السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ
It’s Sunday 22nd November 2020.
My chosen topic today is ‘The Last 10 Days of Lockdown 2’.
Although this message of mine is specifically for the Musalli of Masjid-e-Anīsul Islām on Troy Street in Blackburn, which has been my local Masjid for over 40 years now, the message is applicable to all our readers.
As our second lockdown was about to commence, on Thursday 5th November, our Masjid Shūrā held a Mashwara on the Wednesday, after ‘Ishā, regarding opening and closing of the Masjid during this lockdown. As the government had permitted individual worship, we decided to keep our Masjid open two hours daily, from 1:30pm to 2:30pm and 6:30pm to 7:30pm. One of our most experienced Shūrā members and I took on the responsibility of managing the access. I preferred the afternoon slot.
From the 5th of November until today (22nd November), in these 18 days, I am absolutely ashamed to say that, generally, the same 3 to 4 individuals visit the Masjid for individual worship between 1:30pm to 2:30pm, daily. With hundreds of Muslim families living in the vicinity, where has everyone gone? What’s happened?
Our average Ẓuhr turnout was around 50 during the local Tier 3 lockdown, so how come only 3 or 4 for individual worship? If you are doing your own Jamā’ah at home, come and pray some Qaḍā or Nafl at the Masjid. Come for Zikr. Come for contemplation. Why are we leaving these Houses of Almighty Allāh empty? Has everyone got Covid? Or got the symptoms?
I had the opportunity of visiting the Umayyād Masjid of Córdoba, Spain, on 2 occasions, in 1989 and 2019. With Almighty Allāh as my witness, it seemed to me like the whole Masjid was crying. It seemed as if each and every one of the 856 magnificent pillars, which decorate the Masjid, was in tears.
Coming back to Blackburn, since the 5th of November, I am experiencing the same feelings here in Masjid-e-Anīsul Islām. As we now enter the last 10 days of lockdown, can I make a very humble appeal to each and every mature adult living in the vicinity of our Masjid, who does not have Covid or any symptoms, to come to the Masjid for individual worship every day for the next 10 days?
Bring your mask and Musalla, and please adhere to all Covid guidelines and regulations. اِنْ شَاءَ الَّلهُ, I will be at the Masjid every day from 1:30pm to 2:30pm to welcome you, and also thank you for visiting this beautiful House of Allāh. Please come, I am virtually begging you.
This message also applies to all other readers as well. Find out your Masjid’s opening times for individual worship and visit. Masjid-e-Anīsul Islam is now open from 1:30pm to 7:30pm, اِنْ شَاءَ الَّلهُ, for your convenience.
Almighty Allāh give us all the ability to attend our local Masjids for individual worship, Āmeen.
There are a few messages relating to visiting the Masjids that you can find using the search, or click on the Masjid tag.
جَزَاكََ اللَّهُ خَيْرًا
Request for Du’ās
وَالسَّلَامُ Hanif Dudhwala