Masjid al Muslimeen : A Beacon of Hope amid South Africa’s many masaajid

Mohamed Ousman

Rajab 19, 1446 2025-01-19

Daily News Analysis

by Mohamed Ousman

The visiting Palestinian Football team from Al Quds in front of Masjid al Muslimeen in South Africa

In Islamic history, Masjid Dirar refers to a Masjid that was built with an agenda.

It was to create social impairment and to foster kufr and disunity among the committed Muslims [who report directly to the Prophet], and to provide an outpost for all who from the outset have been warring against Allah and His Apostle. … (Surat At Tawbah, verse 107).

The Houses of Allah are places where Allah is supposed to be magnified and glorified.

Despite almost 2,000 Masaajid in South Africa, it is rare to come across a Masjid that is a magnet for all Muslims.

Fanatical Muslims tend to place their cultural, ethnic, racial, and/or sectarian egos, asabiyyah, above their consciousness of Allah’s power for justice.

In their egotistical frenzy they forget that the Masaajid belong to Allah and the stern warning of the Prophet (pbuh) regarding asabiyyah.

The Prophet (pbuh) warns that anyone who summons people to any solidarity that violates the unity of the Muslims i.e. asabiyyah does not belong to us; and he who fights and dies upholding that solidarity that violates the unity of the Muslims does not belong to us (Sunan Abu Dawud).

Notwithstanding such a critical warning, some Muslims are still prone to recoil into tribal, ethnic, racial and sectarian solidarities, all of which have a tendency to violate the solidarity and unity of Muslims.

Fortunately, there are still some spaces in South Africa that are safe from the effects of asabiyyah.

There are a number of others that show signs of promise and will-power and determination is required by those responsible for their affairs to transform them from being cultural, ethnic, racial, and/or sectarian enclaves into Houses of Allah.

Recently Masjid al Muslimeen was opened in McKenzie Park, Benoni. Prior to the official opening of the Masjid, the trustees were known for hosting a high caliber of scholars from around the world and from across the diverse spectrum from which Muslims come.

It was, therefore, a breath of fresh air to see Muslims representing this diversity gathered there in huge numbers.

The crowd was beyond the capacity of the Masjid.

Adding to that pleasantry was its composition.

There were Muslims from the Sufi, Barelwi, Deobandi, Tablighi, and Salafi background present.

Sisters came out in droves for the opening as well as the Jumu‘ah salah.

The color-bar was broken as the crowd and presenters reflected Muslims from across the spectrum.

There was a rich presence of Muslims from across the Southern African region as well as the sub-continent.

To make this opening extra special, the inaugural Jumu‘ah was attended by a visiting Palestinian Football team from Al Quds.

This was no ordinary team.

It comprised youth in their early twenties which would make them the off-spring of the shuhada’ (martyrs) and mujahideen (combatants) during the second Palestinian intifadha (uprising) between 2000-2005.

The youth of this team are also actively responsible, on behalf of Muslims everywhere, in defending Al Masjid Al Aqsa from zionist invasion and desecration.

The khatib (sermon giver) from Palestine that was accompanying the team delivered a high quality sermon about the importance of Bayt Al Maqdis (The Holy Land).

The leadership announced that the following programs would commence from the Masjid: Qur’anic Arabic grammar, book reviews, visits to the sick, Da‘wah workshops, healthy lving workshops, public Q&A sessions with Ulama’, cooking, baking and sewing classes, interactive sessions with community role models, pop-up markets, Kids events, Open Masjid day tours for non-Muslims, etc .

This was warmly received particularly by the sisters who have historically experienced being marginalized within a community in which they have a tremendous role to play.

This community has taken a commendable step to have a Masjid that will serve as a magnet for all Muslims.

As is to be expected, whenever Muslims outgrow cultural, ethnic, racial, and/or sectarian divisions and get together, their enemies agitate. It is, therefore, likely that external enemies will use internal enemies to disrupt the fraternity within the community through a number of pursuits, particularly sectarianism.

We pray that no external interference makes its way into this congregation and that this Masjid will serve as an inspiration for the thousands of Masaajid in South Africa and beyond that have become cultural, ethnic, racial, and/or sectarian enclaves to varying degrees.

And [let it be known that] all places dedicated to [genuflection and] prostration [to Allah] belong to Allah [alone]: hence do not call upon anyone [in devotion] side by side with Allah! (Surat Al Jinn verse 18).

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