The Brotherhood Of Islam

Today, at the mosque, we had two new brothers show up. They were standing at the entranceway of the masjid when I entered the gate, and just by the way they were carrying themselves--I knew that there was something different about them. I went into the Mosque, said my Salaat-ul-Taitul-Masjid prayers, and then waited for the Imam to begin the Maghrib Namaaz. As I was waiting, one of the two brothers (both of these two gentlemen looked very much alike, as if they were related to one another), stood in front of the microphone and recited the Adhaan. And what a beautiful call to prayer it was. I've never heard anything like it in a long, long while, and it made me remember the true joy of coming to the mosque--to experience these pleasures which one cannot at home, or anywhere else. The brother was young, maybe in his late twenties, and his voice was strong, crisp, and smooth.

After reciting the Adhaan, the other Brother who had accompanied him, took his position at the front of the Jamaat and started the Maghrib prayers, and his voice too was equally moving, if not more so. But what I enjoyed even more was praying behind this big, strong man, leading the congregation (he must've been over 6 foot tall, and well built too).

We usually have old men or young boys saying the Adhaan, so it was rejuvenating to have some new blood pumping through the mosque all of a sudden. And that too--with voices that were so different than the ones I usually hear; they sounded like they were from abroad, a muslim country perhaps, with an English educated undertone.

After the Maghrib prayers were over, the Imam Sahib then rose and sat on a chair, and began the lecture. It was about the importance of reading and studying the Quran. The Imam Sahib reminded us of how we as muslims have lost our way in this world because of our veering off the path that has been set for us in the Holy Quran. He told us how the muslims of today choose to read their Qurans only during the month of Ramadan, or when it is a Big Night, and then keep the book closed for the remaining 11 months of the year. And even though people read the Quran--how many of us actually practice what is being preached in it? This is the greatest sin of all. Because the Quran is the word of God, and anyone who does not obey it is contradicting the words of Allah (swt). (It is said that during the day of judgment, that the Quran will be present to bear witness to how much attention we'd given to it, and depending on the type of Muslims we are, and the hours that we've devoted to reciting the Quran--we will get rewarded for it. But, if we were not as generous with our study of the Quran, or had neglected it entirely--then we will have to deal with the terrible consequences of these actions. It is also said that anyone who attempts to learn the Quran, and passes away in the process of doing so--will automatically be considered a Hafiz). When this was revealed to the Sahabis by the Prophet--the older ones immediately started memorizing the Aayats--Subhanallah!

[GLOSSARY OF TERMS: Salaat-ul-Taitul-Masjid ~ Prayers said upon entering the mosque; Imam ~ The person who heads the congregation in prayer; Maghrib ~ Evening Prayers; Jamaat ~ The vertical rows of men standing for prayer; Hafiz ~ A muslim who has memorized the Quran from cover to cover; Sahabis ~ The people who saw the Prophet (swt) with their own eyes and lived with him during the emergence of Islam; Aayats ~ The verses of the Holy Quran]