THE one-year-old Al-Islah Mosque in Punggol, which has already built close ties with neighbouring institutions and residents, embodies ways in which places of worship can help create a more resilient society in these trying times. While the primary purpose of a religious institution is to serve followers, reaching out to the wider community shows the value it places on face-to-face relations. Al-Islah demonstrates this by partnering nearby schools to distribute food to poor families in the neighbourhood. It also opens its doors to others for free guided tours of its premises. Steps like these help to dispel misconceptions of what mainstream Islam stands for. This is especially important given the way some extremist organisations have taken the religion’s name in vain to cloak their dastardly attacks in a semblance of piety.
The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore notes that the mosque stands as “an important bulwark of Muslim identity and community integrity” in Singapore, where Muslims constitute a minority living in a society undergoing far-reaching changes. Community-friendly initiatives that benefit both Muslims and non-Muslims, such as blood donation drives and assistance to low-income families, help to integrate mosques into the wider life of the nation.
Masjid Al-Islah, Kampong Punjol, Singapore
Mosques are not just the focus of religious activities – although that is an essential function – but must act as centres of social development, too. It is in that spirit that they embrace their social calling in a secular state. Muslims, like followers of other religions in Singapore, are reassured that their religious obligations are respected. Simultaneously, they must acknowledge that no community of believers exists in a vacuum, but as part of a larger whole.
This is where Singapore’s model of religious harmony differs from practices in countries that dichotomise religion and public life to the extent that one becomes an affront to the other. Here, religion is accepted as a legitimate influence on social outcomes so long as no faith claims the right to influence these exclusively. Overlapping spheres of belief are anchored in a national centre. A national consensus has emerged on this policy, which treats all religious communities equally. It will be tested from time to time. Insistent foreign influences, travelling via the Internet, do and will make their way into Singapore. Having no stake in Singapore’s common religious and racial future, these groups have no qualms in dividing people. So that they do not lead impressionable minds astray, it is essential for Singapore to curb such influences with its local resources.
In their very co-existence, mosques and other places of worship show that Singaporeans are capable of not just living with religious diversity but also of thriving on it.
The Straits Times
Wednesday, 6 July 2016
Muslims performing prayer and reading al-Quran at Masjid Al-islah in Kampung Punjol, Singapore.
AS THE call to prayer rang out across the Indonesian capital, Sutikno faced a dilemma — the devout Muslim needed to set off through Jakarta’s notorious traffic to pick up his wife but did not want to miss out on worshipping.
However, for him and others juggling the demands of hectic, 21st century life and piety in the crowded capital of the world’s most populous Muslim-majority country, a solution has just pulled up.
The “mosque-mobile” started cruising through Jakarta in June as the Islamic holy month of Ramadhan drew to a close, aiming to ensure Muslims did not miss out on prayers by setting up in busy places, such as near festivals and sports events.
Sutikno, a middle-aged office worker who like many Indonesians goes by one name, came across the van parked between a sports stadium and shopping malls, and it proved a godsend.
“I was supposed to go to a mosque that is quite far away but then I saw this one,” he told AFP.
“I just parked my car and performed my prayers here. I can save time and go and pick up my wife faster.”
The green and white van has been specially adapted to become a mobile place of worship. At prayer time, the sides of the vehicle open up and a small stage is extended, from which the imam preaches.
Prayer rugs are rolled out in front of the van, with space for up to 100 people, and a handful can worship inside the vehicle. It also provides special robes for women and a tank of water for the faithful to ritually cleanse themselves before praying.
The mosque started operating in Jakarta with a team of four in the final week of Ramadhan, a month of fasting and piety, but plans to continue afterwards.
The van offers its services between 3pm and 7pm for two prayer sessions, at a time traffic is bad as millions flood out of downtown areas and head back to satellite cities. Muslims are supposed to pray five times a day.
During Ramadhan, the crew running the Jakarta “mosque-mobile” also serve snacks to people stuck in gridlock when it is time to break their fast.
The van is run by the Archipelago Mosque Foundation, an organisation that sets up and maintains mosques, with funding provided by Adira Sharia, a group that provides Islamic-compliant financing for motor vehicles.
“We were concerned that there was a lack of places of worship at crowded spots such as music concerts, festivals and football games. Sometimes people intend to pray, but because there are no facilities, they skip it,” said Hamzah Fatdri, director of the mosque foundation.
The Jakarta mosque-on-wheels has hit the streets after the foundation launched a mobile place of worship in the city of Bandung, southeast of the capital on the main island of Java.
The Bandung mosque proved a success, offering prayer sessions at 50 different locations in its first year of operation, and the foundation hopes the van in the capital — which is slightly larger than the Bandung model — can do even better.
Indonesia is already home to some 800,000 mosques, including a large number in Jakarta and other major cities.
But with many people stuck in gridlock at prayer time — particularly during Ramadhan — and ad hoc festivals and sports events typically failing to provide facilities for praying, the foundation believes the “mobile-mosque” will be a great help.
It is the latest innovation to offer relief to residents of Indonesia’s booming but overcrowded, traffic-choked cities, where hundreds of new vehicles are hitting the roads every day as the middle class rapidly expands due to strong economic growth.
Motorbike taxi-hailing apps that whisk passengers quickly through the gridlock have been a chief beneficiary, and have expanded their businesses into other areas such as food delivery and courier services.
Still, some worshippers were not immediately taken by the mosque-on-wheels.
“Maybe because this was a new experience, I felt a bit awkward and embarrassed to pray in an open, public space,” student Mahtashal Harbi said after worshipping for the first time at the Jakarta van.
AFTER I read the article of the tragedy with the title “Coming Mahdi, Mahdi Dead” in the magazine Muttaqin No. 12 Year XI in December 1979, where it was said that 4 of the 7 towers of Masjid al-Haram finally torn down, but unfortunately the article was not explained when, what’s the day, or the date when the towers were torn down.
To my knowledge until the 5th day of the tragedy of the Masjid al-Haram or until Saturday, 24 November, the towers were still standing upright. Only almost all parts of the towers there were patches of black scorch marks caused by explosions of Bazooka bullets, or chipped-chipped as a result of a bullet fired from a 12.7 tanks of the Askar.
Keep in mind, although the vandals were able to survive 15 days in the Masjid al-Haram, but practically since the 4th day, or Friday, November 23, 1979, they only survived in the underground part of the Grand Mosque, to surrender, December 4 1979. For since Thursday, November 22, 1979 at noon, the entire upper part of the mosque has been controlled by the royal army, after all the towers where they were highly strategic defense was struck out by tanks with a bazooka and 12.7.
Of course we so surprised, why the towers were remain upright even though showered with the bullets of Bazooka that can blast shook and broke the windows of buildings around the mosque. Because, in addition to construction of the tower was indeed strong and sturdy stone coated by marble, also the bullets of Bazooka which were fired not metal, but plastics.
Because they had fled and survived in the basement of the mosque, then since Saturday, November 24, 1979, attacks with heavy weapons are no longer directed to the upper part of the mosque, but transferred to the lower part of the mosque.
Further follow my diary, during the first 6 days of the tragedy of Haram below:
Tuesday, 20 November 1979
This morning, I was with my friend, Br. Moch H.Mansyur Shawwal (late) of Dampit Malang, to perform Fajr (Subuh) prayer in the Masjid al-Haram, while the women of our party could not come to the mosque because oversleep. Even some of them there is an upset stomach.
Approximately 2 minutes before the Fajr prayer ended, on my left side a lot of people running toward the Ka’bah. After saying the greetings as a mark to close the prayer, around the Ka’bah was sounded bitter dispute. Maybe the new people who came in with less warrior guards the Ka’bah. This dispute was ended by the dawn prayers echoed around the Ka’bah, repeatedly. It’s interspersed with the sound of automatic gunfire. By hearing the sound of gunfire was known only people who pray around the Ka’bah on running toward the mosque terraces.
Wird have not had time, in my heart saying: “… Why are you there was a shot in the Haram? … What is it?” I’m down near the Ka’bah. I saw they catched Imam who led Fajr prayers. On the next day I heard that they killed the Imam on Tuesday it well: “Innalillahi wa inna ilaihi roji’un.” I kept walking towards the Ka’bah, by not considering the deafening sound of gunfire from all corners of the mosque. They’re still flowing toward the Ka’bah – there they obtained weapons. Around the Kaaba they chanted that I did not understand what he meant, as he held the gun. His white, stout, plainclothes (robe) red turban, belts of ammunition, weapons made in Russia: TRD, AKA, dn pistol knife or sword Arab Emirates typical. Some of them stormed into all parts of the mosque. The whole warriors in the mosque were arrested. Against shot.
They asked the pilgrims that still exist around the Kaaba follow them bertakbir. They asked the congregation to pray. They led him. They told the congregation sits. Finally, they asked the congregation listened to the speech ‘leader’ them from above sanctuary Fajr Prayers Imam earlier. Long-winded speech. They alternately. Some use the text, there is not. Of course I did not understand what they gembar rant. Because the shots could still be heard from the surrounding mosques. I want to know how the situation outside the mosque. But, … Astaghfirullah. All the doors of the mosque were closed. A remarkable thing. According to the statement, the mosque was never closed the whole time. To the extent that people are saying, Haram ‘not leaved the door.’ I can not get to the outside. I try to visit out of the window. But the window was too high. I tried to rise to the level one. Here, the situation is more tense. Quiet. Some of them patrolling with guns at the ready. I do not ignore them and continue to climb up to the top level Sa’i. From the window at the top level, I see the situation outside the mosque. Mediocre. Everything is running normally this morning. Those who patrol approached me, and asked me to go down, because it is very dangerous above. Moreover, the visit to the outside through the window. Because the Askar had surrounded the mosque.
I went down and sat down with the crowd while speculating … what happened? 07.00 breaking the flow of electricity, they do not dapatb continued his speech. 07.30 worshipers allowed Tawaf. 08.00 No person who offered a meal to me. “… Tuanmau eat? If you are willing to eat, come with me … “I told my friend:” Well, it seems we have really become prisoners. The proof we will diransum. Let us join him … ”
We follow ‘him’ up in the basement. Furthermore, we are told to follow other people running in this dark tunnel. Walking in this dark place, apparently my friend a little shock. “How do we want mmakan in this dark place?” he muttered. I replied: “Do not worry. What will we eat of the bread Arabic. Although the dark certainly looks as big …” It turns out that what is said ‘eat’ it is ‘a way out’. Us out through the basement. Outside, Askar block mosque. Chained the doors of the mosque from the outside. Helicopter circling above the mosque.
10.30 Gunshots began again. Out of nowhere. Given these gunshots, people Tawaf around the Ka’bah began to decrease. Gunshots increasingly crowded. 11:00 people who performing tawaf in the mosque has not seen again. Quiet. Shops around the mosque on the cap. Traffic around the mosque was stopped. People clustered around the mosque was also in retreat, go to their respective places. Starting at 15:30 there was a shoot-out that is very exciting and continues until 23:30 hours.
Wednesday, 21 November 1979
The shots began to aggressively again around 04.00 resulting in a fire at a storey building in front of Babul Malik. Fire engulfed the building finished. Belim fire until the afternoon can be controlled completely. 08.00 came directly operated tank reinforcements with his 12.7 shots directed to the mosque. 09.00 2 jet fighters came crossed the city several times. But they did not operate.
16:00 attacks of enhanced warriors. Askar tanks firing bullets were directed to the large size of the minarets. Great explosions shook buildings around the mosque. Seven towers, all had one. These towers still standing. Because instead of bullets fired metal, but plastic. This bullet when when not on target, will be turned off when it reaches its culmination point. Attacks on the towers lasted far into the night. Towards morning, dating troops armored tanks.
Thursday, 22 November 1979
Before Fajr, I woke up. Startled by the sound of a huge explosion streak. Attacks against the tower resumed. Massive attack lasted until 1300 hrs where warriors can break into the top of the mosque through Marwah. Furthermore, attacks are no longer focused to the top of the mosque. Because, at the top of this can already be controlled by warriors. The next cleanup is directed to the center or the underground mosque.
Friday. November 23, 1979
This morning came straight red berets troops and dressed in bulletproof. This forces directly to the theater of operations. Then there was heavy fighting in the holy mosque and strategic. Gunshots in the mosque sound like wind. Great rumble. Interspersed with the loud bang like thunder. Maghrib close battle subsided. Closing Isyak, some warriors milling cars with loudspeakers echoing an announcement. I thought ‘surely Askar announces his victory’. Once I asked the people there, it turns out the contents of the announcement is ‘curfew in Mecca.’
Saturday, 24 November 1979
This morning the streets of Mecca were still quiet because of curfew went into effect, Medium battle inside the mosque still continued throughout the night and this morning. 13:45 hours trucks dipaprkir in areas Suqullail pulled slightly away from the mosque. The tanks advanced closer to supporting the fighting in the basement of the mosque. Fierce fighting was closed by two powerful explosions that boomed and broke the windows that surround the mosque. There was a small fire in the mosque, about Babussalam. It happened around 16:00. 18.00 fire can be mastered after brought in no less than six units of fire brigade.
Saturday, 25 November 1979
I left Mecca for Medina with towers still standing on Haram mosque entirely.
AT least 153 victims of conflict that occurred in Karubaga Village, Tolikara District, Papua, were evacuated to several tents set up at the Karubaga Military Headquarter on Saturday.
The people had lost their houses and stores after being burnt by a group of people during an Idul Fitri prayer on Friday.
The Papua Regional Police chief, Inspector General Yotje Mende, said the victims needed assistance, particularly clothes, since their belongings had all been razed by the fire.
“We are still waiting for complete data from the Tolikara police relating to the gender and age of the victims. The officers are collecting the data,” Mende said here.
According to a report from Tolikara Regent Usman Wanimbo, GIDI (Communion of Evangelical Churches in Indonesia) President Dorman Wandikbo and Papua Military Chief Major General Fransen Siahaan, at least 53 stores which were also used as houses had been burnt and the fire later spread to a mosque near the stores.
Dorman and Mende stated people did not burn the mosque. However, because the mosque and the stores were located closely the fire later engulfed the mosque.
Security officers from police Mobile Brigade (Brimob) and the Indonesian Army have arrived in the district.
Mende said the additional troops are needed due to a lack of Tolikara Police personnel stationed in the district who only number 100.
IMAMS have called on congregants to find time to perform their obligatory prayers at mosques and prayer halls to promote a strong Muslim community.
The Friday sermon said Muslims should make use of the available places of worship to perform their daily prayers in a group instead of praying individually.
“In our country, many grand mosques have been built and made comfortable for the Muslim ummah (community) to enable them to pray. So let us all flock to the mosques and perform our fardhu (obligatory) prayers together,” said imams.
“Time and again we have seen for ourselves how people would crowd the mosques in large numbers to perform their Friday prayers or Aidil Fitri prayers,” it added.
Imams hoped the same large crowds could be seen at mosques when performing the daily prayers.
The sermon said Muslims would not lose anything when setting aside some time to pray collectively at the mosque.
“Let us join hands together and pray that we remain consistent in our worship towards Allah SWT so as to become His servants who are faithful and loved.”
The sermon also touched on the benefits of performing prayers together, including manifold rewards as opposed to those who pray alone.
Another benefit is that those who prayed collectively will be forgiven by Allah SWT for their sins. “They will reap the rewards similar to those who have performed the Haj.”
Imams went on to say that those waiting in the prayer hall to offer prayers together are regarded as having already performed the prayer itself.
The sermon added that the rewards for those who perform their obligatory prayers in a group will multiply according to the increase in number of people who join the prayers.
The sermon also touched on fardhu kifayah (collective duty), which meant that if a group of Muslims in the area carries out the congregational prayers in the mosque, the rest of the community will not be obliged to perform it, and will not be deemed sinful for doing so.
“On the other hand, if there is no one in the said area or village who performed the prayer in congregation, then the entire community would have to shoulder the consequences of having committed a grave sin,” imams said.
IT WAS really heartening to see a Bruneian youth performing a prayer humbly and serenely at the Jame’ ‘Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque recently. What was even more special about this young man was that he was promoting Solat and calling on others to perform prayers as his shirt had the words “Jom Solat!” printed on the back.
It’s not every day that we can find someone, especially a youth, who is proud to be an obedient and practising slave of Allah — proud of Islam and proud to be Muslim. More importantly, it reminds others not to forget and to immediately establish prayers.
It was also encouraging to read a story a few days ago about youths being enthusiastic about taking part in an extra-curricular activity held by a mosque youth association. To the organiser’s surprise, there were 300 youths applying for the three-day programme, while they were only able to accommodate 81 participants.
“It was a bit of a surprise to us, especially being the school holidays; I actually expected people to travel overseas, but the participation was beyond our expectations. All we did was stick posters at the mosque and use social media to advertise the camp,” said one of the coordinators.
Indeed, it’s not easy to get people, especially youths, to have their hearts and minds attached to the House of Allah. We are pleased to see our youths always try their best to stay close to the mosque, which Prophet Muhammad (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) made not only as a place for prayers but also a place for socialization, a place for da’wah, a place for celebration, a place for meetings and deliberation, a place for medical care, and a place for education.
InsyaAllah, by the grace of Allah subhanhu wa ta’ala, by having their hearts and minds attached to the mosque, our youth will also love performing prayers in congregation, doing i’tikaf, reading and learning the Quran, etc.
The youths, aged between 16 and 21, took part in hands-on activities designed and conducted to ensure that all participants truly understood aspects of the Quran and Islam such as their iman (faith) along with mass prayers, qiyamullail (tahajjud or night prayers), Quran recitals and motivational talks by invited guest speakers.
True to its name “Ash-Shaliheen Camp”, the activity was aimed at helping the youths become “righteous people”. The association said it wants to conduct the camp on an annual basis in the hope of helping achieve the objective of shaping the future generation to become righteous leaders and active in promoting and working to achieve the vision of a “Negara Zikir”.
Themed “Ini Pilihanku” (“This is my choice”), the objective of the camp was to instill an ardent love and pleasure in doing religious activities and fulfilling religious responsibilities and a higher sense of obedience towards Allah subhanhu wa ta’ala, the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe.
All of this hopefully will help transform them into a better Muslim generation who will never abandon their solat. Solat is the most important pillar of Islam. It was in fact the first religious duty prescribed on every single prophet from Adam to Muhammad, second only to testifying to the Oneness of Allah. Allah says: “Solat, indeed, is a duty enjoined upon the faithful at the appointed times.” (An-Nisa’: 103). The Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sllam) further narrates in a hadith Qudsi: “Allah said: ‘The covenant between Us and them is Solat; so whoever establishes it, establishes religion; whoever undermines it, undermines religion’.”
Prayer is an act of worship. As with all acts of worship, it is an act of obedience, an act of reverence, an act of surrender and an act of submission. In fact, the dignity of a believer is in their absolute submission to their Creator and no one else.
God does not need our worship; it is we who need Him. Prayer is – or should be – of benefit to us.
Prayer helps people avoid profanity and sins and helps uproot evil from their souls. Prayers must be performed with complete khushu’ (concentration) and recited with sincerity to Almighty Allah. However, if someone does not have khushu’ during their prayers, their prayers will not be invalidated, although their reward will be reduced. Hence, Muslims should try their best to avoid any distractions as much as they can during their prayers and focus their concentration.
Performing the prayer is a command of Allah. Prayer is not an option; it is obligatory. It is not once or a few times a week but must be performed five times a day. All the Prophets of Almighty Allah merely told their people to pray; Islam, however, made it a very essential part of religion.
In prayer, Muslims stand together without any distinction between race, colour, financial status or political position. Those who perform prayers in congregation regularly do learn the concepts of equality, solidarity and brotherhood. Prayer in congregation is performed behind an imam whom everyone has to follow. This teaches them discipline, order and organisation. Moreover, if the imam makes any mistake, any person can correct him. Indeed, this is a clear sign of democracy.
Let us pray regularly and in the best way so that the benefits and beauty of prayer may reflect in our lives. May Allah shower us all with His mercy and help us to remain steadfast in His religion. Aamiin
The Brunei Times/Editorial
Friday, December 12, 2014
Bruneian youths attending a masjid camp programme. Photo: BT
IT has served as the exalted seat of two faiths since its vast dome and lustrous gold mosaics first levitated above Istanbul in the 6th Century: Christendom’s greatest cathedral for 900 years and one of Islam’s greatest mosques for another 500.
Today, the Hagia Sophia, or Ayasofya in Turkish, is officially a museum: Turkey’s most-visited monument, whose formally neutral status symbolises the secular nature of the modern Turkish state.
But tens of thousands of Muslim worshippers gathering there on Saturday hope it will again be a mosque, a dream they believe Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan can fulfil.
There are even rumours – denied by the government – that Erdogan, a religious conservative who is seeking the presidency at an election in August, could lead prayers there one day soon.
“This is a serious push to break Ayasofya’s chains,” said Salih Turan, head of the Anatolia Youth Association, which has collected 15 million signatures to petition for it to be turned back into a mosque.
“Ayasofya is a symbol for the Islamic world and the symbol of Istanbul’s conquest. Without it, the conquest is incomplete, we have failed to honour Sultan Mehmet’s trust,” he said, citing a 15th Century deed signed by the conquering Caliph and decrying as sin other uses of Hagia Sophia.
Built in 537 by Byzantine Emperor Justinian whose rule stretched from Spain to the Middle East, Hagia Sophia – meaning “Divine Wisdom” in Greek – was unrivalled in the Christian world until Ottoman Sultan Mehmet II conquered the city in 1453 and turned it into a mosque. Modern Turkey’s founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk decreed it a museum in 1934.
Now, renewed interest in praying at Hagia Sophia taps into a burgeoning sense of Islamic identity that Erdogan has encouraged during a decade as Turkey’s dominant politician.
For most of the 20th Century, Western-oriented Turks scorned the imperial past. But Erdogan has promoted celebration of the Turkish conquest that turned Constantinople into Istanbul.
“Conquest is the removal of shackles on doors and in hearts,” he said on Thursday to mark the 561st anniversary of the Byzantine defeat. “Civilisation comes with conquest.”
A 2012 film depicting the Muslim takeover of the Byzantine capital, “Conquest 1453”, attracted an audience of millions. So has the museum’s “Panorama 1453” exhibition, which recreates the event in vivid detail.
Ibrahim Kalin, a senior Erdogan adviser, said there were no plans to alter the monument’s current status.
“Speculation on changing it into a church or a mosque remains speculation. Hagia Sophia has been open to all visitors from Turkey and around the world and will remain so,” he said.
Last year, Erdogan said he would not consider changing Hagia Sophia’s status as long as another great Istanbul house of worship, the 17th Century Sultan Ahmed Mosque, remains mostly empty of worshippers. Istanbul boasts more than 3,000 mosques.
But many pious Turks believe turning Hagia Sophia into a museum denigrated the memory of Sultan Mehmet, who strode into the ransacked cathedral to pray at its altar.
CALL TO PRAY
Calls for Hagia Sophia to be restored as a mosque have circulated before but were largely marginal until two years ago, when thousands of worshippers prayed at the monunment. Since then, Turkey’s chief mufti has recruited Istanbul’s most gifted muezzins to read the call to prayer from a sanctuary on its grounds, transmited through speakers on its brick-clad minaret.
The Koranic verses from Hagia Sophia create a soaring call and response with those read from across manicured gardens from the Sultan Ahmed Mosque.
In what was widely taken as a hint, Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc stood outside Hagia Sophia in November and said he “prayed to God it would soon be smiling again,” then cited a law forbidding houses of worship to be used for other purposes.
A vigorous social-media campaign followed. This month, an independent lawmaker proposed a law to allow Muslim prayer.
A pledge to make Hagia Sophia a mosque may draw some disaffected nationalist and religious voters back to Erdogan in the presidential vote after a year of anti-government protests and a corruption scandal, said Sahin Alpay, a professor of political science at Bahcesehir University and a columnist for the Zaman daily. But he argued it would not be worth the price.
“It would strengthen the mutual suspicion and polarisation between the West and the Muslim world,” Alpay said. “All hell breaking loose is a high price to pay.”
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, a bi-partisan advisory panel set up by Congress, said in a statement last week that such a move would threaten Turkey’s international standing and recall its mistreatment of Christians over the last century.
“Whether driven by political considerations tied to Turkey’s forthcoming elections, or for any other reason, opening Hagia Sophia as a mosque would clearly be a divisive and provocative move,” it said, calling on Erdogan to affirm its current status.
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, spiritual leader of 300 million Orthodox Christians worldwide, has called for Hagia Sophia to stay a museum.
“If its status is to change and it will be opened anew as a place of worship, then it cannot be forgotten that it was built to be a church, and that requires it be opened as a church again,” Bartholomew told Agos newspaper on Thursday.
Bartholomew’s seat remains in Istanbul, a vestige of the Byzantine Empire, even as his flock in Turkey has dwindled to less than 3,000 among a population of 75 million Muslims. Decades of violence and economic and political pressure forced most Christians to leave after the Republic was founded in 1923.
Turkish scholars and others have gathered just 1,000 or so signatures to petition against a change in Hagia Sophia’s status.
BULLDOZING HISTORY
Hagia Sophia attracted 3.3 million visitors in 2012 and is the crown jewel among Istanbul sites on Unesco’s World Heritage List. The U.N. cultural agency has sought clarification from the government on Hagia Sophia’s status and would consider whether a change undermines its value, said spokeswoman Petya Totcharova.
Archaeologists have long complained that relics of the Byzantine era get short shrift, pointing to a lack of a museum dedicated to the empire in the capital from where it ruled over the eastern Mediterranean for 1,200 years.
They say a building boom is bulldozing the pre-Islamic history of a city that was already 1,000 years old when Constantine I gave it his name and proclaimed it capital of the Roman Empire in 330 AD.
Reverting Hagia Sophia to a mosque “would demonstrate … we are privileging and emphasising one historical layer of the monument and not its various layers,” said Alessandra Ricci, a historian of the Byzantine period at Koc University in Istanbul.
“It is like sitting in front of a loom and weaving a carpet. If you turn it into a mosque, you lose the pattern. It’s not the whole story,” she said.
The seemingly weightless dome of Hagia Sophia still serves as the blueprint for Turkish mosques, as it did throughout the Ottoman centuries, said Edhem Eldem, history professor at Bogazici University.
Many Orthodox Christians were never reconciled to the loss of their cathedral. But its transformation into a museum “eased the pain, it removed a thorn,” said Mihail Vasiliadis, editor of Istanbul’s Greek newspaper Apoyevmatini.
“It may be an imperfect fix, but without it, people will no longer come to Istanbul to see where civilisations meet.”
In 2010, Greek Americans aborted plans to pray at Hagia Sophia after Turkish authorities threatened to block their entry into the country.
SISTER CHURCHES
In a possible omen for Hagia Sophia, two other churches that share its name and served as museums have re-opened as mosques.
In the Black Sea town of Trabzon, the 13th Century Hagia Sophia’s celestial frescoes were obscured with blinds to avoid offending Muslims when the space became a mosque last year.
In the walled city of Iznik, or ancient Nicaea where Christianity’s central Nicene Creed was adopted, authorities reverted a museum called Hagia Sophia to a mosque in 2011.
Like its Istanbul namesake, it was built in the 6th Century under Justinian, converted to a mosque under the Ottomans and became a museum in the 20th Century.
Today, Iznik is a dusty farm town where tractors rumble past a poorly kept 2,000-year-old Roman amphitheatre and goats feed among the pillars of an all-but-vanished 8th Century church burned down during Turkey’s war with Greece in 1922.
Since the conversion, business has taken a hit as Christian pilgrims skip Iznik, a hotel owner said on condition his name was not used. “We are not reconciled with our past, and so we try to eliminate the traces,” he said. “That’s when we lose.”
Foreword:
To write scientific explanation on the Event of Miraj is a difficult and a complicated task due to its miraculous aspect. The Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is our beloved Holy Prophet and a beloved of Allah. Therefore, before writing anything about the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), we must keep in mind the high rank dignity and glory of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). We must consider the highly praising about his (peace be upon him) sacred personality as described in the Holy Qur’an and Islamic books. If I make any mistake, fluctuate or If I fail to describe the Event of Miraj in best possible required manner then may Allah forgive me, and give me the true and right knowledge, by which I can write the entire contents of the Event of Miraj in the most suitable and respectful words.
Introduction:
The Event of Miraj (ascension of the Holy Prophet to the heaven) is a miracle of the beloved Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). During the journey of Miraj, he (peace be upon him) travelled the entire universe, he (peace be upon him) met to the glorious Allah, and he (peace be upon him) also observed to the heaven and the hell, he (peace be upon him) also met to all the Holy Prophets and all the Holy Messengers. Non-Muslims disbelieved and disagreed on the fact of Event of Miraj. Many times non-Muslims raised a question that how could it was possible for the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to travel entire universe in a very short duration of time? In that era when this event occurred, it was very difficult to understand it, or to convince non-Muslims. Now today it is possible to prove the fact of the Event of Miraj in the light of Modern Physics and universally accepted
Special Theory of Relativity.
The Special Theory of Relativity is one of the greatest theories proposed by Albert Einstein in 1905. This theory has a variety of surprising consequences that are unacceptable by human intellect and seem to violate common sense. The details about this theory are written below. In the early period of this theory it was so difficult for a common person to understand it because there was no observatory evidence or proof. Event of Miraj is also an observatory proof for the Special Theory of Relativity. The interesting point is that Event of Miraj occurred in 622 A.D. while Albert Einstein proposed his theory in 1905. I think it might be possible that Albert Einstein developed his idea about Special Theory of Relativity by the reference of the Event of Miraj. Furthermore, Albert Einstein proposed his General Theory of Relativity in 1917. The scientists consider that the “General Theory of Relativity” is the best theory of all times and that is the reason due to which scientists consider Albert Einstein “The Genius”. Here, I have a question in my mind that why did Albert Einstein propose the Special Theory of Relativity before the General Theory of Relativity? Alternatively, why did Albert Einstein take 12 years to propose General Theory of Relativity? I think may be Albert Einstein knew about the Event of Miraj, and Albert Einstein developed the basic idea of Special Theory of Relativity from the Event of Miraj. After the Special Theory of Relativity, Albert Einstein deeply researched 12 years and finally Albert Einstein proposed the General Theory of Relativity, which is the greatest theory of all times yet.
History, Description and Details:
History, Description and Details of both “Event of Miraj” and “Special Theory of Relativity is discussed one by one below, and in the last of this article, I have written the Scientific Explanation of the Event of Miraj by the comparison of Special Theory of Relativity and the Event of Miraj.
1. History and Short Description of the Event of Miraj.
2. History and Short Details of the Special Theory of Relativity.
1. History and Short Description of the Event of Miraj History:
In 622 A.D. on the midnight of Monday, 27th Rajab (Rajab is the 7th month in Islamic Calendar); the beloved Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) travelled the entire Universe and met to the glorious Allah, this event is called the Event of Miraj.
Short Description:
Note: What Happened in the event of Miraj? The short description is written below as it is described in the famous books of Hadiths “sayings of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)” namely “Sahih Bukhari”, “Sahih Muslim” and other Islamic books.
On the midnight of Monday 27th Rajab, the beloved Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was resting. The famous angel Gabriel (a.s) came to the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and brought Buraq (the horse-like animal). Buraq means electric and its travelling speed is equal or more than the speed of light. Angel Gabriel (a.s) awoke the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and told him (peace be upon him) the message of Allah. Angel Gabriel (a.s) split (tore) the blessed chest (sacred chest) of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Angel Gabriel (a.s) washed the blessed heart of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) by Aab-e-Zamzam (sanctified water that is in the “Mecca” a city in Saudi Arabia) and angel Gabriel (a.s) also filled the blessed body of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) with wisdom (mystery) and splendour (special light “Noor”). The Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) bathed with Hozz-e-Kosar (a holy water which is in the heaven). Buraq can travel a very huge distance within an instant. Angel Gabriel (a.s) handled the bridle of Buraq. Angel Isra’feel (a.s) and other angels followed them. In the galaxy of angels the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) started the journey with the highly dignity (glory). Riding (Buraq) reached to the Bait-ul-Muqaddas (Jerusalem the holy place in Palestine) in a very short time.
In the Bait-ul-Muqaddas, all the Holy Prophets and angels prayed “Namaaz” within the leadership of the beloved Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
After the prayer the Holy Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) started the journey towards the sky, by the same riding (Buraq) and the same speed. Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) reached to the first sky where father of all humans Hazrat Adam (a.s) welcomed him (peace be upon him). On the second sky Hazrat Yahya (a.s) “John (peace be upon him)” and Hazrat Eessa (a.s) “Jesus Christ (peace be upon him)” welcomed Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). On the third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh sky, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) met to all the Holy Prophets namely Hazrat Yousuf (a.s) “Joseph (peace be upon him)”, Hazrat Idris (a.s) “Enoch (peace be upon him)”, Hazrat Haroon (a.s) “Aaron (peace be upon him)”, Hazrat Moosa (a.s) “Moses (peace be upon him)”, and Hazrat Ibrahim (a.s) “Abraham (peace be upon him)” respectively. After the seventh sky, the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and angel Gabriel (a.s) reached to the place called Sidrat-ul-Muntaha, where angel Gabriel (a.s) had no permission to move further. After that place the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) kept continue the journey without Buraq and angel Gabriel (a.s). What happened next to that place no body knows, even the Holy Qur’an did not disclose that secret. Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was honoured to meet with Allah. Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) did conversation with Allah. The beloved Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) also visited the gardens and other places of heaven and hell. After that journey when the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) came back to the room, the blessed bed was still warm and the chain of the door was still oscillating as he (peace be upon him) left the room before going to journey.
Full details about the event of Miraj can be studied from the other books Hadith and Islamic books.
2. History and Short Details of the Special Theory of Relativity
History:
Albert Einstein proposed the Special Theory of Relativity in 1905 in his article “On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies”.
Short Details of the Special Theory of Relativity:
a). Postulates:
3. First postulate – Special Principle of Relativity-The laws of physics are the same in all inertial frames of reference. In other words, there are no privileged inertial frames of reference.
4. Second postulate – Invariance of c – The speed of light in a vacuum is a universal constant, c, which is independent of the motion of the light source.
b). Consequences:
Time dilation – the time lapse between two events is not invariant from one observer to another, but is dependent on the relative speeds of the observers’ reference frames.
Relativity of simultaneity – two events happening in two different locations that occur simultaneously to one observer, may occur at different times to another observer.
Lorentz contraction – the dimensions (e.g., length) of an object as measured by one observer may be smaller than the results of measurements of the same object made by another observer.
Composition of velocities – velocities (and speeds) do not simply ‘add’, for example if a rocket is moving at ⅔ the speed of light relative to an observer, and the rocket fires a missile at ⅔ of the speed of light relative to the rocket, the missile does not exceed the speed of light relative to the observer. (In this example, the observer would see the missile travel with a speed of 12/13 the speed of light.)
Inertia and momentum – as an object’s velocity approaches the speed of light from an observer’s point of view, its mass appears to increase thereby making it more and more difficult to accelerate it from within the observer’s frame of reference.
Equivalence of mass and energy, E = mc² – the total energy content of an object with mass m equals mc2 in its rest frame. Conservation of energy implies that in any reaction a decrease of the sum of the masses of particles must be accompanied by an increase in kinetic and potential energies of the particles after the reaction. Similarly, the mass of an object can be increased by taking in kinetic and potential energies.
Scientific Explanation for the Event of Mi’raj The question (doubt) that was raised in the early era regarding the Event of Miraj is written below.
How could it was possible for the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to travel the entire universe in a very short duration of time?
Since the Special Theory of Relativity has a variety of surprising consequences that seems to violate common sense. A very common question regarding the Special Theory of Relativity that appears in the mind of students is written below.
How we will verify the consequences of Einstein’s Special Theory of Relativity, if no body can travels with the speed of light?
The most important question regarding the Event of Miraj, which was under debate is that Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) travelled the entire universe and when he (peace be upon him) returned back to the room from where he (peace be upon him) started the journey of Miraj, the chain of the door was still at the same position where it was oscillating previously. It was impossible to understand that he (peace be upon him) travelled the entire universe but on the earth very short duration of time passed or time stopped.
According to Special Theory of Relativity if a body travels with the velocity of light then Time Dilation and Relativity of Simultaneity occurs. Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was riding on the Buraq, and the speed (velocity) of the Buraq was similar or more than the speed (velocity) of light. Therefore, now we can easily understand that Time Dilation and Relativity of Simultaneity occurred during the Event of Miraj. Therefore, time seemed to be stop or a very short duration of time passed. (Allah knows the best)
The comoving distance from the earth to the edge of the visible universe is about 46.5 billion light-years in any direction, which is called visible universe. It is sometimes quoted as a diameter of 92.94 billion light-years. Light travels 9.46 trillion kilometres in a year. It means that if light travel continuously then it will reach to the edge of visible universe in 46.5 billon years and the exact universe is far bigger than visible universe about which scientists are yet unaware.
Furthermore, velocity of light is 3 x 108 m/s. It is yet the fastest possible velocity of anything.
Now the second question is that to travel such a huge distance billions years are required so, how did the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) travelled such a huge distance in a very short duration of time?
The simplest answer of above question is that Allah is omnipotent, Allah potent over everything. However, the answer of above question can also be understood. Another consequence of Special Theory of Relativity is Lorentz Contraction according to which length seems to be contracted (shorter) for an observer (person) moving with velocity of light. Therefore, it is possible that he (peace be upon him) felt a very short distance while in fact it was a very huge distance. (Allah knows the best)
The final consequence of Special Theory of Relativity is equivalence of mass and energy, E=mc2 according to which if a body will travel with the speed (velocity) of light then its mass will be convert into energy. Moreover, when this energy will be reconvert into mass then due to mass defect some amount of mass will be disappear. Furthermore, mass of the body will not join as it was originally. It means that it may possible that hand will join to ear, ears will join to legs and legs will join to head. No part of the body will join to its original position.
According to E=mc2 there must be mass variation (mass defect), but in fact with the blessed body of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) nothing like above happened, no defect produced. Allah kept safe the blessed body of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) from every possible defect. Why did no mass defect produce in the blessed body of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)?
I am unable to say an exact answer of above question in meanings of physics because we do not know the factors, states and conditions, which can fail, change, and violate the consequences of Special Theory of Relativity. It might be possible that E=mc2 violated during the Event of Miraj. Event of Miraj is not fiction story; it is a fact and a marvellous miracle. Therefore, we need to modify and upgrade the Special Theory of Relativity to understand and explore the phenomenon of the Event of Miraj.
I think the mystery due to which no mass defect produce in the blessed body of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is actually that before going to journey of Miraj, angel Gabriel (a.s) filled the blessed body of Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) with mystery, wisdom and a highly special type of light “Noor”. Blessed body of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was composed with “Noor”, it was not like ordinary mass due to which no mass defect occurred in his (peace be upon him) blessed body. The Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) safely returned back to the earth without any defect. (Allah knows the best)
Allah is the glorious and eminent is Allah’s glory. No one can see the splendour (display) of Allah. Many years ago before the Event of Miraj, Holy Prophet Musa (a.s) “Moses (peace be upon him)” wished to see Allah via his (peace be upon him) eyes. Allah showed an instantaneous glimpse but Prophet Moosa (a.s) “Moses (peace be upon him)” was not able to see Allah, the splendour (glimpse) was so much strong that the Koh-e-Toor (a mountain where Allah showed a glimpse) became Black (Dark), and this mountain is still on the earth for our observation. So, the question is that if no body has viewed yet a glimpse of Allah then how could it was possible for the beloved Holy Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) to sought and meet with Allah?
The Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was honoured in the journey of Miraj. Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) met to Allah and did conservation with Allah. Before depart to the journey of Miraj the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) bathed with Hozz-e-Kosar (a holy water in the heaven) and angel Gabriel (a.s) washed his (peace be upon him) blessed heart by Abb-e-Zamzam (a holy water in “Mecca” a city in Saudi Arabia). About the mystery of Hozz-e-Kosar I am unable to say anything, while about Abb-e-Zamzam I think, the reason behind it to washed his (peace be upon him) blessed heart with Abb-e-Zamzam, might be it provided strong force to the blessed heart of Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to face and to see Allah. (Allah knows the best)
I think that Abb-e-Zamzam must have unique characteristics, it is good for heart, it may reduce heart attack chances or it can make heart stronger. We should research on Abb-e-Zamzam to verify above characteristics.
Message for The Readers:
I did not try to measure Event of Miraj in the scales of science; miracles are always beyond human intellect. Science has not yet progressed to the level by which we can understand or investigate miracles of Allah. No one can comment any thing else, about such a marvellous miracle, human knowledge and intellect is limited to describe miracles. Allah is the glorious and Allah knows the best. I simply try to convince non-Muslims according to my knowledge and intellect. The exact mystery and phenomenon behind the miracle of Miraj, only Allah knows the best. If anyone have objection on my above research article please point out it to me then I will modify it, if there is any mistake please draw my attention toward it so I will correct it. If you have any questions, doubts, suggestions, or if you want to comment on my above research article then please email me do not hesitate to ask me or to share your opinion with me.
TEN Indonesians and an Indonesian diplomat were examinated and detained not to be out of the mosque by the Czech police. At that time the citizens and diplomats wanted to perform Friday prayers. But in the middle of the mosque a book review on monotheism was being held. The book review that made the whole person in the mosque were ‘detained’.
Indonesian Foreign Ministry spokesman Michael Tene confirmed by AFP on Tuesday ( 04/29/2014 ) gave explanations about the incident. The incident occurred on Friday (25/4/14).
Michael Tene
“Czech Police raided two mosques. The visitors of the mosque should not be out until the examination is completed,” said Tene .
Tene continued that in one of the mosques there are 10 Indonesian citizens, including an Indonesian embassy staff. The Embassy who received a report immediately contacted police and Czech Foreign Ministry to allow the Indonesian citizens to leave the mosque.
“After some time all of the citizens then allowed to go home. The Embassy had conveyed a protest to the Czech Republic’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and demanded an explanation for the incident, ” said Tene.
“The Indonesian Foreign Ministry will also submit such matters to the Czech Embassy in Jakarta,” Tene added.
Islam In Indonesia 