it has different meanings; e.g., the gathering/grouping of human beings on the Last Day: "...God will gather the hypocrites and the disbelievers, into Hell, altogether." (4:140); "Our Lord, You will gather the people for a Day in which there is no doubt." God will never break His promise." (3:9).

QUESTION no. 2.: But the word (jaami') is mentioned in the Quranic Chapter 24, right?!

ANSWER: Yes, but concerning Shura consultation within direct democracy when all citizens of the Yathreb city-state gathered in a meeting/council: "The believers are those who believe in God and His Messenger, and when they are gathered with him for a matter of common interest, they do not leave until they have asked him for permission...." (24:62). This is not about mosques at all; a mosque in the Quran is never described as (jaami') but as (masjid).   

QUESTION no. 3: Why do some people call a mosque as a (jaami'), then?!

ANSWER: Sadly, the number of mosques increased in the past and present to serve political, doctrinal, military, and polytheistic purposes; the term (jaami') began to be used to describe the central, grand mosque in any city where the Friday congregational prayers are performed and not missed by most people.

QUESTION no. 4: What is intended by mentioning several types of houses of worship in the Quranic verse 22:40?

ANSWER: The Lord God says the following in the Quran: "...Were it not that God repels people by means of others: monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques-where the name of God is mentioned much-would have been demolished..." (22:40). This verse is about protecting houses of worship of all people regardless of their denominations and if these houses of worship are monotheistic or polytheistic. Self-defense fighting in the Quran is commanded to establish religious freedom (as religion is judged only by, and should be dedicated only to, the Lord God) and to deter persecutors who practice compulsion in religion; the Lord God will judge faiths of all human beings on the Last Day; this judgment is not in this world; it is postponed until the Resurrection Day; mortals are not to judge one another in this respect. The Lord God says the following in the Quran: "And fight them until there is no religious persecution, and worship becomes devoted to God alone. But if they cease, then let there be no hostility except against the unjust ones." (2:193); "Fight them until there is no more religious persecution, and religion becomes exclusively for God. But if they desist - God is Seeing of what they do." (8:39).   

QUESTION no. 5: What about the term (houses of God)? What is the difference between houses of worship dedicated to the Lord God and the term (mosques)?

ANSWER: These houses in the Quran refer to Islamic/monotheistic mosques or houses of worship: "And We inspired Moses and his brother, "Settle your people in Egypt, and make your houses places of worship, and perform prayers..." (10:87). Thus, these houses were where the Israelites performed their prayers in secret as they feared the persecution of Pharaoh; these houses were mosques or houses of worship. Of course, the Lord God describes here the Islamic/monotheistic mosques or houses of worship of all eras and places: "In houses which God has permitted to be raised, and His name is celebrated therein. He is glorified therein, morning and evening. By people who neither trading nor commerce distracts them from God's remembrance, and from performing prayers, and from Zakat. They fear a Day when hearts and sights are overturned.God will reward them according to the best of what they did, and He will increase them from His bounty. God provides for whomever He wills without limits." (24:36-38).

QUESTION no. 6: What is meant by the Quranic/Arabic word (rijal) in the Quranic verse 24:37 in the phrase (By people/rijal who neither...)? Are women prevented from entering mosques?! The word (rijal) in today's Arabic means (men), as you know.

ANSWER: This Quranic word is derived from (rijl) or "foot" in Arabic; it does not refer to (men); it refers literally to those people in general (men and women) who walk/stand on their feet. The same meaning is found within this verse about male and female pilgrims: "And announce the pilgrimage to humanity. They will come to you on foot (rijalan), and on every transport. They will come from every distant point." (22:27).  

QUESTION no. 7: What about the Sacred House: the Kaaba in Mecca?

ANSWER: The terms (the Sacred House), (the House), and (the Sacred Mosque) are employed exclusively to describe the Kaaba as we see in these verses: "As for those who disbelieve and repel from God's Path and from the Sacred Mosque..." (22:25); "...Whoever performs pilgrimage to the House..." (2:158); "The first House established for mankind is the one at Bacca...Pilgrimage to the House is a duty to God..." (3:96-97); "God has appointed the Kaaba, the Sacred House, a sanctuary for the people..." (5:97); "And We made the House a focal point for the people, and a sanctuary..." (2:125).

QUESTION no. 8: The word (masjid) or mosque is employed to describe other locations or houses of worship apart from the Kaaba in Mecca, right?!

ANSWER: Certainly; this term is used in the Quran to refer to misguiding, harmful mosques and also to Islamic, monotheistic mosques: "Then there are those who establish a mosque to cause harm, and disbelief, and disunity among the believers, and as an outpost for those who fight God and His Messenger. They will swear: "Our intentions are nothing but good." But God bears witness that they are liars. Do not stand in it, ever. A mosque founded upon piety from the first day is worthier of your standing in it. In it are men who love to be purified. God loves those who purify themselves." (9:107-108). In contrast, the Sacred Kaaba Mosque has its unique Quranic descriptions within verses about pilgrimage and prayers: "As for those who disbelieve and repel from God's Path and from the Sacred Mosque...We showed Abraham the location of the House...And announce the pilgrimage to humanity..." (22:25-27); "And wherever you come from, turn your face towards the Sacred Mosque. And wherever you may be, turn your faces towards it..." (2:150). Thus, polytheism/disbelief within hearts/souls and acts of worship means to deify, sanctify, worship, and believe in gods/saints/allies alongside with the Lord God. This is manifested in harmful mosques where polytheists worship, remember, invoke, and supplicate to their deities besides the Lord God. These mosques of polytheists are mentioned several times in the Quran; for instance, in the Quranic Chapter 18, some polytheists decided to build a mosque over the tomb/cave of the men of the cave to draw benediction from them as allies/saints/deities: "So it was, that We caused them to be discovered, that they would know that the promise of God is true, and that of the Hour there is no doubt. As they were disputing their case among themselves, they said, "Build over them a building." Their Lord knows best about them. Those who prevailed over their case said, "We will set up over them a place of worship/masjid."" (18:21). Within harmful mosques of polytheists, the worshipers refuse to remember/glorify God's Name only; they insist on remembering and glorifying the names of their deities/saints/allies as well; when Muhammad called them to dedicate mosques in Mecca only to the Lord God, they grew furious and were about to beat/murder him: "The places of worship are for God. So do not call, besides God, upon anyone else. And when the servant of God got up calling on Him, they almost fell on him in a mass. Say, "I pray only to my Lord, and I never associate anyone with Him."" (72:18-20).    

QUESTION no. 9: Are there any other difference between monotheistic mosques and polytheistic ones?

ANSWER: Yes; the Lord God says the following in the Quran: "The only people to attend God's places of worship are those who believe in God and the Last Day, and pray regularly, and practice regular charity, and fear none but God. These are most likely to be guided. Do you consider giving water to pilgrims and maintaining the Sacred Mosque the same as believing in God and the Last Day and striving in God's Path? They are not equal in God's sight. God does not guide the unjust people." (9:17-18). This means that polytheists imagined that decorating and maintaining mosques to serve God and other gods/saints is something which will please the Lord God; yet, He is not satisfied except through piety within monotheism.

QUESTION no. 10: This is about polytheism/disbelief in acts of worship and within hearts/souls, but what about mosques of polytheists/disbelievers in terms of behavior who are aggressors/transgressors who practice compulsion in religion and conspire inside mosques to commit violence and cause harm as the case of most of today's mosques?

ANSWER: Of course, the Lord God mentions these mosques in the Quran; they are of two type a follows.

1- The first type: harmful mosques whose polytheists reflect aggressive, violent behavior frankly within terrorizing peaceful believers and preventing them from entering mosques unless they remember the other deities/saints besides the Lord God; hence, those aggressive polytheists prevent the remembrance of the Lord only inside their mosques; they insist on remembering the other saints/gods/deities alongside with Him: "Who is more unjust than him who forbids the remembrance of God's name in places of worship, and contributes to their ruin? These ought not to enter them except in fear. For them is disgrace in this world, and for them is a terrible torment in the Hereafter." (2:114). In fact, we and our fellow Quranists in Egypt suffered persecution because of polytheists in many mosques; they hated the fact that we worship/remember only the Lord God and never worshiped their mortal deities inside the mosques of the Muhammadans. The Qorayish polytheists committed the same grave sin when they drove the early, peaceful believers out of their houses in Mecca; this is referred to within the Quranic context of self-defense jihad/fighting legislations: "Those who were unjustly evicted from their homes, merely for saying, "Our Lord is God." Were it not that God repels people by means of others: monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques - where the name of God is mentioned much - would have been demolished. God supports whoever supports Him. God is Strong and Mighty." (22:40).

2- The second type: harmful mosques where non-violent hypocrites conspire against Islam and peaceful believers: "Then there are those who establish a mosque to cause harm, and disbelief, and disunity among the believers, and as an outpost for those who fight God and His Messenger. They will swear: "Our intentions are nothing but good." But God bears witness that they are liars. Do not stand in it, ever. A mosque founded upon piety from the first day is worthier of your standing in it. In it are men who love to be purified. God loves those who purify themselves. Is he who founds his structure upon piety and acceptance from God better, or he who founds his structure on the brink of a cliff that is about to tumble, so it tumbles with him into the Fire of Hell? God does not guide the unjust people. The structure which they built will remain questionable in their hearts, until their hearts are stopped. God is Knowing and Wise." (9:107-110).

QUESTION no. 11: This second type no longer exists; it was only during Muhammad's lifetime, right?

ANSWER: No; the present tense used in the context of 9:107-110 indicates clearly that this is repeated in all eras; this is manifested by the contrast and comparison in the same Quranic context between Islamic/monotheistic mosques and harmful mosques of polytheists. This is a Quranic general rule; these verses miraculously predict the case prevalent in other eras until today; the vast majority of today's mosques are harmful or harm-causing mosques as other deities/saints are being worshiped and sanctified alongside with the Lord God, devilish hadiths are being narrated and spread, and violence/terrorism, disbelief/polytheism, divisions, conspiracies, and aggression are being propagated in such mosques.      

QUESTION no. 12: What are the descriptions of Islamic/monotheistic mosques, then?!

ANSWER: They are very clear in the verses we have quoted above; these mosques are dedicated to remembering the Lord God only within prayers, supplications, acts of worship, and the call to prayers (or Azan) without mentioning the names of mortals like Muhammad and Ali. In these mosques, the testimony of monotheism is (There is no God but Allah), without mentioning the names of Muhammad and Ali. The prayers, supplications, and imploration are dedicated only to the Lord God as per these verses: "I - I am God. There is no God but I. So serve Me, and practice prayers for My remembrance." (20:14); "The places of worship are for God. So do not call, besides God, upon anyone else." (72:18). In sum, this is how mosques are devoted and dedicated only to the Lord God within monotheism which means devoting one's entire religion only to Him: "Say, "My Lord commands justice, and to stand devoted at every place of worship. So call upon Him, and dedicate your religion to Him alone..." (7:29).

QUESTION no. 13: What about women in relation to mosques?

ANSWER: The Friday congregational prayers is a religious duty/obligation imposed on both male and female believers, as per this verse addressing all believers and not only men: "O you who believe! When the call is made for prayer on Congregation Day, hasten to the remembrance of God, and drop all business. That is better for you, if you only knew." (62:9). Likewise, men and women perform the five daily prayers and can retreat inside mosques to dedicate long times or days to worship, but husbands and wives cannot engage into sexual intercourse while they are both retreating inside mosques together as this prohibited: "...But do not approach them while you are in retreat at the mosques..." (2:187). Both men and women must wear their best clothes before heading to mosques: "O children of Adam! Dress properly at every place of worship/masjid..." (7:31).  

QUESTION no. 14: Is it OK to give to mosques the names of people and cities?

ANSWER: Certainly not. The Islamic/monotheistic mosques are dedicated only to the Lord God; it is very improper to dedicate these mosques to the names of living or dead people; one can give hospitals, streets, and schools the names of any people. The Islamic/monotheistic mosques are dedicated only to the Lord God through any of His Holy Names/Epithets mentioned in the Quran or through His Book: the Quran; e.g., the Mosque of the Dominant Lord, the Mosque of the Forquan, the Mosque of the Quran, the Mosque of the Compassionate, and the Mosque of the Originator.   

QUESTION no. 15: Is it OK to annex to mosques clinics, educational centers, wedding halls, halls for funerals, etc.?

ANSWER: Certainly not. The Islamic/monotheistic mosques are dedicated only to the Lord God; it should never include any other lucrative or profitable activities or offering any (un)paid services. The Lord God says the following in the Quran: "O you who believe! When the call is made for prayer on Congregation Day, hasten to the remembrance of God, and drop all business. That is better for you, if you only knew.Then, when the prayer is concluded, disperse through the land, and seek God's bounty, and remember God much, so that you may prosper. Yet whenever they come across some business, or some entertainment, they scramble towards it, and leave you standing. Say, "What is with God is better than entertainment and business; and God is the Best of providers."" (62:9-11). This means complete separation between acts of worship inside mosques and any kind of business. Harmful, misguiding mosques of today include many distracting, profitable activities which divert people away from prayers and worship; besides, polytheists in such mosques commit the sin of singing the Quran. 

QUESTION no. 16: What about charity and unpaid services inside mosques?

ANSWER: They should be done outside mosques within separate institutions which should be independent from mosques; there should never be any type of distractions which would disrupt acts of worship inside mosques of Islam/monotheism dedicated only to the Lord God.

QUESTION no. 17: What about reading/memorizing and studying/pondering the Quran in groups inside mosques?

ANSWER: This is OK because this is considered as an act of worship by remembering the Lord God inside mosques; it is a duty/obligation in Islam to study, read, and ponder the Quran. Let us be reminded that one of the Quranic names of the Quran itself is (Remembrance).

QUESTION no. 18: But trade or drawing benefits is allowed during pilgrimage at the Sacred Kaaba Mosque as per the Quran, right?!

ANSWER: The Sacred Kaaba Mosque is located in a place with no agricultural land, as per the words of Abraham here: ""Our Lord, I have settled some of my offspring in a valley of no vegetation, by Your Sacred House..." (14:37); yet, all sort of fruits reach it through pilgrims as per God's Bounty: "...Did We not establish for them a Safe Sanctuary, to which are brought all kinds of fruits, as provision from Ourselves? But most of them do not know." (28:57). Pilgrims and others bring livestock to be sold inside Mecca to feed people and to sacrifice them as part of rituals of pilgrimage: "And the livestock - He created them for you. In them are warmth and benefits for you, and of them you eat." (16:5); part of the benefits is to use livestock during pilgrimage: "And announce the pilgrimage to humanity. They will come to you on foot , and on every transport. They will come from every distant point. That they may witness the benefits for themselves, and celebrate the name of God during the appointed days, for providing them with the animal livestock. So eat from it, and feed the unfortunate poor." (22:27-28); "In them are benefits for you until a certain time. Then their place is by the Ancient House." (22:33). This is linked to pilgrimage to the Sacred Kaaba Mosque in Mecca.