The mosque as a symbol of Islamic civilisation: its role and function
Every civilisation has a symbol that distinguishes it from other civilisations. Also, many civilisations have passed, and their symbols have disappeared, but the Islamic civilisation and its symbols have endured. Chief among the symbols of the Islamic civilisation is the mosque. It is one of the...
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Book Chapter |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
International Institute of Islamic Thought East and South East Asia & International Islamic University Malaysia
2017
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://irep.iium.edu.my/71099/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/71099/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/71099/1/71099_The%20mosque%20as%20a%20symbol%20of%20Islamic%20civilisation.pdf |
| Summary: | Every civilisation has a symbol that distinguishes it from other civilisations.
Also, many civilisations have passed, and their symbols have disappeared,
but the Islamic civilisation and its symbols have endured. Chief among the
symbols of the Islamic civilisation is the mosque. It is one of the oldest
institutions that continue to exist in every society. The mosque plays a very
important role in Muslim development, particularly their spiritual growth
as “the mosque has to be at the heart of all of life’s positive and constructive
activities, in order to shape a righteous generation.” (Muhammad, 1996,
p.5). The mosque is not only a place where Muslims regularly meet to
perform the five obligatory salat, but also where they regularly meet to
learn and share their lives with one another, to encourage and console one
another, and to help the needy. According to Qureshi, the mosque is an
institution through which “the Prophet succeeded in reforming the people
individually and collectively.” (Qureshi, 1990, pp.135-136). This chapter
seeks to elaborate the role of the mosque in the establishment of the
relationships between man and Allah and man and fellow man. These two
relationships, also known as the vertical and horizontal relationships, need
to be established to have a just and harmonious society. |
|---|