The masjid under construction has been named Riaz ul Jannah. Keeping in view the status and importance of the name and to express pride that we are Muslims and are associated with our celebrated master Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH). All brothers and sisters are requested to pray that Jamia Masjid Riaz ul Jannah be permanently associated with the Riaz ul Jannah Masjid Nabawi (PBUH). Ameen! 

The Inspiration

History of Riaz ul Jannah

The Masjid has been named Riaz ul Jannah. Keeping in view the status and importance of the name and to Express the Pride that we are Muslims and are associated with our celebrated Master Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH). All Brothers and Sisters are requested to Pray that Jamia Masjid Riaz ul Jannah be Blessed with Infinte Blessings of the Riaz ul Jannah, Masjid e Nabawi (PBUH). Ameen!

Jamia Masjid Riaz ul Junnah is being constructed at Tusla Road, Rawalpindi Cantonment on land vacant since 1825. From 1825 to 2007, the family that owned the land attempted more than a hundred times to sell it but could not succeed.

The Custodian and President Jamia Masjid Riaz ul Jannah & Islamic Complex, Dr. Sohail Majid Sheikh came to reside in a house opposite to this land in 1994. It was in a dream in 1997 that Dr. Sohail conceived directions to build a Masjid in the very place it is being constructed now.
Initially, Dr. Sohail ignored the dream but then it began to recur. He started seeing the dream every second or third night. This disturbed Dr. Sohail to the extent that he went to see the owner of the land to acquire it for a Masjid but returned in complete disappointment. The owner of the land said that he did not want to sell the plot to build a Masjid on it.
Dr. Sohail recalls that one particular night he spent very restlessly. Whenever sleep came to him, along came a voice that said, "Get up and build the Masjid". This kept waking him up again and again

...

یہ نغمہ فصلِ گل ولالہ کا نہیں پابند
بہار ہو کہ خزاں لا الہٰ الا اللہ

These melodious songs are not confined
To time when rose and tulip bloom
Whatever the season of year be
“No God but He” must ring till doom.

Perhaps Dr. Sohail’s dream was the realization of the idea in that couplet. Dr. Sohail went out of his house the next morning determined to convince the owner of the land Mulazim Hussain to sell it to him. However, Mulazim Hussain refused rudely and harshly. He said that he had already received earnest money from someone and that no masjid was going to be built there and then he told Dr. Sohail to leave.

Dr. Sohail recalls that he was distressed to hear this. It made him tearful. He looked up to the sky and said:

“Oh the possessor of majesty and blessings! You are the owner of the two worlds, owner of the water and soil. What have you been telling me for ten years? What are you showing me? Why am I being shown again and again that I must start construction of a masjid here? O Allah! If this is not your will, then what do these signals mean?”

The solution came within a few hours. Perhaps the anguished sighs of Dr. Sohail reached the highest sky. Within 24 hours, Mulazim Hussain somehow got hold of Dr. Sohail home phone number and requested his wife to arranged a meeting with Dr. Sohail. Dr. Sohail refused at first but later conceded to meet him at 10 o’clock the next morning. Mulazim Hussain came. Dr. Sohail received him respectfully. He was in an indescribable fear. He was presented with a bowl of milk. He had only these words on his tongue: Take my place for the Masjid. Again and again he was asking Dr. Sohail if would please build a masjid there. Dr. Sohail said he had been planning to build a masjid for the last ten years and asked him the price of the land. Mulazim Hussain said he was going to give the land in the path of Allah (SWT) and that he was going to appoint Dr. Sohail as the custodian and patron of the masjid. Thus Mulazim Hussain, by his own will, gave away two kanal land for the masjid and appointed Dr. Sohail as the life-long supervisor and patron of the masjid.

As soon as he got the land, Dr. Sohail prayed two raka’ats of prayers of gratitude to Allah (SWT)on the same piece of land and when the time for salat came, he made the call of azan and announced the construction of a Masjid there.

اگرچہ بُت ہیں جماعت کی آستینوں میں
مجھے ہے حکم اذاں لا الہٰ الا اللہ

Many idols are still concealed
In their sleeves by the Faithful Fold
I am ordained by Mighty God
To raise the call and be much bold.

After hearing this announcement, an elderly and very honorable personality of the same street Mr. Wazir Hussain Bhatti came specially to meet Dr. Sohail and began to weep uncontrollably. When he asked the reason, he said he had known since 1982 that a masjid would be built here. When he was asked as to how he knew that, he said that respected teacher Pir Mohrra Sharif was once on the way to his home. When he passed by this plot of land, he said, ‘Wazir! Stop the car. I see minarets of a masjid here’.

Immediately a small tent masjid was built (you can see pictures of this masjid in the media gallery). The masjid was set up in a tent so that salat and other religious orders could be complied with immediately. Efforts to obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the masjid were started in 2008.

Dr. Sohail’s respected father Sheikh Abdul Hameed (RA) passed away in 2012. He was an extremely kind and pious person. He started his tahajjud prayers at the age of 20 which he did not miss until his demise. You can see a detailed article about him under the ‘Mazar Sharif’ link. Witness the height of blessed approval here. The son is being instructed to build a masjid for the last ten years and the respected father is blessed with the great reward of seeing the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and orders him to name the masjid as ‘Riaz ul Jannah’. The masjid was called Riaz ul Jannah as per this order. Many respected scholars of the Deen, elders, Pirs, Muftis and khalifas of shrines were present on the day the digging for the construction of the masjid was to begin. Right at the time of the concluding supplication to Allah (SWT) during the ceremony, a person, who had not been invited, stood up and spoke thus:

“My name is Qari Hameed ul Haq. I am dispensing duties as the cleaner of the keys at the Exalted Madina and I have been extended special favors from the master of the two world Prophet Muhammad (SAW) that I have come from Riaz ul Jannah to Riaz ul Jannah. I would like to present Dr. Sohail with two presents. One of those is a piece of carpet used inside the Riaz ul Jannah and the second is a blessed cloth that wraps the sacred grave of Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jillani (RA).”

There are many other events and miracles that indicate that Allah (SWT) has chosen Dr. Sohail for this pious objective and for the great mission of service to Islam. We all pray that Allah (SWT) gives him a long life, grant blessing upon his livelihood and keep all kinds of troubles and evil influences away from him.

I had to write this article because I was convinced that such clear signals and indications should be brought within the knowledge of all. If one’s intention is pure, the blessings of Allah (SWT) and his beloved Prophet Muhammad (SAW) begin to flow. May Allah (SWT) grant us all support and success. Ameen!

Purposes and aims of Jamia Masjid Riaz ul Jannah

Artistic View of Riaz-ul-Jannah, Rawalpindi

Opening Ceremony of Riaz-ul-Jannah

Construction of Riaz-ul-Jannah