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**kranfid** · 01-12-2012, 02:04 AM

Um, no. If they rob from us we make sure they don't return to the mosque property and if so, the police will be called. And if they have a drug habit, they are to be excused, as our mosque doesnt tolerate drug use.

Although your point is well-reasoned, there is a story that might be relevant to cite here. This story was told to us by our former Imam (of 7 years) who was from Alexandria, Egypt.

He was once serving as an Imam in a Masjid in Egypt. One night, either immediately after or just prior to a prayer, a well-known criminal tried to steal the Sadaqah box. He was almost successful and he had it in his grasp and was making his way out of the masjid when somebody noticed and summoned the rest of the masjid's attendees and they caught a hold of him. They wrestled the (unsuccessful) thief to the ground and collectively they engaged in a bout of beating and kicking him. In the middle of this, someone asked him, "What kind of person are you? The child of what kind of parent are you (i.e. "what kind of human") that you would stoop so low as to steal from the Masjid?" To which he replied, "Is this your house or the house of Allah?" They said "It is the house of Allah?" He then said, "If it is Allah's house, then these donations were always given to Allah, so what business of your's is it that I took this? Leave it between me and my Lord." When he said that, everyone immediately stopped and began to give the man Sadaqah from their pockets (not the box) that was far in excess of anything that could have been in the box. He refused the money saying that "I had repented from stealing from other human beings but when I found myself in need of money I felt it more proper to take from that which was given to my Lord than to outstretch my hand to another human, to steal or to beg from him and I still do not want your money."

After that incident, he came to be known among the most steadfast worshipers and attendees at the mosque and Allah made him repentance sincere (insha'allah).

The point of the story is not to say that the thief was correct in his actions but that sometimes they may look at their actions from a different perspective than we may perceive them and rather than being harsh with them, or assuming the worst of others because of them, let us not forget that the Masaajid are all for Allah and that as Allah is merciful to his creation, perhaps we should be so too.

Wa'salaam.

01-12-2012, 02:04 AM	#29
kranfid Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 531 Senior Member	Um, no. If they rob from us we make sure they don't return to the mosque property and if so, the police will be called. And if they have a drug habit, they are to be excused, as our mosque doesnt tolerate drug use. Although your point is well-reasoned, there is a story that might be relevant to cite here. This story was told to us by our former Imam (of 7 years) who was from Alexandria, Egypt. He was once serving as an Imam in a Masjid in Egypt. One night, either immediately after or just prior to a prayer, a well-known criminal tried to steal the Sadaqah box. He was almost successful and he had it in his grasp and was making his way out of the masjid when somebody noticed and summoned the rest of the masjid's attendees and they caught a hold of him. They wrestled the (unsuccessful) thief to the ground and collectively they engaged in a bout of beating and kicking him. In the middle of this, someone asked him, "What kind of person are you? The child of what kind of parent are you (i.e. "what kind of human") that you would stoop so low as to steal from the Masjid?" To which he replied, "Is this your house or the house of Allah?" They said "It is the house of Allah?" He then said, "If it is Allah's house, then these donations were always given to Allah, so what business of your's is it that I took this? Leave it between me and my Lord." When he said that, everyone immediately stopped and began to give the man Sadaqah from their pockets (not the box) that was far in excess of anything that could have been in the box. He refused the money saying that "I had repented from stealing from other human beings but when I found myself in need of money I felt it more proper to take from that which was given to my Lord than to outstretch my hand to another human, to steal or to beg from him and I still do not want your money." After that incident, he came to be known among the most steadfast worshipers and attendees at the mosque and Allah made him repentance sincere (insha'allah). The point of the story is not to say that the thief was correct in his actions but that sometimes they may look at their actions from a different perspective than we may perceive them and rather than being harsh with them, or assuming the worst of others because of them, let us not forget that the Masaajid are all for Allah and that as Allah is merciful to his creation, perhaps we should be so too. Wa'salaam.
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