Islam & Europe - Peace, Identity & Integration — Page 36
36 ISLAM & EUROPE: PEACE, IDENTITY & INTEGRATION people see fresh and clean water it is as if they have attained all the treasures of the world. Accordingly, we believe that if a Muslim desires to fulfil the rights of the worship of God Almighty and fulfil the rights of a mosque then he or she must fulfil the rights of mankind. For Muslims, serving God and serving His creation are intrinsically linked. If a Muslim, God forbid, causes pain or distress to other people and fails to show compassion, then, even if they are regular in the worship of God, their prayers and supplications are futile and utterly worthless. Indeed, in chapter 107, verses 3-7 of the Holy Quran, Allah the Almighty states: “…the one who drives away the orphan, and urges not the feeding of the poor. So woe to those who pray, but are unmindful of their prayers. They only like to be seen of men. ” Because they are not discharging their duties towards mankind, their prayers are not accepted. Here, Allah the Almighty has cursed those who pray to him, but fail to fulfil the rights of the weak and needy and He has declared that their prayers will never be accepted. Their worship and entry into a mosque is nothing but a sham and an empty gesture. The Holy Quran is very clear that their prayers are meaningless and their hypocritical ways will lead only to their humiliation and despair. Consequently, a mosque not only draws our attention to fulfilling the rights of God, but also of fulfilling the rights of mankind and the importance of serving humanity. When these are the core objectives of true mosques, there