format_quote Originally Posted by
MohammedSP
How did indonesian ulama came to conclusion that this ayah means non muslims can renovate, repair, design the masjid when it clearly states that mosques shall only be maintained by muslims.
Let we notice first words in surah At-Taubah ayah 18 :
Innama ya'muru masajidallahi ....... (Only those who "ya'muru" mosques of Allah ....)
Indonesian Ulama translate/interpret "ya'muru" into "memakmurkan/me-ma'mur-kan". It's means : manage, make it better, make it always 'live' (fill it with Islamic activities).
Translate "ya'muru" into "maintain" in English is not wrong. Actually it's not really acurate, but "maintain" is the English word that closets to "ya'muru".
The prohibition for non-Muslim are only in manage the masjid and use masjid for their activities.
Dont you think if non muslims were allowed to design build renovate the mosque they too would have been allowed to give islamic lectures in the mosque?
Do you think the masjid caretaker will invite Muslim building contractor that built the masjid to give Islamic lecture in that masjid ?.
No, bro. They will not invite people that not capable to give Islamic lecture. Of course they will not allow non-Muslims to give Islamic lecture in masjid
so any region can just create a symbol to represent Islam? You do know star and crescent originates from pagan religion.
Pagan use crescent as symbol of moon goddess until today, I know it. But crescent in the symbol of Ottoman empire was not referring to that pagan symbol, that's just a similarity. The crescent itself symbolize Ottoman territory that spread on three continents, one end for Europe, center for Africa, another end for Asia. And the star is a symbol of their capital.
If a symbol was required to represent Islam then Prophet Mohammed PBUH would have made some if not allowed them to be on the mosque.
Why don't you tell it directly to masjid caretakers that still put that symbol over their domes ?.