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Assalamu Alaykum,

In a time where people question Qur'aan verses and Ahadeeth whether rulings and prohobitions apply nowadays or not, Muslims fail to question how modern technology can be essential and sometimes important.

Not only have we forgotten the vast uses of Masjid-an-Nabawi at the time of Nabi (s.a.w), Masaajid nowadays tend to stick to a limited and fixed schedule with Salaah, Jumu'ah, 5-7 Madrasah and thats it.

The use of technology is limited to lights and a PA system.

However, when people can question the Qur'aan and older ways, why is the same logic not applied in question positive outcomes from available modern technologies? Is providing for the community not as important anymore with all the means possible as long as it is Halaal?

There are hundreds of web sites that attack Islam, give false information about Islam. We will advertise those web sites too by making everyone aware of it ony to increase their search engine rankings and visitors. I will never understand why every Masjid does not have a web site to propagate the Deen, to give useful knowledge provided by the Imams, to give the community local information about Salaah times, events etc.

The cost is not an issue as Masaajid are well off nowadays owning properties and continuously getting work done that is not needed in the Masjid such as chandeliers, marble effects and other visually impressive decorative unneeded works.

I want to show an example of how much difference a few practising youngsters (as in not elders) could make. http://www.masjidequba.org.uk/ of Stamford hill not only provides information but gives learning materials, event updates and even an Mobile phone app. This is a prime example of how Masaajid can step it up a little and concentrate more on Deen and Aakhirah and less on Dunya.

Another fine example is http://www.masjideumer.org.uk/ Queens Road Masjid of Walthamstow. These two Masaajid not only have a top web site but also have worked towards live streaming for those out of the area. With Masjid-e-Quba using the MSNS service provided by Muftisays.com and Masjid-e-Umar using a 3rd party streaming service, they are a modern example of how to provide a real service to the Muslims who donate so much to the Masjid.

With over one and a half thousand Masaajid in the UK, how many actually have a web site or a live streaming service? A very well done to these Masaajid. If you know of any other websites who provide for their community fulfilling the duties of a community Masjid, please post us a link.

Congratulations Masjid-e-Quba and Masjid-e-Umar, a very well done to you and may Allah increase your services and make your hereafter.

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Mashallash so true.


on a side point, Why aint muftisay.com on the links section of masjidequba.org.uk?

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salam you are very right.. Masjid have become the sign of judgement. there even have a competion on Islam channel for looks.

love the way the captcha states round is not a shape

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"rizmalek" wrote:

Mashallash so true. on a side point, Why aint muftisay.com on the links section of masjidequba.org.uk?

Lets just say they kept it personal and local as well as a little something for the kids. Overall, well done.

I did a proof read of the entire site (my own choice to do so) when it was upgraded, Alhumdulillah, they did well. I also recommended a couple of additions and a few changes out of which they did everything except for adding Azhar Academy book store. However they did say that they thought it was on there.

With regards to Muftisays.com, I did not ask for it to be added directly, but I did say it would be a good idea to have more links to show what the Masjid approves of, but then others would want many many more links which would then clog their page up. Also, they have a Mufti who, Alhumdulillah does a good job in answering Islamic questions anyway.

Taking all of the above into consideration, my personal side point is that Yes they should atleast mention muftisays.com with the live streaming they do.

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Assalaamsww,

My informal comments here which doesn’t necessarily reflect the view of the website/s nor masjid/s in any way – my own 2 paisa!.

It would be, imo, more realistic to describe the effort of both Masjids as the least worse of worse i.e. theres no good Masjids (amongst the Deo UK community), far as i think, all are bad, though some are less bad then others. Imo a Masjid close to both of the above Masjids would blaze them both even if they both merged – Noorul Islam Masjid. Actually even if you had Noorul Islam to where it was 5 years back and compared it to either or both Quba/Umer where they are now it’d still, imo, top them. I’ve said Noorul Islam as its the closer Masjid to those two, though im sure theres many others around that do a much better job than either of those two masaajid or both together. Though full credit and alhumdolilla to both those Masjids for having improved over the past few years compared to where they both were some years back.

Wrt Quba – Id suggest don’t judge a book by its cover (or in this case its website). If i was to give Quba a score between 1-10 (10 being the best) I’d score it max as 3.5 or 4. A few years back i would’ve scored it 2.5 to 3. Flashy posters and websites might look good but the proof is in the pudding. Taste the pudding and compare it with the puddings of others ....

HOWEVER where i would say Quba is doing well (least above average - about 7/10) is its evening childrens Madresah.

Wrt muftisay i fully second bhai AbuH’s last comment wrt mentioning it on their live stream. IF i remember the last few versions of the site did have muftisays it also had i think Inter-Islam and Deoband but all those links are not on the present site – im sure they have their valid reasons (in their view) why those links are not on the latest site.

p.s. alot of text from the website is still missing.

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Anonymous wrote:

salam you are very right.. Masjid have become the sign of judgement. there even have a competion on Islam channel for looks. love the way the captcha states round is not a shape

If your referring to the Model Masjid competition they’ve had in the past – i think it has very little to do with looks and more to do with services and substance.

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"Daywalk3r" wrote:

Assalaamsww, My informal comments here which doesn’t necessarily reflect the view of the website/s nor masjid/s in any way – my own 2 paisa!. It would be, imo, more realistic to describe the effort of both Masjids as the least worse of worse i.e. theres no good Masjids (amongst the Deo UK community), far as i think, all are bad, though some are less bad then others. Imo a Masjid close to both of the above Masjids would blaze them both even if they both merged – Noorul Islam Masjid. Actually even if you had Noorul Islam to where it was 5 years back and compared it to either or both Quba/Umer where they are now it’d still, imo, top them. I’ve said Noorul Islam as its the closer Masjid to those two, though im sure theres many others around that do a much better job than either of those two masaajid or both together. Though full credit and alhumdolilla to both those Masjids for having improved over the past few years compared to where they both were some years back. Wrt Quba – Id suggest don’t judge a book by its cover (or in this case its website). If i was to give Quba a score between 1-10 (10 being the best) I’d score it max as 3.5 or 4. A few years back i would’ve scored it 2.5 to 3. Flashy posters and websites might look good but the proof is in the pudding. Taste the pudding and compare it with the puddings of others .... HOWEVER where i would say Quba is doing well (least above average - about 7/10) is its evening childrens Madresah. Wrt muftisay i fully second bhai AbuH’s last comment wrt mentioning it on their live stream. IF i remember the last few versions of the site did have muftisays it also had i think Inter-Islam and Deoband but all those links are not on the present site – im sure they have their valid reasons (in their view) why those links are not on the latest site. p.s. alot of text from the website is still missing.

The Madresah is brilliant. Very different now then it was a few years ago. In fact in my days, I didnt even know MOST of the terminology being used by my children today. Alhumdulillah.

wrt Pudding, thats a whole new topic and would be very interesting. Would you care to elaborate. Personally I'm not really around to see anything behind the scenes. I'm what I call a LIFO. Last In First Out. For some reason, I always ran away, and I think many people would know why. Again thats a whole new topic.

I was in a Masjid yesterday in Blackburn (for Janazah), MashaAllah, that mosques decor would put Masjid e quba to shame in no time. And so would the 5 - 10 other Masjids a stones throw away. Great job they have done up there and at the same time what a shame to see so many Muslims dis united and building new mosques for petty reasons.

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Aint been that far up north for least a decade (or nearly 2!). I visited the new Jame Masjid is Leic last Oct – looks wise thats one bling masjid!

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General comment on how UK Masjids are generally run ...

A (UK) Masjid in most cases, will only go as far as its shareholders want it to. When i say shareholders i dont mean in any way shape or form a person that has an actual ownership share of the Masjid i mean a formal paid Member of the Masjid who has the right to vote in its AGM (which all UK Charities have far as I know). Im not saying i agree or disagree with the system nor suggesting we/you support or go against the system (thats a dif topic) – im just saying factually how (UK) Masjids are run. Vast majority of shareholders are still from the first elder generation so decisions /visions / aspirations are based on that mindset ....and theres also the geopolitics thats take place where whichever loca ‘group/jamaat’ has major following in the area its very likely that a number of their adherents will also be shareholders of the Masjid and in many case will directly or indirectly vote along geopolitical interests i.e. those into Tasuwwuf will always vote to ensure their group always stays on ‘top’ and nothing is passed at AGM or by the Committee that will have a negative impact on their group, . those into Tabligh will always vote to ensure their group always stays on ‘top’ and nothing is passed at AGM or by Committee that will have a negative impact on their group etc

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Suggestions?

What do we do to improve our Masjids and bring them back to what they really should be for?

Are there any "shareholders" here who have a say, and would be "heard"?

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A lot of interesting input which I wasn't expecting. I agree with Daywalker in so many ways.

I also agree that links to muftisays.com is not important and the Masjids do not need to include other sites for any reason. Unless they feel it will benefit their community in any way.

For example, maybe they had the link to muftisays, then when the Salafis came here fully armoured and swinging, it could have (did) put many people off and if a Masjid decides to remove a link to save the community from such madness and illness of the Salafis, then it's a valid reason.

However, some times the decisions are political and personal in which case they will be accounted to answer for it in the hereafter. I am not just referring to links on their website but referring to the entire voting, committee, panels, memberships, trustees, donation and investment policies.

This entirely affects the purpose of a Masjid and the propagation of the Deen.



While I agree that it may not rate near 10 or that it rates as low as 3-4 in terms of potential or expectations of being a Masjid, I still had to give credit where it was due because unlike many Masaajid who I have personally offered to help when they requested it, they have not pursued it with any importance or priority unlike Masjid-e-Quba, Masjid-e-Umar etc who have fully functional and updated information.

If was to visit a friend in Stamford Hill, I could very easily check Salaah times without asking him (not knowing whether he goes to that Masjid or any other). If there's a programme that really interests me but can't make it because it's too far, I can still listen to it. I can't express how huge that is.

@abu Mohammed I think the first step would be for the community itself to demand such services.

Do you know if Masaajid have open community meetings like the councils or is it closed behind doors? I don't mean to discuss finance, but to discuss services and works

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Daywalk3r wrote:

and theres also the geopolitics thats take place where whichever loca ‘group/jamaat’ has major following in the area its very likely that a number of their adherents will also be shareholders of the Masjid and in many case will directly or indirectly vote along geopolitical interests

You mean DEOpolitics.

Its a shame. With others out there who builds Masajid just for making others look bad or down upon.

There was a GEOpolitical agenda behind this thread. MasjideDhirar It just got over looked.

Yasin wrote:

For example, maybe they had the link to muftisays, then when the Salafis came here fully armoured and swinging, it could have (did) put many people off and if a Masjid decides to remove a link to save the community from such madness and illness of the Salafis, then it's a valid reason.

I dont think this was the case. They Invited the Shaykh specifically for this talk The Salafi Hijack as it was having a major effect on the area. Way before they came here. The people had no where to discuss it except for here. Some may have been put off, but many many many more have learnt a lot more. The Masjid itself doesnt have any issues with the Salafi as far as I know, its just some of the regulars who see it as a threat. All I wanted to do was share the talk. As far as I can see, it went well and many things had come out in the open (to those who could see it)

Personally I had never seen the link to Muftisays before. It must have been a very long time ago.

With regards to the live streaming, I cant really complain as it was/is a whitelabel thing.


All in all, I see it like this;
(Its an attitude of the non-Muslim)

"Its not my cup of tea"

So some stay away from it and rather not have any connection what so ever.
BUT, I must admit, Mufti Abdur Rahman has always been very helpful and has given me permision to use his works any time as it is for the Deen. Unlike somany other sad Ulama who want to copyright their work, (Valid or not Valid, I think it is sad)

"Its not my cup of tea"

I had a formal discussion with a very knowledgable scholar once, he said something similar with regards to another Mufti's approach which made me think "we ain't gonna get far". He said, "Son, He likes Biryani, I like Dal Chawal, we have our differences" (two different rice dishes)
True to a certain extent, no problem. but come on! ANd by the way, both HATE the GM.

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"With regards to the live streaming, I cant really complain as it was/is a whitelabel thing."

sorry whats "whitelabel "?

the Masjid gets a (good) free service, the least i think it should do by way of thanks and support is acknowledging the service provider.

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"whitelabel"
A product or service, especially common in the in the financial sector, where the provider of the service purchases a fully supported product from another source, then applies its own brand and identity to it, and sells it as its own product. The purchaser assumes the seller is selling its own product.

Although we don't allow reselling it, it is still whitelabel as the domain is livemasjid.net which doesn't have a web site or any indication as to who owns/runs/serves it.

Yes it's nice to be acknowledged or advertised so others can find out about it and make most use of it themselves but if they don't, it's not a problem.

InshaAllah if a few sponsorship plans (working in background) go well, we might not need to rely on these things and concentrate on the work itself fully. (I'll email you about this too)

@abu Muhammad,
The salafi thing was an example

Quote

For example, maybe they had the link to muftisays, then when the Salafis...

The main point was how the reason can make all the difference. Many times we have seen politics and personal issues in tiny little things like adding a simple link or supporting another Masjid close by and that was my concern.

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Jazakallah, I know it was an example, just wanted to clear it up.

Back to topic.

Noorul Islam is doing very well in terms of providing a service, but in my opinion (and I dont hold any position or qualification), they could be causing a problem without knowing it (if thats the same Mosque).

They are providing a mixed service and getting/giving opinions on a mixed basis without clarification. It is either Salafi or it isn't. I have seen some of their mags, and they can have misleading answers in the Q&A which can be very dangerous and cause a lot of issues. At least the other 2 Masjids mentioned are on a one way option. (Strict)

And Allah knows best.