Reward for building a mosque
📖Sahih Muslim 533 b
Mahmud b. Labid reported: When ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan intended to rebuild the Prophet’s Mosque, some people objected, wanting it to stay the same, He said: “I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: ‘Whoever builds a mosque for Allah, Allah will build a house for him like it in Paradise.'”
So, Why “for Allah” — if Allah doesn’t live there or need it?
For Allah” = For His Sake, Not for His Need
In Arabic, “لِلَّهِ” (lillah) means:
✅ With pure intention
✅ To seek His reward
✅ Following His command
It does not mean that Allah:
- Lives in the mosque
- Needs a house
- Gets tired without one
📖Quran 22:37
“It is neither their meat nor their blood that reaches Allah, but it is your piety that reaches Him…”
➡️ Likewise, bricks don’t reach Him — our sincerity does.
What Can a Mosque Offer?
- A Place to Pray Together:
Mosques are places where the community gathers for prayer, strengthening the bond of brotherhood and sisterhood. The unity in prayer builds spiritual connections and promotes peace. - Learning and Teaching the Qur’an:
Mosques serve as centers of knowledge, where the Qur’an is taught and understood, allowing us to connect more deeply with our faith. - Community Centers:
Beyond just a place of worship, mosques act as hubs for social interaction, providing spaces for resolving issues, offering advice, and supporting the community. - Help the Needy:
Mosques can be used to collect charity during prayer times. These collections can then go towards feeding, sheltering, and supporting those in need, making mosques a platform for good — not only in spiritual terms but also in material support. Every donation or act of kindness is part of worship. - Raising Future Generations in Islam:
Mosques are where children and youth are taught the values of Islam, ensuring that the next generation grows with a solid foundation in faith and community service. - Increase Rewards:
Every step you take towards the mosque erases sins. It’s not just about the building, but the effort and intention behind coming to worship and serving Allah’s cause. - Strengthening Unity and Peace:
By coming together in the mosque, Muslims build a sense of community, peace, and mutual support, reinforcing the values of brotherhood and unity.
Building for Allah’s Sake
The mosque is built for Allah, but not because He needs it – rather, it is for us, to create opportunities for goodness. However, if a mosque is built but left unused or not properly utilized, it defeats its purpose. It’s like having a tool but not using it — it won’t fulfill its purpose. The mosque serves us in more ways than just a place of worship; it is meant to be a center for charity, education, and community. By using the mosque for its intended purpose, we are actively engaging in acts that please Allah, supporting those in need, and strengthening the community.
📖Quran 9:18
“The mosques of Allah are only to be maintained by those who believe in Allah and the Last Day…”
➡️ The verse says “mosques of Allah”, not because He owns a home, but because:
- They are dedicated to His worship
- They are free of worldly distractions
- They are not for business, politics, or ego
Why Didn’t Allah Build the Mosque Himself?
Allah, in His infinite wisdom, did not build the mosques Himself because He has granted us free will and the ability to earn reward. If Allah had built the mosques Himself, we would have lost the chance to:
- Earn Rewards:
If Allah had created everything, including mosques, for us, there would be no personal effort required. In Islam, rewards are tied to intention and action. Without a test of sincerity and effort, there would be no real reward. It’s through actions like building mosques or contributing to charity that we earn Allah’s favor and reward. - Test Our Sincerity:
The purpose of life is to test who is sincere in their faith and devotion to Allah. By giving us the opportunity to build mosques and contribute to His cause, Allah gives us a chance to prove our sincerity. If Allah did everything for us, where would the test of sincerity lie? Just like other acts of worship, this is an opportunity to show our devotion through meaningful actions. - Practice Free Will:
If Allah wanted to create everything, including mosques, without us having to contribute, He could have done so. But He chose to give us the freedom to act – to choose whether we want to help build mosques, whether we want to serve the community, whether we want to contribute to the betterment of society. This is the test of free will: Do we choose to follow His guidance and invest in our faith, or do we ignore the opportunities He provides? - Have a Chance to Give Back to the Deen:
Allah, in His mercy, allows us to have the opportunity to give back to the Deen (the religion). Building mosques is one of the most significant ways to contribute to the faith. Without the ability to participate in building and supporting such sacred places, we would lose out on an essential way to show our gratitude for the blessings He has bestowed upon us. By contributing to the mosque, we are actively engaging in the service of Allah, which is part of our purpose in life. - A Test of Purpose and Gratitude:
If Allah did everything for us, we would not be able to express our gratitude. The act of contributing – whether through donations, building mosques, or supporting community needs – is a way for us to demonstrate our thankfulness. Without this, our purpose in life would lose its significance. - Create a Balanced System of Reward:
Allah could easily create a world where we don’t need to put in any effort, but that would defeat the purpose of free will. Islam teaches us that life is a test, and only those who actively choose to do good will be rewarded. If everything were done for us, the system of reward and punishment would be meaningless.
Do Today’s People Follow the True Purpose of the Mosque?
While mosques were originally designed to be places of worship, community building, learning, and support for the needy, today, unfortunately, many mosques are not fulfilling their true purpose as intended by Allah.
- Neglecting Community Service:
Many mosques today are focused mainly on religious rituals, but they fail to address the community’s practical needs. Mosques were meant to be centers for charity, offering aid to the poor, providing shelter, and supporting local causes. However, in some cases, the mosque’s role has been reduced to just a place for prayer, missing the opportunity to uplift and support the wider community. - Failure to Teach the Qur’an:
Mosques were also designed to teach the Qur’an and the teachings of the Prophet ﷺ. Unfortunately, not all mosques have proper programs for learning or offering knowledge to the younger generation. Many have become places where people come only to pray, without focusing on deepening their understanding of Islam. - Exclusivity Instead of Unity:
Instead of being a unifying force, some mosques have become places where sectarian divisions thrive. This goes against the purpose of the mosque being a space for unity and peace. The mosque should be a place where Muslims come together regardless of their backgrounds, but sadly, this is not always the case. - Focus on Rituals Instead of Charity:
While prayer is essential, some mosques have become ritual-focused places with little attention to charity and the welfare of others. Collecting charity during prayer time should not just be a formality; it should be an active way of helping the poor and supporting the community. If this is ignored, the true spirit of the mosque is lost. - Misuse for Political or Personal Agendas:
In some cases, mosques have been used for political purposes or to promote personal agendas rather than serving the broader community and the Deen. This is a misuse of a sacred space that should be solely dedicated to Allah’s worship, learning, and supporting the needy. - Lack of Focus on Character Building:
Mosques should not only be places of worship but also places where moral values and good character are emphasized. Today, some mosques are disconnected from teaching about how to live a righteous life and focus too much on superficial matters. This goes against the purpose of shaping a person’s character according to Islamic principles.
The True Purpose of the Mosque
A mosque should be a space that guides people towards goodness, charity, unity, and understanding. It should be a place of spiritual growth, moral development, and community support. When mosques are used for only prayers and neglect other functions like charity or education, they deviate from their intended purpose, If we are to truly follow the purpose for which mosques were built, we must return to the principles of service, learning, and community unity, ensuring that mosques are fulfilling their roles as places of worship and social support.