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Mosques as an Agent for Community Developement in the History of Islam

Increasing globalization and rapid development of information technology today has changed the sociocultural patterns and living values among the global community. This phenomenon urges every party and institution involved in social agenda to devise a systematic and comprehensive preparation for any interference that might come. Accordingly, the role of mosques as an institution for social community also becomes more dynamic. The early history of Islam proves that mosques can effectively act as an agent for community transformation, inspiring this article to look into seerah nabawiyyah (the life of Prophet Muhammad) to discover the roles and functions that mosques play for the development of religion, community and nation that then results in a great civilization. Accompanying the study is a research on the position and functions of current mosques in Malaysia, which then may lead to comparison between the two and strategies on what can be done today to uplift the status of mosques. Concept paper that will be presented is derived from analyses and researches that have been done before that are improved and upgraded to be more relevant and solid. The findings suggest that mosques need to be proactively and professionally managed, and effective strategies need to be set up according to current demands.


Introduction
Religiosity is essential to be stimulated in every individual's life, and within a society as a whole. Mobility and transformation of a community can only be acquired through a religious style of life of its inhabitants, as it acts as a strong medium for improvement and upgrading of oneself in spiritual, emotional and intellectual terms as well as it functions as the supervisor for every mindset and action established.
In this era of globalization and rapid development of information technology, every party and institution involved in social agenda needs to have a systematic and comprehensive preparation to deal with the upcoming interference(s). Efforts in bringing the society closer to the religion also need to be more integrated and effective. Plus, with current style of life that is more into material-related, religiosity will significantly help bringing the society back in track.
Mosques are a symbol of the greatness of Islam that acts as an important community institution in the development of ummah (community). The first thing that Prophet Muhammad does after relocating to Medina is building a mosque. To define a mosque, it is mostly seen as a place for human gathering to perform activities that denote their devotion and submission to Allah. Mosques also act as an institution or madrasah (school) to produce a quality human capital that is based on the tauhid (monotheism) of Islam, the manner of life proposed by al-Quran and hadiths, the Islamic morality as well as the actions and activities that project kindness. The responsibility of promoting positive values and changes in a community is on the institution of mosque.

Problem Statement
According to Ajmain (2007), the participation from the local community in programs and activities organized by the mosques has lessened. This phenomenon obscures the roles and functions of the mosques to the public. Today, the prestige of mosques is not manifest. Some of them are even disorderly and remain unfrequented most of the time especially outside prayer times (Asmak, 2007), with visitors mainly consist of people aged 40 and above (Omar, 2010). This small number of frequenters is imbalance with the big spaces and splendid facilities that these mosques offer, causing the people in charge to have quite a difficulty in coping with the management (Zaharuddin, 2007)

Literature Review
Mosques' role in cultivating and spreading the culture of knowledge acquisition is one of the common subjects reviewed and analysed by Malaysian scholars. Among of them is Momin (2003) who studies the role that mosque libraries play in expanding Islamic knowledge among local community and how mosques are considered as a medium for the spread of knowledge acquisition culture within a society. This study is particularly supported by another research done by Haron (2007) who analyzes the role of mosques as the intermediate institution in educational processes in third until fifth century. Another related study which is about the function and role of mosques as the centre of the religion of Islam and the establishment of its culture in a community is accomplished by Azmi Ahmad in 1998. The town of Seremban is selected to be researched in this study.
The role of mosques to the people of new or young generation also catches the scholars' attention. Mustari and Azhar (2009) from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia particularly have done a research on young generation's perception on mosques today. Another research involving youth is also done by Basiron (2007)

Objectives
This study particularly focuses on two objectives which are: 1. To study in details the definition of mosque in Islam 2. To analyze the roles and functions of mosques as an agent for community transformation

Methodology
The methodology used in this study is mainly library research. Library research is considerably needed to obtain accurate information and clear understanding on the analysed topic. References on related books or any written sources are made to justify the concepts and theories proposed. The background of the existence and development of mosque(s) in the history of Islamic civilisation is analysed. Al-Quran and hadiths as the two primary sources of Islamic teachings are studied, along with academic reading materials such as journal articles, paperworks and books (printed and electronic) to help in scrutinizing and proposing the functions and roles of mosques for community betterment.

The Definition of Mosque in Islam
The word "mosque" is mentioned 28 times in al-Quran (Abd.Al-Baqiy, 1988) while according to Muhammad al-Dawwud, al-Quran has touched on the subject of mosque 46 times after taking into consideration the related words which are saf (prayer rows), bait (house) and buyut (houses) (Abdurrahman Raden aji Haqqi, 2004). The word "mosque" itself is derived from the Arabic word masjid or masjad. Literally, it means a place for sujud (prostrating) that is taken from the verb sajada or yasjudu (IbnManzur, 2003) that technically means putting the forehead on the ground as a symbol of devotion to Allah (Al-FairuzAbadi, 1987). Customarily, "mosque" is defined as a place to perform salah (prayers) (Aziz (2007). It is safe to say that the word "mosque" gives a basic definition of a place to perform activities that signify devotion and submission to Allah. However in Sharia terms, every place should be defined as "mosque" (al-Ubayd, 1978) as the acts of devotion and submission to Allah must be regularly executed regardless the place and time one is in. This is as stated in a hadith by Prophet Muhammad, translated as: From Jabir bin Abdullah, he reported that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said "I am given (by Allah) five things that have never been given to any prophet before me... and make for me the Earth as mosque and purity" (Narrated by Bukhari and al Nasa'i) Mosques are baitullah or houses of Allah as they serve as a holy and essential institution for every life aspect of human beings (Mohamed, 2004). Inside them, bondings are made between a servant and their Creator. They also function as a centre of education that works comprehensively in producing a quality human capital (Zuhdi, 2010). Mosques are mentioned as the houses of Allah in several verses of al-Quran, among them is (as translated): The mosques of Allah are only to be maintained by those who believe in Allah and the Last Day and establish prayers and give zakah and do not fear except Allah, for it is expected that those will be of the [rightly] guided.

At-Tawbah: 18
Maintaining mosques as stated in the verse above is by performing salah in them, doing the du'a and dhikir, and upgrading the status of Islam. Even the basic acts like mosque decoration, lamp ignition, performing ibadah (acts of worship) and zikrullah (remembrance of Allah) and knowledge sharing that are done inside the mosques are considered as the acts of 'maintaining' mosques.
However, the institution of mosque is usually only associated with ibadah and religious rituals such as salah, wirid, dhikir, du'a and celebration of Islamic festivals, while the mosque as a building is normally seen as a building for acts of worship, as the word ibadah brings the definition of a set of rituals for religious submission.
As a matter of fact, mosques should not be considered as a building and institution for ibadah only. The definition should be based on broader view of them giving advantages and benefits to the community and consequently acquiring higher status. The buildings are not for pride or display but have to function as an infrastructure that offers convenient services to the community, and upgrading the status of Islam in general as commanded by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Mohamad (2011) mentions a quote by Prof. Quraish Shihab in his thesis as translated below: "If we talk about the Earth, mosques are not only places for prostrating and purifying. Here, they do not only mean as buildings for salah and even tayammum as a replacement for wudu' but also places for every human activity that denotes devotion to Allah. As so, mosques act as a port for departure as well as a harbor for arrival for Muslims" The quote above conveys the role of mosques as a centre for social activities for Muslims. Three holy mosques in the early history of Islam which are Al-Haram Mosque, Nabawi Mosque and al-Quds Mosque have successfully proven their functions as an agent for excellent community transformation and mobility. There are also several mosques in Islamic countries that are not only famous as great places of worship but also as prestigious higher education institutes. Among of them are Zaitun Mosque in Tunisia, Qarawain Mosque in Morocco and Al-Azhar Mosque in Egypt. These mosques are great examplars of ideal mosques (Mohamad, 2011).

The Emergence of Mosque in Islam
In the early history of Islam, it is reported that Quba Mosque is the first mosque ever built just before the arrival of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and his companion Abu Bakar al Siddiq in Medina. The mosque is also the first mosque that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) has ever performed Friday prayers in (IbnHashim, 1995), along with his other 40 companions. It is based on this event that Shafi'i madhhab (sect) presents his argument of having attended by at least 40 people as one of the conditions for the Friday prayers ceremony to be valid (Al Shawkani, n.d.).
In fact, the first thing that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) does after arriving in Medina is finding a suitable spot to build a mosque. It is then fixed on the land owned by two brothers after being paid by Prophet Muhammad for its value. The mosque is then known as Al-Nabawi Mosque (al-Ghazali, 1976). In the era of caliph Umar bin al-Khattab, he proposes to build small mosques for the local communities in small areas while big mosques are constructed for Friday prayers at villages that have large communities. This is similar to what we have in Malaysia. Surau (minor places of worship) are built for the convenience of the community nearby. However, for major activities like Friday prayers, they are only held at big mosques or also known as jami' mosques (Mohamad, 2011).

Roles and Functions of Mosques as an Agent for Community Developement
Conceptually, mosques play many roles and functions in every aspect of life during the era of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Among of them are they act as places for performing salah, having meetings or discussion, proposing opinions or complaints regarding the community and running trades and business. Plus, they also serve as the main places for foreign guests (formal and informal) to visit when they come to an Islamic country (Hawa, 1989).
As reflected by its word, mosque or masjid (place for prostrating) mainly functions as a place for ibadah (acts of worship) such as congregational prayers, i'tikaf (meditation), al-Quran recitation, dhikir (remembrance of Allah) and tahajjud (night prayers). Adhan (prayer calls) that are done five times a day are very effective in bringing the community together to reinforce the spirit of togetherness for the sole purpose of being close to Allah.
What makes them more strategic is they also function as the centre for activity development among the local community. Muslim community back then has direct access to Muhammad's words that mostly feature the topics of religious principles, new community system and newly revealed Quranic verses (Al-Mubarkafuri, 1994), and all these access and interactions take place in mosques.
As mentioned in a hadith of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), mosques also act as centres for the administration of a government (Abdurrahman, 2004). This is supported by historians who affirm that the activity of shura (meeting) that is regularly organized in the early Islamic era is done in mosques. In the era of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) particularly, this shura activity is held for collective strategy planning for the battle of Uhud (al-Khudri, n.d.).
While under the governance of Umar, the shura mostly revolves around the battles of al-Qadisiyyah, Yarmouk and others alongside. It is narrated that Umar himself initially intends to lead the military for the battles and even gets the support from some of Muhammad's other companions, but then decides to discontinue when the shura's verdict inclines to appointing someone else, which is Sa'ad bin Abu Waqqas. All of the voting and decisionmaking processes are done in mosques (Muda, 2007).
The election of an Islamic nation's leader is basically held in mosques. An instance of this is the election of Uthman bin Affan as the national leader or caliph that is done in Nabawi Mosque. It starts with the election comittee which is led by Abdul Rahman bin Auf at that time surveying the public view on who should be the next leader (with the candidates being Uthman and Ali bin Abu Talib) in three days. Uthman then is officially appointed after gaining higher votes from the public. It is in the Nabawi Mosque that people then swear bai'ah (allegiance) to his leadership (Salim, 1982).
Most of the caliphs' inaugural speeches after the appointment are done on mosque pulpits. This is common during the eras of the Rashidun Caliphs, the Umayyad Caliphate and the Abbasid Caliphate. It is narrated that the caliph Muawiyah pronounces his intent to get the opinions and agreement from the national officials in Medina for his intention to appoint his son as his successor on the Nabawi Mosque's pulpit. Though he subsequently receives objection from some of his companions, he decides to proceed with his plan (IbnAl-Arabi, 1985).
In terms of judicial affairs, mosques work as the venues where court trials take place in. In fact, mosques are considered as the most suitable place for any court activity, according to some scholars. However, it is opposed by some other scholars who are concerned about the situations that court trials might cause that will disrupt the mosque such as voice raising. Another argument that these scholars propose is there might be a party or parties involved in the trials who are not allowed to be in mosques such as menstruating women (Zaidan, 1986).
The institution of mosque has been serving big and various functions in terms of education ever since its early existence. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) builds Quba Mosque, Al-Mirbad Mosque and Nabawi Mosque in Medina to serve as centres for Islamic education (Al Tabari, 1965). Muslims learn about every area of knowledge for the concerns of the world and the hereafter in mosques. From there, intellectual and visionary scholars are produced. In the early era of Islam, mosques are particularly constitued as lecture halls, while in the era of Umar later, several corners are strictly reserved for learning activities before forming a separate building for that purpose (al-Nahlawi, 1979). Not just for the spread of religious knowledge, mosques are also treated as places for the development of various diciplines of knowledge that are within Islamic border.
The tradition of treating mosques as places of education continues until today. For example, the famous Al-Azhar University in Egypt which places its Department of Da'wah Teaching and Faculty of Usuluddin in the Al-Azhar mosque itself. There are also several other mosques in some Islamic countries that are known not for their status as mosques but as universities.
Among of them are Al-Zaytuna Mosque in Tunisia, Al-Qarawiyyin Mosque in Morocco and Al-Azhar Mosque (as mentioned above) in Egypt (al-Dawamy, 2007).
Also, mosques function as the centre for the development of human capital and community transformation. The mosque institution should not only be the centre of religious practices but also the centre of community welfare and social activities. Historically, mosques have been functioning as centres for receiving zakat, Zakat al-Fitr, jizyah, kharaj, ghanimah and fai'. Not only that, mosques are also considered as the centre for economic development among Muslims that involves acts of business transactions, loans and others related in them (Tajudin, 1999).
Social gatherings or meetings are also usually held in mosques, so they become places of connecting and socializing as well. Even in cases of disasters, mosques act as places which Muslims come to seek protection and express condolences to each other. Plus, for those who are poor and homeless, there is a space called suffah that is provided for them to stay, along with tents and small houses built around the mosque (Tajudin, 1999).
In a congress specifically made for the discussion on mosques held in Mecca in 1975, the roles and functions of a mosque are officially recorded. It is agreed that an effective and productive mosque fulfills the requirements below (Abdurrahman, 2004): (1) Health-friendly prayer room(s) (2) Specific rooms for women with specific entry(s) and exit(s) so they do not need to mingle with men. The rooms refer to both prayer room(s) and room(s) for Family Welfare Education business.

Conclusion
The excellence and prosperity of the mosque institution become the responsibility of every Muslim. Muslims should put an effort in reinforcing the status of mosques as an effective institution and agent for community transformation and mobility in order to achieve a quality way of life communally, as the effectiveness and productivity of mosque institution depend fully on the society's support. Efforts and cooperation of all parties, from the government to the local cummunity, are essential to empower and reinforce the status of mosques in the national or even global level, and consequently restore the prestige of Islam.
To put it conclusively, mosques can be seen as a power generator that flows the electric power to every home connected with them. They are considered as the hearts for the ummah (Muslim community), of which will become null if they stop functioning.
The outcomes that will be attained in this research is hoped to invoke the society or particularly the concerned parties to bring about a model mosque as a paragon to other mosques that will be built in the future, and consequently enhance the community transformation and mobility among the society.