MASJID

Masjid literally means a place where Sajdah is made. Sajdah is the posture whereby a servant prostates in front of the One who created him. In this posture, the servant places the forehead, nose, palms of the hand, knees and feet on the ground.

The posture of Sajdah is a very essential and important posture in Salah - it is so important that without it, the Salah is not valid.

Ibaadah is a means by which a servant humbles himself in front of His creator. Sajdah is one of the postures where a servant can humble himself better in front of his Creator. As a servant humbles himself before His Creator, he gets closer to Him. The fact that Sajdah is the most appropriate posture for a servant to show his humility, this is the posture where the servant gets closer to His Creator.

Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: 

"The posture, in which a servant is closer to his Rabb, is when he prostrates." (Muslim)

Given the importance, value and position of Sajdah in the structure of the Salah, Salah was named Sajdah. Hence, if we consider Sajdah in the meaning of Salah, there is no harm if we say that a Masjid is a place where Salah is performed. It is in this sense that Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: 

“The entire earth has been designated as a Masjid and a means of purification for me – Therefore, wherever the time of Salah comes in for any person of my Ummah, then, he should perform his Salah.” (Bukhari)

The previous communities were not allowed to perform Ibaadah anywhere besides the place which was fixed to do Ibaadah. The Ummah of Hazrat Muhammad (Sallallaahu Alaihi Wasallam) got the authorisation and privilege to perform Ibaadah anywhere when the time of Salah comes in. Therefore, literally speaking, Masjid signifies a place where one makes Sajdah or Salah, and generally speaking, we understand that Masjid means a place which has been designated mainly to accomplish and observe Salah.

[English version of "Masjid" – Al Jamiat – Vol.1 No.9]