As part of the Muslim community, we should preserve the spirit taught by the Prophet with the presence of mosques. Enriching the mosque is our collective responsibility as followers of the Prophet.
Yet, have we truly enriched our mosques in the spirit desired by Allah and His Messenger? Allah says:
إِنَّمَا يَعْمُرُ مَسَٰجِدَ ٱللَّهِ مَنْ ءَامَنَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْءَاخِرِ وَأَقَامَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتَى ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَلَمْ يَخْشَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهَ ۖ فَعَسَىٰٓ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ أَن يَكُونُوا۟ مِنَ ٱلْمُهْتَدِينَ
**“The mosques of Allah shall be visited and maintained by such as believe in Allah and the Last Day, establish regular prayers, and practice regular charity, and fear none except Allah. It is they who are expected to be on true guidance.”** (At-Taubah: 18)
According to the Tafsir of Ibn Kathir, this verse refers to the story of Abdul Muttalib, a wealthy and generous merchant and the Prophet’s uncle, who maintained and cared for the Masjid al-Haram, providing free water to all pilgrims. His descendants, like Abbas ibn Abdul Muttalib, followed his example. However, their efforts in maintaining the mosque were not accompanied by faith in Allah. Hence, Allah criticized this in the subsequent verse:
أَجَعَلۡتُمۡ سِقَایَةَ ٱلۡح‍َ‍اۤجِّ وَعِمَارَةَ ٱلۡمَسۡجِدِ ٱلۡحَرَامِ كَمَنۡ ءَامَنَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلۡیَوۡمِ ٱلۡـَٔاخِرِ وَجَـٰهَدَ فِی سَبِیلِ ٱللَّهِۚ لَا یَسۡتَوُۥنَ ع‍ِ‍ن‍‍دَ ٱللَّهِۗ وَٱل‍‍لَّهُ لَا یَهۡدِی ٱلۡقَوۡمَ ٱل‍‍ظَّـٰلِم‍ِ‍ی‍‍نَ
**“Do you make the giving of drink to the pilgrims, or the maintenance of the Sacred Mosque, equal to (the pious service of) those who believe in Allah and the Last Day, and strive with might and main in the cause of Allah? They are not comparable in the sight of Allah: and Allah guides not those who do wrong.”** (At-Taubah: 19).
Verse 18 of Surah At-Taubah explains that those who truly deserve to maintain the mosques are those who believe in the Last Day, consistently perform prayers, give charity, and fear none but Allah.