THE MULLAH AND THE MOSQUE
CHAPTER 18
THE MULLAH AND THE MOSQUE
The mosque is the house of worship of the Moslems. But
unlike the houses of worship of other faiths, it serves quite
different purposes as well. Moslem women are generally
barred from the usual services in a mosque that women of
other faiths perform in their churches, temples, synagogues
and gurudwaras. The mosque is often used as a center of
administrative and political activities. Sometimes it is used
even as an execution ground as well and as a fortress.
Moslem males are required to gather in the mosques for
their prayer. Only in exceptional circumstances this rule is
waived and prayers allowed in private homes. In the past,
when the opposition of the disbelievers took a serious turn,
prophet Mohammed himself asked his followers to gather in
private homes for prayer. It is for the same reason, in an
Islamic country non-Moslems gather in
private homes for their worship as the Moslems do not permit
them to pray in public or own a church or synagogue or temple
for unified prayer.
The prophet Mohammed used his mosque for consulta-
tions or important political and military matters and the
practice has been continued by his followers till today. On the
occasion of the battle of Uhud in which many people died, the
prophet had consulted his companions in his mosque after
Friday prayers about strategy and planning for the coming
confrontation with the enemy.
There have been many cases where the mosque has been
used to manufacture arms and to serve as a store-house of
weapons. In countries which are considered as 'darul-Harb' or
land of war, such practices are encouraged by the mullahs.
The mosque is also used as a court-house on some
occasions. The Kazi of Medina used to administer justice in
the mosque and the practice is followed even today in many
places. The practice of using the mosque as a political center
was started by the Umayyads. Politics in Islam cannot be
dissociated from religion and Islamic politics is quite different
from party politics of a parliamentary system. Islamic politics
is to strive for the supremacy of the Moslems over the rest of
the population and for this purpose any method is acceptable
to the mullah. To win over converts or traitors, use of bribes
or any other means can be utilised. And once victory is won,
the traitors are executed. This has been the way Islam has
gained ascendacy in many countries in the past and the method
is still being pursued in countries where Moslems are the
minority. The mullahs preach their venomous messages inside
the mosque to the followers of Islam and keep them from
integrating with the national main-stream.
If
you enjoyed this article, please visit: http://www.hinduunity.org
|
