Islah al-Masajid إصلاح المساجد

Author

Shaykh Muḥammad Jamāl al-Dīn al-Qāsimī was one of the foremost Syrian scholars and reformers of the late Ottoman period. Based in Damascus, he played a leading role in the intellectual and spiritual revival of the Levant through his scholarship, teaching, and prolific writings. He is best known for his monumental 17-volume Qur'anic commentary, Maḥāsin al-Taʾwīl, along with numerous works dedicated to reviving the Sunnah, promoting sound scholarship, and correcting religious innovations and unfounded customs.

About the Book

Iṣlāḥ al-Masājid min al-Bidaʿ wa al-ʿAwāʾid (Reforming Mosques from Innovations and Customs) is one of al-Qāsimī's most influential works on the proper role, sanctity, and administration of the mosque. Drawing extensively upon the Qur'an, Sunnah, and the practice of the early Muslim generations, the author presents a practical framework for restoring the mosque as a center of worship, learning, and communal guidance.

The work begins by outlining the virtues of the mosque and the proper etiquettes expected of those who enter it, emphasizing cleanliness, reverence, remembrance of Allah, prayer, and the pursuit of beneficial knowledge. It then examines a range of practices that had gradually become common in many mosques despite lacking a basis in the Prophetic tradition. Among the issues discussed are innovations related to the adhān, congregational supplications introduced outside the Sunnah, excessive noise and disruption within the mosque, and forms of exaggerated reverence toward buildings and physical structures.

Al-Qāsimī also discusses important legal rulings governing mosque affairs, including the responsibilities of the imam and mu'adhdhin, the etiquette and objectives of the Friday sermon, and the conduct expected from worshippers. Throughout, he supports his conclusions with textual evidence while maintaining a measured and educational tone that encourages thoughtful reform rather than harsh criticism.

Regarded as a landmark contribution to modern Islamic reform literature, Iṣlāḥ al-Masājid remains a valuable reference for imams, students of knowledge, mosque administrators, and anyone seeking to preserve the mosque's central role in accordance with the Qur'an and Sunnah.

Who Is This Book For?

Iṣlāḥ al-Masājid min al-Bidaʿ wa al-ʿAwāʾid (إصلاح المساجد من البدع والعوائد) by Shaykh Muḥammad Jamāl al-Dīn al-Qāsimī (d. 1332 AH) is a practical and scholarly guide written for a broad spectrum of the Muslim community, particularly those committed to preserving the sanctity and prophetic function of the mosque.

Imams, Khatibs, and Mosque Administrators will find it an indispensable resource for managing mosque affairs in accordance with the Qur'an and Sunnah. The book offers practical guidance on delivering the Friday khutbah, supervising the adhān, maintaining proper decorum, and addressing innovations and unscriptural practices with wisdom, knowledge, and concern for communal harmony.

Islamic scholars, students of knowledge, and teachers will benefit from its careful use of Qur'anic evidence, authentic hadiths, and classical fiqh. It provides a well-documented methodology for distinguishing between established Sunnah and later innovations while promoting gradual, evidence-based reform.

Community leaders and reformers will appreciate al-Qāsimī's balanced approach to renewal (iṣlāḥ). Rather than advocating confrontation, he presents a thoughtful framework for restoring the mosque to its prophetic role as a center of worship, learning, spiritual development, and community unity.

The book is equally valuable for everyday worshippers who wish to observe the proper etiquette of the mosque. It reminds Muslims of the honor and sanctity of Allah's houses, teaching the manners, responsibilities, and acts of worship that preserve their sacred atmosphere while encouraging believers to revive the mosque as the heart of Islamic life.