Respect for the Imam of the Masjid

Society Religion & Philosophy
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Here is the background.

I was given certain responsibilty in our masjid committee and yesterday was our first meeting. Someone senior person said that masjid imam should be in these meetings. I thought that he is saying it out of respect for imam. Then we talked about whose responsibilty is to make announcements in front of namazis (parking, construction, other matters). Same guy suggested that we should ask imam. He was told that Imam wants to stay away from making announcements regarding logistic and he only wants to deal with what Imam should do (khutbas, bayans, other religious lectures, teaching young kids).

On hearing that, the senior person got angry and said that Imam is on our payroll and he is suppose to do what we ask him to do and blah blah. At that point I spoke up that let Imam do what he feels comfortable in and he is doing his job by leading prayers and being there for us to help us in religious matters.

He muttered in anger that anyone can lead 5 times prayers and all the religious rulings are available in books. He was implying that Imam is our employee and he should do whatever committee asks him to do. I got extremely angry at that but kept shut

No wonder we (as a msulim ummat) are where we are. We lost respect of our Imams, We treat them as our zar-khareed ghulaam. This is the same ummat who made their imams, their Khalifa. Now we make our Imams our servants.

Astaghfarullah.

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Re: Respect for the Imam of the Masjid

:(

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Re: Respect for the Imam of the Masjid

It is not limited to your Masjid , it is happening all over.
Imam is a leader , a sympathizer, a well wisher , a nay sayer , this guy at our Masjid whom I respect a lot who knows lot of manners and shows them too at time but I have noticed him backbiting against imam for very petty issues. :smack:

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Re: Respect for the Imam of the Masjid

Some people have this attitude.

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Re: Respect for the Imam of the Masjid

This person that I spoke about is the amir of board of trustee that overlooks the decision of executive committee. Luckily, Executive committee is not going to have him in our regular meetings. Next meeting I am going to bring up this point that if I see anymore disrespect of Imam and if he not treated as the leader of this masjid, I am going to resign.

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Re: Respect for the Imam of the Masjid

If he is amir because he has most moola or brings most moola at fund raising or because he is part of certain group ruling the affairs of masjid then good luck for your stand.

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Re: Respect for the Imam of the Masjid

it is really sad to see bad status of such a person who lead prayers.

i will suggest you to keep quite and search new strategy for person like that who doesnt respect ulema and imams.

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Re: Respect for the Imam of the Masjid

He is amir not because of Moola but because he got elected in board of trustee and yesterday when trustee had to elect the Amir, he was sitting at the first chair and someone out of politeness pointed towards him and everyone else (out of politeness) agreed. I cant do anything to sabotage his position (not that I want to) but I am firm to raise my voice against any disrespect that anyone is going to extend towards Imam.

What should be that strategy STA?

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Re: Respect for the Imam of the Masjid

1st strategy is to assign some work to a person who is speaking against Imam. You know there are many things are required to run a mosque. for example, assign a task about AC maintenance on weekend.

Fire Alarm safety check responsibilities. Actually, you are giving him lesson in another language.

Avoid discussing about Imam in front of him. You can bring all those topic which are related to that person and need his assistance.

That is what I do if I were in situation like you.

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Re: Respect for the Imam of the Masjid

TLK we need more brothers like you.

The Imam at our masjid is highly respected amongst our congregation. People hardly let the Imam do anything (out of respect). They make the way clear for him during the jummah khutbah, they put his stuff in the car for him, give him gifts out of appreciation and respect (hubby just got him a Playbook), etc. Yes, there are people that don't agree with him all the time, but they are free to discuss their issues with the Imam in private and can decide themselves if they would like to continue to be a part of the masjid or go somewhere else.

The bottom line is what u said TLK, most people think of the Imam as their servant. But the literal meaning is Leader, and that is how they should be treated and respected as.

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Re: Respect for the Imam of the Masjid

Great suggestions STA but they may not work cause all those things are the responsibilty of the executive committee and Board of trusteee is like judiciary who looks at the committee if committee is doing her job right. In anyways, that guy is not a decision maker (although he can reject our proposals). As I said, luckily we dont have to deal with him on regular matters and I take it as my responsibility to get our imam the respect that he deserves, inshallah. (Just to be on a fair side, except for few jerks like our amir, most of the people respect our imam a lot)

This is so beautiful what you guys do for your imam. Your community is a blessed community who recognizes and practice the respect for the leader of the community, your imam that is

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Re: Respect for the Imam of the Masjid

ahan, hajj ki karamaat :k:

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Re: Respect for the Imam of the Masjid

TLK - do people stand up when the Imam walks in?

in our masjid people do, but a few people (mostly new members) have issues with it.

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Re: Respect for the Imam of the Masjid

Well why most of us don't respect Imam's?
I know why i don't,

1) first of all majority of them don't have any real knowledge of religion. heck they can't even answer basic questions.
2) majority of them have big fat "tid" which just disgust me.
3) being famous as child molesters in IndoPak. Don't wanna believe? well it happens and it is quite widespread.
4) have nothing to do except bad mouthing other sect.

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Re: Respect for the Imam of the Masjid

no they dont and I understand that part and Prophet :saw2: ordered Sahaba not to stand for respect when he walks in.

I am not sure where you got your stats from when you said “majority of them”. At least in USA and Canada, Imams go through interview process and show their degree from madarsah to be offered an imam position. Our imam is in mid 20’s, unmarried young guy and alhamdulillah a qualified aalim. He does not have a tidd and very slim and in good shape. He does not badmouth any sect, ifcat never talk about such issues.

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Re: Respect for the Imam of the Masjid

^ i was referring to indopak.

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Re: Respect for the Imam of the Masjid

There will always be some that are bad of course. I know someone who does Imamat here in the U.S and man .. I can't even tell you how disgusting that guy is.

So coming to the topic, there are certain responsibilites that Imam has so he has to fullfill those including Imamat. Respect is a totally different issue. Is the Imam doing what he is supposed to do when he was hired as a Imam?? Was he told and given documented responsibilites he has to carry. I would still respect an Imam who leads prayers even if he wasn't carrying other responsibilites, but I would also say something if I was the authority of why he isn't fulfilling his responsibilites.

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Re: Respect for the Imam of the Masjid

Do Imam have a "Moa'azan"? If yes then let 'Moa'azan' do announcments on behalf of Imam. If No then committee should hire or make a vacancy of a new 'Moa'azan' who look after all such affairs.

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Re: Respect for the Imam of the Masjid

Anybody can make announcements , is it such a big deal that a special person has to be hired for it ? Some masajids do not have funds to hire a Moazan and Imam both.

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Re: Respect for the Imam of the Masjid

I think there would be many individuals who will be ready to do this free of cost.