Download - 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