Make masjid social institution

RECENTLY, His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam voiced his concern about religious illiteracy that is leading to increasing social ills - drug abuse, crime and others. This concern also is shared by many parents and caregivers who are struggling hard with their teenagers to pray five times a day or to go to the masjid and perform the Solat with congregation.

The reason for such behaviour on the part of youth should be seen in the context of onslaught by global media and information technology that has affected the minds of the youth and regrettable taking over the role of parenting as well. This is why we have found out that most of youth today spend hours on the Internet chat rooms or Facebook, expressing their feeling openly to release the pressure that they are experiencing. At the same time the parenting role has weakened and the role of the masjid to attract youth is not effective. This is a global phenomena and the impact varies from one country to another.

The main reason is that parents today both are working and have no valuable time to spend with their children. They are also busy trying to manage their financial affairs because they spend more than what they can afford.

Similarly, for the imams in the masjid there is what is called "generation gap" between the two parties (youth and imams). Many youth today are not keen to go to the masjid and listen to imam's speech because he does not provide them of what they need. Even those who go to Friday prayers their minds are diverted to sending SMS messages through mobile to his friends or playing games. This is because they have lost interest in what the imam is saying.

So, the question is how to reverse the trend and attract youth to the masjid?

At the outset we need to understand the role of masjid during the era of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) from our Islamic history. Islam was viewed as a complete and comprehensive way of life and the masjid an active social institution.

The masjid also regarded as an important Islamic information centre. It was considered to be one of the most effective and successful means of da'wah and information. It was also a place for celebrations, socialising and amusement and consultation and exchange views and ideas.

So, it is our moral duty and responsibility to reactivate the masjid as social institution that caters not only to our spiritual needs but also material demands.

How can we achieve that?

(1) We need to undertake marketing research to identify what kind of problems youth are facing in the modern world and how to overcome them.

(2) Installation of saving/donation box in the masjid to finance good ideas that will motivate youth to work hard and appreciate the importance of reading and doing research to assist them to come up with business plan. We also need to set up a unit for monitoring and following up to ensure proper implementation of the project. If the youth succeed in his new venture then part of profit has to be returned to the saving/donation box so other youth with good business ideas can benefit. These new business ideas once implemented will bring new breed of venture capitalists that will have the potential to help the economy of Brunei Darussalam to grow.

(3) Once the young entrepreneurs who get funding from the saving/donation box succeeded, he or she will realise that the masjid has played a positive role in changing his/her life. Then they will be an active partner in any masjid business activities.

(4) The saving/donation box will lead to create new culture that is saving/donation for investment not for consumption. Islam taught us to rationalise our spending and control our human desires. The person who controls his spending habits is called "Moqtaseed" who spends money wisely according to his needs.

(5) There is also need to set up modern mobile libraries equipped with the latest technologies, books and magazines located near the masjid that will surely encourage youth to read.

The writer is senior lecturer at the Faculty of Business, Economics & Policy Studies (FBEPS), UBD. The views expressed are personal and do not reflect those of FBEPS, UBD. He can be contacted by email: salharran@gmail.com

The Brunei Times