[CIAFreeAgent]

.....but opening your own masjid is a massive leap. One needn't start a new masjid to do a charitable deed, if there are already many around in the community. Get involved. In more ways than just turning up at the doors and demanding change. Volunteer, work discreetly behind the scenes without feeling the need for recognition or appreciation, help out in any way you can- whether that be washing the towels, mopping the floor, cleaning the urine from the toilet seats, tidying the shoes or helping out at events and programmes. Once we increase our participation in these ways, we have more appreciation for the way a masjid works and the things that need to taken into consideration. It is very easy to criticise from the sidelines.

Yes, I'm the first to admit that many committees get it wrong and many of them see their position on the board as position of power, but that means the community just needs to work harder to make the masjid and the environment a better and more welcoming place.

Next time someone is turned away from the masjid, whether that's a homeless person, a traveller, someone coming from far-away lands to raise money for a madrasah/hospital/orphanage etc, make up for the lack of compassion shown by offering them a nightcap at your own home. Give them a meal, a gift of money and drive them yourself to their next destination.