Convert Your Masjid into a University

8/10/2019 Convert Your Masjid into a University

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Transforming

A

into aUniversity

BYAli Mujahid


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Transform me into

a university. Then

you would see a

change in the

Ummah


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PrefaceThe following booklet is completely based on my

experience. This is not a scholarly work, and I am not a

scholar. Probably this might be the reason why I am

really intimidated when writing this booklet. First of all

I would like Allah (SWT) to forgive me of any mistake

then I would like to ask my muslims brothers & sister

to forgive me if I made a mistake in this manual.


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Introducing

The Game of Perception

If I were to say; I am fighting for peace, it would seem

a noble cause. It would sound nobler if I were to say I

am struggling for peace. If I were to say that I am

fighting for Islam (Arabic word for peace) the whole

image changes drastically. Similarly if I were to say I

am committing Jihad (Arabic word for struggle for a

just cause) people would definitely get scared. This is


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the power of perception. How does perception works

its really simple. Just remember this equation:

WORDS = IMAGES

Here is another example when we say the word crusade

the image that comes to our mind is intolerance. If we

have to make a quick and fast decision then we rely on

our perceptions; the danger comes in when we are

carrying false perceptions. The only reason why we

have false perceptions is that when there is a gap

between information and knowledge.

As we get older we gain more personal experiences our

perceptions get stronger and we get more stubborner.


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Have you ever wondered why is it so difficult to explain

Islam to born Muslims then to non Muslims. Well the

non Muslim has a weaker perception about Islam,

he/she are willing to listen. On the other hand a born

Muslim has stronger perceptions about Islam. The born

Muslims perceptions were build by the community and

his/her parents. So if a child seessthe whole

community celebrating the Prophets Muhammads

(PBUH) birthday he/she would see no harm in it.

Although this act has nothing to do with Islam but still

this particular individual would believe that this is an

act of worship.


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In our time media is playing a vital role in building

perception of the people. Unfortunately media only

provides information and we take it as the ultimate

knowledge. Our challenge is to distinguish between

knowledge and information then only we can bring

about a positive image of Islam. We as Muslims have to

learn the forgotten art of communication so that

Muslims and Non Muslims can carry a positive image of

Islam.


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Throughout this booklet I will be

challenging and playing with your

perception. So sit back and

relax. It would be highly

beneficial if you have a pen and

paper ready for some activities.


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Activity 1

During the Jumah Khutbah your Emam says that from

today this masjid would be treated like a university.

What are the first three thoughts that would come to

your mind ?

1.____________________________________

2.____________________________________

3.____________________________________

Activity 2

Now please state your three characteristic of a

University

1. _______________________________

2. _______________________________

3. _______________________________


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A New Perception

University=

My perception of a University:

A university is a place where problems and challenges

facing humanity are solved. It is also where people are

trained to face the challenges currently are societies

are going through. During the past few years

technology has allowed us that we do not need huge

campuses and big budgets.

My Perception of a

This is an empty hall with wall to wall carpeting withsome excellent lighting and sound system. It is a place

where we muslim men meet or should meet five times a


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day. A good Muslim who prays five times a day spends

only one hour in the masjid.

Prayer

Fajar

Dhur

Asr

Maghrib

Isha

Minutes

10minutes

10minutes

10minutes

10minutes

10minutes

It seems to be wastage of resources so I would like to

suggest making it a University.


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The Stakeholder of the

There are basically 4 stakeholders in the masjid:

1. The Attendee

2. Emam

3. Masjid committee

4. Executive Committee

All of the above mentioned are important for the

masjid to strife and prosper. If you wish to convert

the masjid into a university then we need to involve all

of the Stakeholders


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A New Perception

Attendee=Knowledge SeekersIn my experience there are three types of people who

come to the mosque.

I. The one who comes regularly 5 to 4 times a day

II.

The one who comes 2 to 1 time a dayIII. The Friday and the Eid prayersThe question we have to ask is that why do they come

to the mosque. The answer is very simple, they want to

make the creator happy. The attendee have the hope

that with the act of salah they might be able to

achieve the mercy of their Lord.

Most of the time the masjid committee especially in

the Islamic countries takes them for granted. They

satisfied because these people are regular. It is the

responsibility of the masjid to improve them through

engaging them in different activities. You may ask whattype of activities, well for start start calling them

knowledge seeker.Whoever enters the mosque even

once sould be considered as a knowledge seeker. It is

the responsibility of the masjid to make sure that


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his/her thirst of knowledge should increase. It is

through knowledge people would come close to

Allah(SBWT).

The masjid should also facilitate them in becoming an

excellent learner, no matter how old or young they may

be.


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A New Perception

Dean=

Activity 3

Imagine your Masjid Emam becomes the Dean or

Principle of your masjid. What will be the first three

thought that would enter your mind

1. ____________________________

2.

____________________________

3. ____________________________

It is commonly perceived that Emam in your masajid

have these roles:

The individual who leads the salah

Gives the Friday sermons


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Performs Nikah, Janazah and other ritualistic acts

Teaches children Quran.

On the other hand if the emam transform himself as a

dean his role would be more dynamic. He would

transform himself into a master learner. Primarily he

would be motivated to learn new skills. Secondly he

would spend more time in designing curriculum and

lesson plan for the whole community.

To be more specific the Emam would be developing

three types of curriculums :-

1. For the whole community

2. A curriculum for small groups

a.Youth group

b.Women

c.Working Men


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3. For individuals

I can understand this does look a humongous task, buts

its not. On the other hand its quiet simple. Just follow

these steps simple steps.

Step One

The curriculum would base on Surah Al Asr. Allah(SWT) simply states that the whole humanity as at the

state of loss except for those who have Eman, do good

deeds, call people to the truth and have patience. In

simple words Emam have to make sure that hiscommunity is applying to the Surah Al Asr.

Step Two

The Emam have to look for the gaps within the

community, group and individuals. Then try to fill it

with the Surah Al Asr.


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For example if the community is involved in increasing

the eman and in good deeds but are not so active in

calling people to the truth then it is the duty of the

emam to make sure that this gap is fulfilled.

Another small task for the emam is that he has to train

the future emam of the community. Since he is the

dean he could not do everything by himself. He has to

develop a team to assist him. This would be his faculty

Desired StateCurrent State

Knowledge Gap

EmanGood

Deeds

Invitation to

the truthPatience


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A New Perception

Organizational Developer=Masjid Committee

Activity 4

Your masjid committee decides from now on they are

organizational developer (Please check Wikipedia if you

want to know who are Organizational developers).

Your first three thoughts

1. ______________________________

2.

______________________________

3. ______________________________

Masjid committee are usually involved in the following

task

Cleaning the masjid on Thursday night

Maintenance


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Bills

Event Managements

Organizational developer is a new field. Its main task is

to conduct diagnosis and provide a solution or an

intervention. Organizational developer focuses on

procedures; they are trained to design procedure

which would make the organization more effective.

Issues like masjid politics, distribution of zakat funds,

public relation crisis and so forth. Any issue which

could hinder or boost the effectiveness of the masjid

should be recognized by the organizational developer.

And a proper intervention should be proposed with a

implementation strategy.


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Challenge or

Improvement

Diagnosis

Recommended

InterventionImplementation

Feedback


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Executive Board

I really am not sure wheater all masaajids have

executive board or not. They are basically the founders

of the masjid. If they are not the founders then my

experience have shown that they are the rich people of

the masjid (The last statement is my Perception).

Their main tasks includes:-

Monitoring the masjid committee Giving or rejecting proposals of huge project like

schools and masjid expansions

However their main task should be to develop a

strategic document. This document should be

developed and designed by the entire stakeholder.

Furthermore this document would assist the nextgeneration to which direction they should take the

masjid.


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Activity

Please answer the following questions Where do see your masjid in a 100 years?

What would be the impact of this masjid in 100

years?

Who would be the stakeholders in a hundred

years?

After answering these question the masjid would know

which direction they would be heading. Now the

stakeholders have to develop a plan how to reach that

desitination. Every decision, every activity have to be

based on the 100 years plan.


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For Consultation and Workshop

Please Contact

Ali Mujahid

About.me/alimujahid

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Convert Your Masjid into a University