Why do Masjids in the West struggle for their continuation, while other places of religious worship don't?

As Salaam to you all,

The whole Earth is the Masjid but as mere human beings we need shelter from the elements, yet the Prophet (Salla Allahu ‘alayhi wa salam) said; "Build your Masjids low and make them different to the houses around them". There is further evidence that he is purported to have said; "Do not use the colour gold or decorate them like the Christians do in their churches". Just look at what is around you now. The domes and minarets dominate the sky line on tall Masjids, which came into being well after the death of the Prophet (Salla Allahu ‘alayhi wa salam), which is Bid'ah an innovation. Islam never had a priestly class during the time of the Prophet (Salla Allahu ‘alayhi wa salam), yet today we have Iman's paid for by the committee from the Friday collections.

With the differences between secular ideology who will help another group to raise or maintain a Masjid. In the Middle East Masjid's are financially supported by the government and it is them who put into authority the local Iman, who will toe the government line at the Friday prayers.

A Masjid must be raised under piety, yet all too often a Masjid is built due to the patronage of a wealthy person or head of state, which it is named after. It is their heritage and name that matters more than anything else. Too many leaders have been laid to rest within Mausoleum’s or Masjid's, which is totally against Islam and as such is nothing but Shirk, for their followers will go there and ask for them to intercede for them. A grave should be outside the Masjid, not within a courtyard in the middle. The grave of the Prophet (Salla Allahu ‘alayhi wa salam) is still within his Masjid, even though they have put a brick wall behind the grill. A doorway leading from within the Masjid is not a barrier irrespective of what it is made off.

While there is no unity of the Ummah there is no Islam, except within the hearts of a few who follow the true path towards Allah (Subhanahu wa ta'ala). Masjid's will come and they will go due to the activities of the Ummah it serves and the less active they become within belief the Masjid will suffer. But the committee that oversees the Masjid is also at fault by not opening its doors to everyone, believer or not, for they want and desire the power it gives them.

As regards other faiths religious buildings, then the followers take a pride in what Shaytan has achieved in turning their heads away from the truth and as such will attend to it, embelish its gardens and so on, to entice others towards their demise.

Wa Salaam

Mahmood

Probably because the masjids don't get money from the USA Government. But then it seems to me, that freedom of religion in America only applies to Jews and Christians. Even though this country was not founded on Christianity, in fact many of the founding fathers weren't Christian or allied themselves with a specific religion. I don't see why Muslims of different races cannot pray together. Why does each nation of Muslim need their OWN masjid? That doesn't make sense to me. As for very few masjids accommodating Muslim sisters, a woman's prayer is better in her house then in the masjid and better in her chamber then in her house, so maybe that is why there is such a small area for women in masjids. Also there may be a lot of sisters who have young children and the house to look after so they don't go to masjid. I don't go to masjid as I prefer praying in my home, and sadly there are Muslim men who don't lower their gaze around the sisters. Also I can't stand how the female sex likes to gossip and I've heard that Muslim women use the masjid as a social gathering place to talk loudly over the Imam and gossip about each other. That would just drive me insane and deter me from going to masjid. I do wish there were more things for Muslimahs to do at masjids. I know a few masjids my husband has gone to, they don't have anything for the women. Like the masjid in Joplin, MO.

Imagine you are sitting in an empty football stadium. Across the field, a transister radio is playing. It might be hard for you to hear it. Now imagine there are a hundred radios all playing the same station. The sound would be much louder and clearer, even though eash radio was still playing at the same volume. It's called sympathetic vibration and it produces a synergistic effect. The same is true of our spiritual energies. When several people focus their spiritual energies, the total effect is greater than the sum of the individual parts. This can produce amazing results, both for the target of these energies and the worshippers themselves. Churches also provide a source of religious education for children and are much more efficient than charities or the government in providing aid to the needy. So I would say that, even though the Lord resides within you, there are definite benefits to combining your energies and resources with others. Best always Brother Ron

Assalaamu ' alaykum

We can only solve it if the muslim community collectively helped. Alhamdulillah there are many people who do help out. In the area where I live there is a masjid nearly on every corner. But the sad thing is maybe only 2 or 3 accommodate for sisters and there is a huge division, for example Bengali Masjid, Pakistani Masjid and so forth. The number of Muslims who are practicing has risen, Alhamdulillah they have realized the truth. Although they may be struggling for their continuation, we have to be thankful and grateful to Allah (Azzawajaal) for what we have and just continue making du'a and assisting them.

The problem is the proportion of muslims in the UK. The age profile of Muslims in Britain is different from that of the majority population. A higher proportion is under twenty five and a lower proportion is under sixty. Because of these demographic facts, the Muslim Community is set to increase in size over the next twenty years.

And in particular the educated fraction of the muslim community. Over the next few decades this will escalate as the young population ages. The muslim community is currently a relatively poor one and there is no point in arguing against that

Ahmad Deedat once said that the Muslims are the ones who do not donate, but the Christians always give to the church - they work together more.

I agree - rich muslims are too selfish to donate any money, because they need that money for a nice new car, or something like that.

When I used to go to Church they would pass around bowls, and by the end there would be a good £200 in it (and I went to a pretty small church that was the size of a room)

LMFAO - http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Ai84_...

Need I say more.

Salam

That is true Al hamdoullah I have seen that also its getting to the point we have to renovate or make more than 1 mosque to accommodate such growth Al hadmoullah.

Last friday I seen many youth, 4 years ago I didn't. So I a pleased and may Alllah SWT be pleased Also inshAllah amin

The Muslims in the west don't support things right, they are busy with their duynia.. its like Christian way of life, trying to mix with our Islamic standards... Most Muslims don't fear Allah SWT that is why there is only 10 people doing everything in the mosque and the rest just come and go.

too much duynia

Well I don't know what the situation is like in America, but in the UK there are more Muslims attending the mosque than Christians attending the Church! There have been Churches that have been closed down (probably due to the lack of attendance) and they've been converted into mosques, Alhamdulilah.

If the stingy muslims come out their shell. Honestly there are alot of them out there, alhamdulillah but for some reason they like to "help their dunya" rather than "helping the akhirah". Allah ta'ala knows best.

We, as a muslim community need to make a better impact anyway. We need more unity...*in my dreams* but inshaAllah. It is sad though.

May Allah ta'ala make unity in this ummah, amin.

salamulaykoum