WHAT MUSLIMS DID THEN? WHAT DO WE DO TODAY?

During the glorious days of Islam, the Masjid was alive 24 hours! In some places today, there are those who still practice calling two azans which was actually a tradition brought from the early times of Islam- a call for change of the "guards" or those who would stay in and prosper the Masjid.

So, what was alive in Masjid Nabawi at that time? Ulama said, during the times of Muhammad s.,a.w and the Sahabah r.hum, the Masjid had four main Amaaals: Dakwah, Taklim, Ibadat and Khidmat. It was these Amaals that brought roh and nur of Masjid Nabawi. It was from these four Amaals that Hidayah permeates and Islam flourished. Ulama said the word munawarrah, lights, comes from the roh and nur of the Amaals of this Masjid, not the physical lights!

It was reported that 150 jamaat of dakwah were sent from Masjid Nabawi during that times. It was reported that more than17 ghazwah of dakwah and war were sent and Nabi s.a.w himself joined almost 10 of those ghazwahs! It was from these Amaals that when a kafir entered Madinah, they could see the mahol or environment of Islam. It was from these Amaals that a kafir would embrace Islam just by seeing the akhlak of Muslims. It was from these Amaals and mahol that Islam spreads to two-thirds of the world in a spate of only sixty years!

It was from the Amaals of Dakwah, Taklim, Ibadat and Khidmat in Masjid Nabawi that Rome and Persia, a 700-year old strong, mighty and reputable kingdom and civilization fell to its knees and fall under the feet of the Sahabah! It was from the Amaals of Masjid Nabawi, Baitul Maqdis was surrendered to Umar r.a. The culmination of all these Amaals climaxed when at Haji Wida, after Muhammad s.a.w last sermon, 110000 of the Sahabahs went out in the path of Allah s.w.t spreading the kalimah and Islam to all corners of the world! It was from the Amaals of Masjid Nabawi that we got Islam eventually! What "God" would we be praying to if Sahabah r.hum didn't go out in the path of Allah to do dakwah?

Masjid Nabawi at that time always had Taklim, where every Ayats that was revealed to Jibrail a.s and descended to Muhammad s.a.w were relayed to those in the Masjid! Sahabah r.hum would recite it , memorize it and note it down on leather skins and stones. After that, they would go back to their families and relayed what was revealed! There wasn't any madrasah or Islamic college to preach Islam! Sahabah r.hum just relayed it live, there and then! Sahabahs in the Masjid would also go to the streets and the bazaar to relay it! Slowly and surely, the mahol of deen was in the air! Madinah became a receptive and peaceful city. Ulama said, even today, there is a vast difference between Mekah and Madinah! That was the effect of the Amaals of the Sahabah such that till today, it still permeates!

Also, in Masjid Nabawi at that time, there were ibadat all the time! In Masjid Nabawi then, indeed there were the Ahlul Suffah. Ahlul Suffah were the Muhajirrin, who had sacrificed and left everything in Mekah and had nothing to be with Muhammad s.a.w. Abu Hurairah is one of the Ahlul Suffah! He is one of the great reciters of Hadith. What did these Ahlul Suffah do? Just ibadat! Yes.purely ibadat. They don't have any worldly interest! Can you imagine what would our local caretaker of our Masjid today say if we decided to stay-in at our Mosque and just do ibadat and nothing else? We would be cursed and chased out!

In Masjid Nabawi too calls to serve the "new" Muslims was constantly made. It was to these calls for Khidmat or service that the Ansaris made many sacrifices. They serve the Muhajjirin with whatever they have. It was reported that land, homes, farms and even a well was "donated" to the Muhajjirin and Deen!

Islam during the times of Muhammad s.a.w and the Sahabah was a success story. It was carved in stone in the annals of history. The key ingredient of the success was the Amaals in Masjid Nabawi at that time-Dakwah, Taklim, Ibadat and Khidmat!

Today, Muslims wants the same glory as what their descendants attained but Masjid (mosques) everywhere is dead, silent and empty. In many Muslim communties, effort to revive the Masjid to the status, roh and nur of Masjid Nabawi during the times of Muhammad s.a.w was not done! Masjid is not a focal point in the development of the mahol for Deen to permeate.

May Allah s.w.t teach the Muslims to revive their Masjids everywhere so that the rahmat, baraqah, sakinah and forgiveness of Allah s.w.t descends and touch this ummat of Muhammad s.a.w. as what had happened in Masjid Nabawi during Islam glorious days!