How connected are we to the Houses of Allah?

If you want to know your connection with Allah, then you really need to ask yourself what role does the Masjid play in your life. The Masajid are essential to our communities and as Muslims, we are obliged to ensure they are up-kept, raised and sanctified. As Allah states in the Quran:

فِي بُيُوتٍ أَذِنَ اللَّهُ أَن تُرْفَعَ وَيُذْكَرَ فِيهَا اسْمُهُ يُسَبِّحُ لَهُ فِيهَا بِالْغُدُوِّ وَالْآصَالِ

“In mosques which Allah has ordered to be raised and that His name be mentioned therein; exalting Him within them in the morning and the evenings” Quran 24:36

No doubt these Houses are beloved to Allah and we should always strive to connect ourselves with them. The Prophet ﷺ shed light on this love when he said:

أَحَبُّ الْبِلَادِ إِلَى اللَّهِ مَسَاجِدُهَا وَأَبْغَضُ الْبِلَادِ إِلَى اللَّهِ أَسْوَاقُهَا

“The Most beloved places to Allah are the Masjid, and the most hated places to Allah are the shopping centres”. Sahih Muslim

If we too love that which Allah loves, by the will of Allah, this will be a reason for our salvation and His love descending on us. As the Prophet ﷺ taught, from amongst the people who will be shaded under the shade of Allah on the Day of Judgement is:

رجل قلبه معلق بالمساجد

“a man whose heart was connected to the Masjid”. Sahih Al Bukhari and Muslim

And likewise, just as a man’s attendance to the Masjid is a sign of belief, it is also a sign of hypocrisy to be away from the Masjid without an excuse, as the Prophet ﷺ taught:

“No prayer is more burdensome on the hypocrites than the Fajr and Isha prayer, had they known what was in them both they would have attended them even if they had to crawl”. Sahih Al Bukhari and Muslim

Malik Ibn Dinaar is narrated to have also said;

“When a believer enters the Masjid, it is as though he has entered a fragrant garden that he does not wish to depart from. While a hypocrite that enters the Masjid feels as though he is imprisoned and cannot wait to leave”.

We should always strive to enhance our relationship with the Houses of Allah and be cautious of being absent from them. As Ibn Isaac, one of the predecessors of the companions narrates:

انْظُرْ أَنْ لا يَرَاكَ اللَّهُ حَيْثُ نَهَاكَ , وَأَنْ لا يَفْقِدَكَ حَيْثُ أَمَرَكَ.

“My brother Dawud advised me: “Be cautious Allah does not see you in places He prohibited you from, and He does not miss you where He has commanded you to be…”  

May Allah make us of those who love and uphold His Houses in this life in a manner that pleases Him.