2015-04-02 - Friday Prayer - Imam Zafar Anjum

Khutbah: Building the Frisco Masjid and the Foundations of the Islamic Community

All praise is due to Allah. We praise Him, we ask His help, we ask His forgiveness, and we ask His guidance. We believe in Him, and we put our trust in Him. And we seek refuge in Allah from the evil of our souls and from the evil of our deeds. Whom Allah guides, none can misguide. And whom He leads astray, you will not find for him a guide.

I bear witness that there is no god but Allah — there is no partner for Him in His dominion and His divinity. His glory is eternal, His being is sacred, and He is the Lord of the worlds. And I bear witness that our master, our prophet, our guide, our leader, our role model — our master Muhammad — is His servant and His Messenger.

The Frisco Masjid: A Journey of Faith

Dear brothers and sisters in Islam, today I am here to give the khutbah on behalf of Frisco Masjid. You are in Plano, and I believe that all of you — or most of you — are aware of the fact that, inshallah, there will be a new masjid very soon in the same locality, very close to Plano Masjid. It will be known as the Islamic Center of Frisco, or Frisco Masjid. Alhamdulillah.

The construction work is under progress, and that journey started four to five years ago when the land was purchased for this masjid. People have questioned: why is the masjid not visible yet? Why can we not see the masjid?

Allah has His own plans. Allah has appointed the time and the term for each and everything. Nothing can come into existence unless there is a will, there is a permission from Allah. But sometimes, for different projects, He has His own plans — and there is a wisdom, there is a hikmah, in each and every plan of Allah.

So the benefit of this delay was this: the land — more than 8 acres — was purchased in 2010, and the cost of the land itself was 1.3 million dollars. A huge amount. Because of the size of the land and the location — a very prime location, right in the heart of Frisco, on Dallas Parkway near the Eldorado Parkway exit, between two big businesses: Home Depot and Costco. Alhamdulillah, Allah helped us to pay off the entire land — all 1.3 million dollars — completely. Alhamdulillah.

The second phase for the masjid was the need to develop the site plan — all utilities underground, concrete parking, and everything. That project itself was worth around 1 million dollars. And Allah supported and helped us to pay off for that project as well. Alhamdulillah. So there is no remaining amount from that.

Now this is the third phase that is going on — and this is the real structure of the masjid, the actual building. Inshallah, in just a few weeks you are going to observe, you are going to see, that the walls of the masjid will be raised. The foundation work has already been completed, and inshallah we will see that masjid come into existence by Allah's will and permission.

The Du'a of Ibrahim and Ismail When Raising the Ka'bah

This situation reminded me of these ayat of the Quran — very famous ayat from Surah Al-Baqarah — about Ibrahim (peace be upon him) and his son Ismail (peace be upon him) when they were raising the foundation of the Ka'bah, the House of Allah, the very first House of Allah.

"And when Ibrahim and Ismail were raising the foundations of the House: Our Lord, accept this from us. Indeed, You are the Hearing, the Knowing."

"Our Lord, and make us Muslims [in submission] to You and from our descendants a Muslim nation [in submission] to You. And show us our rites and accept our repentance. Indeed, You are the Accepting of Repentance, the Merciful."

At that time, Ibrahim (peace be upon him) had already gone through so many tests and trials — ibtila'. In each and every test and trial, Allah made him successful. He was successful in all his exams. He was a chosen, selected servant of Allah, a great Messenger and Nabi. But look — not a single word, not a single action of his is showing any kind of pride. That was not his attitude. He is still showing his humbleness, his humility, his khushu' and khudu' to Allah. He is saying: O Allah, we were not able to do this — it is You who gave us this ability.

So that should be the intention at the time of building of each and every masjid, in every place in the world — wherever Muslim communities are building a masjid, that should be the attitude of humbleness. And keep asking this du'a.

Then they asked another du'a: O Allah, make us — both Ismail and I — servants submitting ourselves, surrendering ourselves to Your will completely. This submissive nature to Allah — that should always be our du'a: O Allah, make us obedient servants. And O Allah, we are not making this masjid only for ourselves — raise from our offspring, from our descendants, from our children, a whole community of Islam, those who keep worshipping Allah, those who keep having faith and belief in Allah and in Rasulullah (peace be upon him).

So that should be the intention — that we are not building these houses or these institutions only for ourselves, but we are making them for all the generations to come, and we are trying to preserve our deen, our iman, our faith for them as well. That is the wonderful du'a taught to us by Sayyidina Ibrahim and his son Ismail (peace be upon them both).

The Three Foundations of the Islamic Community

My brothers and sisters, that is why the same thing our beloved Prophet Rasulullah (peace be upon him) did — as soon as he moved to Medina, as soon as he got the first opportunity to build the Islamic community, he did three things. Remember: the foundation of any Islamic community rests on three pillars.

1. The Masjid

The very first pillar of the Islamic community is the masjid. So he built the masjid. That is the first foundation of any Islamic community.

2. Islamic Brotherhood and Sisterhood (Mu'akhah)

The second thing he did was establish the relationship of Islamic brotherhood and Islamic sisterhood — Mu'akhah. The history of the entire world has failed to produce any example of this kind of brotherhood and sisterhood that Rasulullah (peace be upon him) established in Medina.

Just imagine — we are all sitting here, two brothers, one from one country and the other from another. And it was said to you: this brother is a newcomer, he has nothing. Share your house with him — half of the house, your whole garden, your agricultural land. He will be your partner. And it was not something that the people of Medina — the Ansar — accepted by force. They were the ones who took the initiative. They came to Rasulullah (peace be upon him) and said: Ya Rasulullah, we are dividing everything half and half and giving it to our brothers.

They also offered their agricultural land. The Muslims of Mecca — the Muhajirun — said: we are not experts in farming, because there was no farming back in Mecca. So they said: you keep the land. But what we are looking for is this — you are people of business, and we are experts in business. Take us to the market of Medina, introduce us to other people, so that we can establish our own business.

The Akhuwwah of Islam — this Islamic brotherhood and sisterhood — the whole world is not able to produce that kind of example. SubhanAllah. That is the second foundation of the Islamic community.

3. The Constitution of Medina

The third foundation was something very surprising to the entire world — the writing and drafting of the Constitution of Medina. This constitution is known as Dastur al-Madinah, Nisaq al-Madinah, Kitab, and Wathiqah — there are several names for it. SubhanAllah.

Back in the 7th century, when the world was still not civilized in this regard and people did not know about a document for the human charter or charter of human rights — look at the vision, look at the wisdom of Rasulullah (peace be upon him). If you look at this constitution today, you will appreciate how professionally it was written. According to some sources, there are 43 clauses and articles. According to other sources, there are 63. Some scholars say the reason for two different numbers is that approximately 40 articles govern the relationship between Muslims and Muslims — how Muslims are to treat one another — and the rest govern the relationship between Muslims and non-Muslims.

Those were the peaceful residents and citizens of Medina — people of other faiths, especially the Jewish community. Look at this constitution, read it, and appreciate the wisdom of Rasulullah (peace be upon him). For the very first time, he gave the idea that human beings — regardless of their religion, culture, or tradition — can live together. This pluralistic, communal society — pluralism — was granted by the Constitution of Medina.

He said the Jewish people would be part of the Islamic community — and when it came to the practice of their religion, they would continue to practice their own religion. That was the religious freedom granted by Rasulullah (peace be upon him). And the Muslim people would continue to follow their own religion. When it came to financial responsibilities, he said the Jewish people are responsible for their own financial expenses, and the Muslim people are responsible for their own financial expenses. But when it comes to protecting and defending Medina — in the case of an attack by enemies — all those who were members and followers of this constitution would together defend and protect Medina. SubhanAllah.

I highly encourage every Islamic community — I know it is being studied in our Sunday school and other halaqat — but at the whole community level, all Muslim people should study this constitution. So many confusions, so many misunderstandings that we have in our minds regarding the relationship of Muslims and non-Muslims, inshallah, will be resolved. It will also help us to strengthen the relationship between Muslims and Muslims — the Islamic brotherhood, the Islamic sisterhood, and all that.

For the sake of time, we will not go into the details here. But let me conclude with the sources of the constitution. Some may ask: what are the sources? In addition to the books of Seerah — that is Seerah Ibn Hisham and Seerah Ibn Ishaq — these are the two traditional sources in Islamic knowledge that carry a universal approach, a positive approach, and an approach of truth for following the beautiful teachings of Islam.

Du'a (Supplication)

O Allah, do not leave upon us in this gathering of ours on this day of ours any sin except that You forgive it, any worry except that You relieve it, any debt except that You settle it, any sick person except that You heal them, any afflicted person except that You grant them wellbeing, any captive except that You ease their situation, any distress except that You remove it, any deceased except that You have mercy on them and forgive them, and no need — of the needs of this world and the next — except that You fulfill it and make it easy.

O Allah, we ask You for wellbeing, for pardon and forgiveness in our religion, in this world, and in the Hereafter. O Allah, make this land and all the lands of the Muslims safe and peaceful. O Allah, decree for us protection, safety, and wellbeing — upon us, upon Your weak servants, upon the sick, and upon the oppressed. O Allah, forgive all the deceased Muslims. O Allah, O Healer of ailments, heal our sick and the sick among the Muslims.

O servants of Allah, may Allah have mercy upon you. Indeed, Allah commands justice, excellence, and giving to relatives, and He forbids immorality, wrongdoing, and oppression. He admonishes you so that you may be reminded.

Remember Allah the Most High and He will remember you. Call upon Allah and He will respond to you. And the remembrance of Allah — the Most High, the Most Glorious — is the greatest. Establish the prayer.