The Masaajid (plural of Masjid) are the houses of Allah on earth. Every king sets up embassies in foreign countries so that his countrymen who live in that country may be serviced with an office, and that their needs may be fulfilled.

Similarly, the Masaajid are the embassies of Allah here on earth where we have our needs fulfilled and our problems solved.

Of all the places on earth, the Masaajid are the most valued and beloved to Allah. They are more valuable than the precious gold and diamond mines, more loved than the palaces and vineyards.

The Masaajid are so valuable because the most valuable things are found in them; that is, the worship of Allah in the form of Salaah, Zikr, recitation of Quraan etc.

Verily the Masaajid are the houses of Allah and anyone who enters them are therefore the guest of Allah. Undoubtedly there is no one who can accommodate his guest better than Allah, the Lord of all the Worlds.

The value of the Masjid can be understood from the following Hadith (narration) of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him): "Hazrat Abu Hurayrah (May Allah be pleased with him) narrates that he heard the Messenger of Allah saying, "Salaah in jamaah is twenty five times superior to Salaah which is performed in the house or shop. It is so because when a person performs wudhu in the right way and walks to the Masjid, with the sole intention of performing Salaah, each step he takes he will be elevated one stage and one sin will be wiped out from him. Again, if he keeps sitting in the Masjid (with wudhu) after Salaah is over, the angels keep on seeking Allah's mercy and forgiveness for him. And as long as he keeps on sitting in the Masjid waiting for Salaah, he goes on earning rewards as if he is busy in Salaah." (Reported by Bukhari)

Oh how virtuous is such a place that by merely walking towards it, one is forgiven his sins, he is rewarded with blessings and his status is elevated.

Allahu Akbar!! Allah is the Greatest.

The Masjid is such a blessed place and powerhouse wherein the Muslims of a community prostrate side by side five (5) times a day daily in submission to Allah, the Most High.

It was the first order of business that the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) undertook when he migrated to Madinah. As such, we understand the importance of the Masjid in the Islaam of an individual and community.

The Masjid belongs to no man, but it is for the benefit of all mankind. It has no worldly fortunes, but it calls towards true success. It is a simple structure, but it will rid us of our most difficult anxieties.

However, it is but a structure and we are its furniture and decoration. It is to the extent that we stay in the Masjid that we will benefit.

Love for the Masjid is love for Allah, hate for the Masjid is hate for Allah. One will want to go and remain in the Masjid if one is yearning to connect with Allah.

If we are in love with this temporary world, we will hurriedly exit the Masjid like a bird from a cage.

Oh how excellent is the Masjid that our Salaah is 25 to 27 times more rewarded than if we performed it in our homes. How unfortunate and foolish we will be to reject this great offer and settle for less.

The Masjid is the embassy of Allah here on earth; it is our parliament, wherein we solve our problems; our hospital wherein to cure our many moral diseases; our sanctuary wherein we are protected; our place of prostration wherein we all together submit to the one and only God, Allah.