بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

الحمد لله رب العالمین و صلی الله علی محمد و أهل بیته و أصحابه المنتجبین.

Dear brothers and sisters, respected guests and audience and dear Maulana Seyyed Shamshad Hussain Razavi,

Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahe wa Barakatuh.

It is my pleasure that I find myself in a new and fine mosque belongs to Shi'a communities in Oslo, Norway. Thanks to my dear brother dear Maulana Seyed Shamshad Hussain Razavi and the board of director of the mosque who invited me to attend the ceremony for official inauguration of the mosque, in which have attended many distinguish guests, including Ulama, from far and near.

Here I would like to deliver few words on Masjid (Mosque) in Islam in general and on this Masjid in particular.

Usually Masjid is combined with immigration. Whenever and wherever there is an immigration of Muslim community, we see that there has been built Masjid around their area.

The prophet of Islam, Mohammad bin Abdullah (sawa) when, he along with Muhajerin (the Immigrants) arrived in Medina from Mecca, started building the first mosque, namely Masjide Quba, in the suburb of Madina, and when they resided in the city, they built the 2nd. mosque, namely Masjid-un-Nabi.

This is why Muslim communities who have immigrated and resided since many years ego in the European countries have built their own mosques for their religious rituals, worships and ceremonies. There are some mosques in Oslo, Norway one of which is this new and fine Mosque.

It should be mentioned here that Masjid has always been a center for all religious and Islamic cultural activities, mobilization and all decisions belong to the Muslim communities affairs, both individual and social. That is not only for worship. All Muslims used to gather in mosques for worship, Learning Islamic teachings, reciting the holy Quran, training of the children etc.

Furthermore, Masjid in Islam has been considered as a holy place. It should be respected by all people. It should be kept clean and neatly and it is Haram to pollute it with one of the Nejasat. Even it is not allowed to pollute  around the area of Masjid. According to the Islamic Fighh (jurisprudence) when a part of  a Masjid is polluted, it is necessary and wajib  to clean that before praying, otherwise the pray will not be accepted.

All these show the Importance of Masjid as a house for Allah (swt). There are many rules and regulations for Masjid , which has been explained in the Islamic sources.

Now, we thank Allah, the Merciful, that He granted our Shi'a Brothers and sisters in Oslo to build this fine Mosque. May Allah (swt) grant all who helped and donated for this project best rewards, both here in this world and in the hereafter.

Of course, the rewards for building a mosque is very important and valuable. According to an authentic narration three actions will continue reserving rewards for a Muslim even after his death. They are: first, everything he has created or built for use of people, such as mosque, bridge, way etc. second, science and its products such as scholars, physician, technician and etc. Third good doer children who pray for him after his death. The text of the narration runs as the followings:

اذا مات ابن آدم انقطع عمله الا من ثلاث : صدقة جاریة ، او علم ینتفع به ، او ولد صالح یدعوا له.

So, I would like to congratulate all Muslim brothers and sisters who helped the board of director of this mosque by paying donations, working, guiding etc. I am sure that they will have best rewards by Allah (swt).

Finally, I wish that this precious and valuable mosque help all Shi'a communities from all nations in Oslo to use it as a center for unity, rationality and spirituality.

Thanks again for the invitation, and thank you for your attention.

و السلام علیکم و رحمة الله و برکاته

3rd. Sha'ban, 1435

1st. June, 2014