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MULTI-PURPOSE USE OF THE MOSQUE IN ISLAM By Is-haq Olanrewaju Oloyede

MULTI-PURPOSE USE OF THE MOSQUE IN ISLAM

By
Is-haq Olanrewaju Oloyede
Visiting Professor, National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), and Immediate Past Vice-Chancellor,
University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria.
&
Secretary General,
Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs

ioloyede@unilorin.edu.ng, ioloyede@yahoo.co.uk
being a lecture at the opening of Al Hujjaj Central Mosque lekki on 25th ofApril 2014

Introduction

Since the primary assignment of man on earth is to worship Allah, the whole of the earth has been declared a mosque for the Muslims (Bukhari, 7: 1). This implies that worshipping of Allah especially salat can take place anywhere except in seven places: dunghills, slaughterhouses, graveyards, middle of the road, bathhouses, watering places where the camels drink and rest, and on the roof of the house of Allah [the Ka’bah in Makkah] (Ibn Majah). Any place where one prostrates oneself could therefore be regarded a mosque or masjid. At the initial stage of Islam in Makkah, the Muslim community had no special place of worship. The prophet (S.A.W) used to perform the salat (prayer) in secret in the narrow valleys of Makkah with his first male companion ‘Ali bin Abi Talib’ and other early companions.