Why Should I become a member of the Masjid?
We get this question a lot from our community.  Most people believe that they can continue to do what they are doing for Allah’s (SWT) cause without being a member – some of this maybe true, but as Muslims Allah (SWT) encourages us to always strive to make ourselves better by getting involved in community service, helping others and spreading the word of Islam.  We like to tell you that Membership DOES matter – In addition to the voting the Masjid Officials and possibly being voted into a Masjid Official, here are several good reasons why Muslims should become a member of a Masjid:

1. Accountability
It makes us not only accountable to each other but also to Allah (SWT) while ensuring that the Masjid is providing services that the community at large needs.  Furthermore, when we become a member of the Masjid, we are offering our services to help advance the message of Islam while encouraging and correcting each other every step of the way.  It makes us and our decisions accountable not only to the community but also to Allah (SWT) and keeps us all engaged!

2. Commitment
By becoming a member to the Masjid, we are letting other members and most importantly Allah (SWT) know that we intend to be committed in attendance, giving, prayer, and service.  We allow fellow believers to have great expectations of us in these areas, and we make it known that we are the responsibility of this Masjid.  We assure the Masjid of our commitment to Allah (SWT) and in serving with them, and we call for their commitment to serve and encourage as well.

3. Promoting Community Service
Membership of the Masjid gives you the opportunity to promote, serve and enhance the level of community service that your Masjid provides, which is ordained by Allah (SWT):

“It is not righteousness that you turn your faces towards East or West; but it is righteousness to believe in Allah and the Last Day and the Angels and the Book and the Messengers; to spend of your substance out of love for Him, for your kin, for orphans, for the needy, for the wayfarer, for those who ask; and for the ransom of slaves; to be steadfast in prayers and practice regular charity; to fulfill the contracts which you made; and to be firm and patient in pain (or suffering) and adversity and throughout all periods of panic. Such are the people of truth, the God fearing” (Quran 2: 177).

The above verse is the concept of social work in Islam.  In fact it is incumbent on believers to fulfill this duty of service to those who need their help.  Each and every Muslim is to contribute to the welfare of society.  Therefore by establishing social services within Muslim communities, every Muslim can indirectly participate through financial and moral support. When professionals administer social services with the support of the community at large, it helps all of us to fulfill our social responsibility as believers.

1. Duty — as a believer;

2. True righteousness;

3. Love of Allah

One Hadith states that Abu Hurairah related: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Whosoever removes a worldly grief from a believer, Allah will remove from him one of the grieves on the Day of Judgment. Whosoever alleviates [the] lot of a destitute person, Allah will alleviate his lot in this world and the next. Whosoever conceals the faults of a Muslim, Allah will conceal his faults in this world and the next.  Allah will aid a servant (of His) so long as the servant aids his brother.”  Therefore, becoming a member of the Masjid will ensure that one is constantly providing service to the community and getting the reward from Allah (SWT) for every time he does anything for the house of Allah (SWT).