It is by no means surprising that the mosque serves as the initial and most significant pillar of Islamic society, given that the community achieves stability and a strengthening of its faith primarily through the inspiration drawn from this sacred space.
The bond of brotherhood and love connecting believers remains rooted in Islamic ethics, yet the spread of this mutual affection can only truly unfold within the walls of the House of God. If citizens did not assemble daily and repeatedly in mosques—where disparities of wealth and social status are effectively erased—they could never forge a lasting connection of fraternity and harmony. A peaceful and tranquil life would be impossible to imagine, let alone achieve.
Islamic values demand that a spirit of equity and justice prevail among the community, but this cannot manifest unless individuals stand shoulder-to-shoulder every day in prayer before the Almighty. If each person remained isolated at home to perform their devotions and bow before God, society would never witness the triumph of egalitarian principles over selfishness, arrogance, and vanity.
Consequently, it is through these unyielding principles of solidarity and unity that the architecture of the community is shielded from decay and collapse, preserving its ethical and spiritual beauty. This foundation ensures its longevity across eras through the persistence, selflessness, and sacrifice of the faithful dedicated to spreading their mission worldwide. Within these mosques, individuals master their faith, absorbing its three core dimensions: doctrine, jurisprudence, and moral principles. It was precisely to materialize these concepts that the revered Prophet took the initiative to build his mosque.
Regarding the physical reinforcement of mosque structures, scholars widely approve of it, drawing on the consolidation works carried out by the two leaders Umar and Uthman. They also rely on Verse 18 of Chapter At-Tawbah (Repentance), which honors dedicated believers and upright individuals, stating:
“The Mosques of Allah shall be maintained only by those who believe in Allah and the Last Day, establish prayer, pay the religious tax (Zakat), and fear none but Allah. It is they who are expected to be among the rightly guided.”
Naturally, frequenting these spaces presupposes their construction, restoration, and upkeep.
Conversely, regarding elaborate ornamentation and intricate carvings, scholars unanimously view it with disfavor, with some going so far as to forbid it entirely. This is particularly true when it creates stark social contradictions, such as spending fortunes to embellish walls while neighboring populations suffer from malnutrition, ignorance, unemployment, illness, and social vices.
As for inscribing Quranic verses within the Qibla (the direction faced by the leader of prayer), the positions of jurists diverge. Some oppose it, while others permit it based on the actions of the Leader Uthman in the Prophet’s Mosque, which drew no objections from the congregation—the majority of whom were companions of the Prophet.
Echoes of the First Friday Sermon
It is worth noting that during the inaugural Friday prayer, held at the historic Mosque of Piety, the revered Prophet delivered a highly eloquent address filled with love and forgiveness. He urged the congregation toward unity and brotherhood, dismantling historical feuds to build a new society on an unprecedented foundation of justice and exemplary equality.
The address was delivered as follows:
“Praise be to God, I thank Him, seek His help, His forgiveness, and His guidance. I believe in Him and do not deny Him. I stand opposed to whoever rejects Him, and I bear witness that there is no supreme deity but Allah, the Almighty, Unique and Alone, without partner or associate, and that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger, sent with guidance, light, and sound counsel at a time when messengers had ceased, knowledge was scarce, humanity was straying, time was locked, and the Day of Judgment was drawing near. Whoever obeys God and His Messenger finds the right path, and whoever disobeys them stumbles into ruin and the deepest delusion.
I counsel you to maintain mindfulness and good faith toward the Lord, for this is the finest advice one believer can offer another: to remind them of the hereafter and command them toward righteousness, urging them to avoid what the Almighty has forbidden. Mindfulness of the Lord is the ultimate virtue for those seeking reward in the next world. Whoever fosters peace with God secretly and openly, desiring solely His pleasure, will find renown today and a treasure for the future after death. The Almighty is compassionate and merciful to His creation. It is He who declared: ‘The word that comes from Me cannot be changed, and I am not unjust to My servants’ (Chapter Qaf, Verse 29).
Practice righteousness toward the Lord now and in the future, in private and in public. Whoever obeys will have their misdeeds erased and be richly rewarded. Devotion to God averts His displeasure, secures His favor, brightens faces in the hereafter, elevates souls to the loftiest ranks, and guarantees an balanced well-being in this world. Seize your opportunities and never neglect your duties toward the Lord, who taught you His Book and traced His path to distinguish humble devotees from deceivers. Do good, just as He has done good to you. Stand opposed to His adversaries, and strive for the One who chose you and named you Muslims.
There is no power except through God. Maximize your prayers to Him and build for the future. Whoever lives in harmony with the Almighty will be preserved from all evils, for it is He who judges and governs humanity; people cannot govern Him. He possesses all, while none possess Him. God is the Greatest, and there is no power except through Him.”
This blessed address demonstrates that the Messenger of God made absolutely no reference to the treacherous, petty, and harsh treatment he and his companions faced from the pagans of Mecca. He omitted their stubborn attachment to atheism, their assaults on early believers, and the infamous conspiracy plotted to assassinate him. Instead, he limited his speech to inspiring the community toward righteousness, invoking the Almighty, and reminding them to maintain constant prayer. This serves as tangible evidence of the high civility, immense patience, and profound wisdom characterizing the Prophet. A figure of lesser stature would have readily exposed the flaws of his adversaries, given that they were the ones who oppressed him and stood as barriers to the diffusion of his message.
Toward a Fraternity Founded on Conviction
The annual pilgrimage to the Kaaba historically drew Arab populations from every corner of the peninsula to Mecca. The Prophet Muhammad sought to persuade various tribes to grant him sanctuary and allow his reform movement to proceed. The fifteen tribal contingents he approached one after another all refused, with varying degrees of hostility.
Remaining hopeful, he eventually encountered a small group of individuals from Medina. Residing alongside Jewish and Christian communities, these men were familiar with the concepts of prophets and revealed scriptures. They were also aware that the people of previous books anticipated the arrival of a final guide. Eager to embrace this opportunity ahead of others, they immediately embraced the Prophet’s message, promising to find more adherents and crucial backing upon returning to Medina.
The following year, a dozen residents of Medina pledged their loyalty to the Prophet and requested a teacher to guide them. The Prophet promptly appointed his devoted companion Mus’ab to instruct the citizens of Medina in the emerging faith. The efforts of this emissary were crowned with spectacular success. By the next pilgrimage season, he led a contingent of seventy-three new converts back to Mecca. This group invited the Prophet and the Meccan Muslims to migrate to their city, pledging to defend them as they would their own kin.
Following the migration to the sacred city of Medina, a new environment of affection and brotherhood emerged, free from discrimination across different backgrounds. To seamlessly integrate the Meccan emigrants (Muhajireen), the Prophet united them through a formal pact of fraternity with an equal number of Medinese residents (Ansar).
Anyone reflecting on this fraternal alliance between the Muhajireen and the Ansar—which transcends standard human calculations and reflects divine grace—will understand how this community triumphed over numerous adversaries despite limited numbers and scarce resources. The Ansar proved completely dedicated to their migrating brothers, offering their hearts and resources to the cause.