TO Allah belong all adorations, glorificationsand praises in the heavens and the earth. MayHis abundant blessings continue to pour on our noble leader and commander, Prophet Muhammed (SAW); members of his household; his sincere companions and the entire Muslim world (Amin).The cause of todays Muslims backwardness in the world can be attributed to the collapse of Minbars exalted institution. The minbar, which is the focal point of Islamic civilisation, is expected to play significant roles in the lives of the Muslims who gather in their local mosques five times daily and once every week to observe Jumat prayer in their community mosques. One of such roles is to teach the congregation the rudiment of their religion such as belief in Allah, His Angel, the Holy books, the prophets, the last day and pre-destination.Also, it is observed that majority of the worshippers are ignorant of the correct mode of worship, including how to supplicate and make requests from Almighty Allah. The minbar gives Muslims these obligatory duties to educate and guide them so that theyll not labour in vain.The functions of the minbar in Islam cannot be overemphasised. The down tool of the minbar and malfunctioning stance of its occupants of (Manaabir) is the cause of the pitiable backward condition of Muslims today.It is apparently clear that all eyes are focused on the minbar when sermons are being delivered on Fridays as a baby looks unto his mother for food.The quality of what our minbar dish out to the starving worshippers cannot be compared to what the original minbar produced to build the companions of the Prophet (SAW), who established what now serves as our own heritage. The Prophets minbar, which used to be a tree trunk later built as pulpit, was such that it illuminated the heart with the light of guidance and instilled the fear of Allah in the hearts of the early Muslims.Al-Bukari related that Jabber bin Abdullahi narrated that Prophet Muhammed used to lean against the trunk of a tree during Jumuah address, the Ansar humbly suggested to him, if you approve, we can make a pulpit for you. The Prophet (SAW) approved it and the pulpit was made.The Prophet used to sit on the third rung of the pulpit to give his khutbar (sermon). The companions heard the trunk of the tree weeping like a child, Prophet Muhammed stepped down the pulpit and hugged the trunk of the tree. The trunk calmed down after sobbing like a pregnant she-camel, Jabeer added that the tree was crying because it was deprived of the remembrance of Allah made close to it.It is quite unfortunate today that the minbar has been turned to a place where money is extorted from the congregation during the khutbah hour and so nothing provocative comes out of the minbar where the listeners are either found dosing off or sleeping. Thus there is the urgent need to resuscitate this important institution in Islam. This can be achieved by appointing imams who are scholarly qualified (versed in Arabic knowledge, spiritually upright, intellectually sound, morally inclined and financially stable).Also, there in the need to organise periodic trainings, seminars and workshops for our imams to keep them abreast with current Islamic issues and also uplift their spiritual status. Besides, our community leaders should arrange minimum provision to take care of the financial needs of our imams. In addition, our imams should always be conscious of the hadith of our noble Prophet (SAW) where he was quoted to have said: All of you are shepherds and you shall be questioned concerning your locks, the Imam is a shepherd and stands to be questioned in respect of his followers.(Bukhari and Muslim).Finally, the government should know that it is responsible to our religious leaders who occupy these pulpits (Minaabar) because of the role they play in maintaining peace and harmony in the country.May Almighty Allah (SWT) guide our imams and forgive the callers wherever they may be. May He (SWT) establish our feet on this path and never allow our hearts to perverse.
Click here to read full news..
