Taking Inspiration from the Prophet's Mosque

 

Taking Inspiration from the Prophet's Mosque

In a meeting I told about a fundraising effort to support a peace alliance in Yogyakarta.

“Christian friends recommended submitting a funding proposal to the Church and the funds were disbursed,” I said in amazement.

My friend joked. " Then where do the Muslims recommend applying to La? To the mosque?" Suddenly we burst out laughing. It is impossible to submit a proposal to the mosque to help one or two youth activities. Because it is not uncommon to find mosques "begging" in the construction process. This means that the mosque is still a place to be helped, not a place to help.

Then I remembered the history of the Prophet's Mosque written by Zuhairi Misrawi in a book entitled Medina. One of the mosques that is always visited by Muslims from all over the world, was built with the spirit of simplicity. Actually, at that time the friends and the Ansar were willing to donate their wealth so that the Prophet's Mosque was built properly and majestically. However, the Prophet refused. Indeed, in its development, the Prophet's Mosque became a very magnificent mosque to this day.

Although the Prophet's Mosque was built simply, this mosque has a very meaningful characteristic, namely the construction of Al-Shuffah , a place to accommodate the poor. The existence of Al - Suffah shows the commitment of Islam to help the poor and alleviate poverty.

The mission brought by the Prophet in the construction of the mosque is to improve the quality of faith and care for others which is expected to strengthen solidarity among the people. In this mosque, the Prophet invited his people to strengthen monotheism in Allah, establish a vertical relationship with Him through worship performed in the mosque. Congregational prayer is one way to foster solidarity among Muslims. Another thing that is more concrete to foster solidarity is the existence of Al-Shuffah.

Medina is a very diverse city. Before the Prophet came to Medina, this city did not have a space that could bring together various groups. Not infrequently, conflicts occur in this city. However, after the Prophet preached there, the people of Medina had one place to gather. The mosque is a place to unite people with different backgrounds.

In addition, the mosque became a center for the growth of science. The Prophet taught Islamic values, conveyed moral messages and revelations to his followers. Thus, the Prophet can give birth to a generation that can spread the teachings of Islam.

Not infrequently, the mosque as a place for socio-political consolidation. I believe that when the Prophet did political consolidation in the mosque, the Prophet did not use hate speech or commit acts of violence against his political opponents . Once, the Ansar persuaded the Prophet to wage war against the pagan Quraysh. However, the Prophet refused, the Prophet continued to show that Islam is a religion that upholds mutual understanding and peace. In my opinion, the actions of the Anshors were quite emotional. Therefore, when the Prophet created defensive units, the Ansar were not involved. The Prophet preferred to involve the Muhajirin in formulating defense strategies.

This is different from some da'wah / sermons that are carried out in mosques during Fridays or during recitations in Indonesia. Some of the preachers included political content and hate speech to their congregations. Of course, this is not in accordance with the example of the Prophet Muhammad.

Seeing the history of the Prophet's Mosque, made me think and re-examine the function of mosques in Indonesia, especially the function to accommodate and help people who can't afford it. Not infrequently, the mosque was deserted from its congregation and began to be abandoned. Once the mosque was filled with many worshipers, the preacher/khatib made the mosque a field to voice political content and spread hatred. The mosque is also a field for spreading radicalism. Even though the mosque at the time of the Prophet had succeeded in reducing the conflicts that occurred in Medina. Could mosques in Indonesia be a cool place for all people with different religious and cultural backgrounds?

Starting from the mosque, the Prophet Muhammad has set a good example for Muslims to imitate. Zuhairi Misrawi said that the Prophet Muhammad had succeeded in building a civilization that could unite with diversity, create solidarity, educate his generation, teach moral messages and eradicate poverty. Perhaps, if the function of the mosque is carried out again, Indonesia will become a nation that has a noble civilization like Medina.

And maybe, if the peace alliance emerged during the time of the Prophet, this alliance will get financial assistance from the Prophet's Mosque. Wallahua'lam .