What Makes the Mosque Unique? Read This!

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uniqueness of the mosque, what makes mosque unique, uniqueness of the masjid, masjid, mosque, what makes masjid unique

Hi all readers! Are you looking for an explanation of “what makes the mosque unique?”? If your answer is “Yes”, congratulations! Now you are reading the right article. Why? Because that's what I'm going to explain now. As Muslims, we must understand that. That's why I wrote this article. So, you have to read it to the end.

Specifically, there are two important things about “what makes the mosque unique?” which I will explain in this article. Two important things I mean are as follows:

The Meaning of the Uniqueness of the Mosque

The first important thing about “what makes the mosque unique?” What I will explain now is the meaning of the uniqueness of the mosque. I want you to understand that before you read any further explanation in this article. In addition, I want us to have the same understanding of the meaning of the uniqueness of the mosque which is the main focus of our discussion today.

If we examine the sentence "uniqueness of the mosque", then we will find two words that we must understand before we interpret the sentence:

Uniqueness

Linguistically, we can understand the word "uniqueness" as a special or special trait or condition. The nature or condition is not owned by something else or someone else. That is the difference between something or someone that is unique and something or someone that is not.

Mosque

In several previous articles I have explained the literal meaning of the mosque and the meaning of the mosque in Islam. I don't want to argue with you guys about that in this article. So, what I mean as a mosque here is a building that is made as a place of prayer as it means in Islam.

So, specifically, I want to say that what is meant by the uniqueness of the mosque in this article is the things that make a mosque special and those features that other mosques don't have. That is what I will make the standard for the uniqueness of the mosque. If you have other opinions about it, please write in the comment’s column!

What Makes the Mosque Unique?

The second important point that I will explain here is the answer to the question “what makes the mosque unique?”. But, even if just to understand the things that make mosques unique, we will be faced with two different tendencies regarding mosques: material tendencies and immaterial tendencies.

What is meant by material tendencies is the preference of some Muslims who prefer to build mosques. They prioritize the luxury of the mosque rather than the activities carried out in the mosque. Meanwhile, what is meant by immaterial tendencies is the preference of some other Muslims who prioritize activities carried out in mosques.

The question is, "How do we understand the uniqueness of the mosque in Islam?".

I don't know how Muslims understand the uniqueness of mosques in Islam. But, for me personally, the uniqueness of the mosque lies in the activities carried out in the mosque. Why? The answer is because the main purpose of building a mosque is to worship Allah. It can be done by praying, reading the Quran, Dhikr, good social activities, and so on. All of that is proof that the Muslims have maximized the function of the mosque. Maximizing the function of the mosque is one proof of the success of the Muslims. We can find this explanation in the Quran below:

إِنَّمَا يَعْمُرُ مَسَاجِدَ اللَّهِ مَنْ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ

Only those who prosper the mosques of Allah are those who believe in Allah and the Last Day. (At-Taubah: 18).

So, specifically, I want to say that the types of activities that are carried out in mosques are the standard of mosque uniqueness. That is what makes the mosque unique.

But the next question is “what kind of activities should be done in one mosque so that the mosque is unique and different from the uniqueness of other mosques?”. This question is a logical question if we understand the word "uniqueness" in the sentence "uniqueness of the mosque" as it means the language.

Of course, we will find it very difficult to make the types of activities in one mosque different from those in other mosques. Why? Because the majority of activities at the mosque are only about praying, reading the Koran, istighfar, salawat, and some other general activities. So, for me personally, the understanding of the uniqueness of the mosque cannot only focus on the different types of activities, but on maximizing the function of the mosque.

So, specifically, I want to say that something that makes a mosque unique is the maximization of the function of the mosque by Muslims.

All readers! That's a brief explanation of "what makes the mosque unique?". Do you understand? If you want to ask, please ask!

I think that's enough for this article. May be useful. Amen.

See you again in the next article.

Akhmad Syafiuddin
Akhmad Syafiuddin An expert in Islamic discourse and law, and a graduate of Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt.

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