Beyond Worship: Stakeholders Seek Better Management of Mosques

At MGDLI’s third anniversary, Islamic leaders and professionals call for proper land documentation, financial accountability, improved hygiene and institutional support to safeguard mosques.

Mosques are more than places of worship. They are centres of spiritual development, education, community engagement and social welfare. Yet, their ability to fulfil these responsibilities can be undermined by disputed ownership, poor administration, financial mismanagement and inadequate hygiene.

These concerns formed the focus of discussions at the third anniversary of the Mosque Guidance and Development Lagos Initiative (MGDLI), where Islamic leaders, legal practitioners and other professionals called for stronger institutional structures to protect mosque properties and ensure sustainable management.

The three-day programme, held from October 30 to November 1, 2026, at the Shamsi Adisa Thomas Central Mosque, Ikeja GRA, Lagos, examined challenges confronting mosque administration and proposed practical solutions.

Delivering the keynote address, titled “Mosque Documentation and Hygiene: The Foundation for Sustainable Islamic Development in Lagos,” a lecturer at Lagos State University, Professor Saheed Olurotimi Timehin, identified proper documentation, hygiene and good governance as essential pillars of sustainable mosque development.

He argued that a mosque's greatness should not be measured by its physical structure alone but by the quality of worship it supports, the integrity of its administration and its contribution to the community.

“The true greatness of a mosque is not measured by its physical appearance or size but by the quality of worship it supports, the integrity of its administration, the cleanliness of its environment, and the positive impact it has on the community,” he said.

Timehin warned that poor record-keeping could expose mosque properties to ownership disputes, mismanagement and possible loss, particularly in Lagos, where urban development and rising property values have increased the importance of securing land titles.

He urged mosque administrators to maintain proper land ownership documents, survey plans, title records, endowment and trust documents, alongside financial records covering donations, income, expenditure, bank transactions and project accounts.

He also advocated proper documentation of mosque constitutions, committee membership, meeting minutes, succession plans and community activities, stressing that accountability would strengthen public confidence and protect institutional assets.

Linking documentation to Islamic teachings, he described record-keeping as an expression of Amanah (trust), justice and responsibility.

“Documentation should be understood not as a sign of distrust, but as a divine injunction and a means of safeguarding trust,” he said.

On hygiene, the professor called for regular maintenance of toilets, ablution facilities, prayer halls, water supply, ventilation and drainage systems.

He recommended regular cleaning schedules, adequate water supply and the establishment of sanitation committees to coordinate inspections and maintenance.

He further identified transparency, consultation (Shūrā), clearly defined responsibilities, succession planning, fairness and inclusion as essential elements of effective mosque governance.

According to him, women, young people, elderly worshippers and persons with disabilities should be considered in mosque administration and development.

“Good governance turns a mosque from a personality-driven institution into one that is principle-driven and sustainable,” he said.

To address existing challenges, he urged MGDLI to develop standard documentation templates, hygiene and safety guidelines, capacity-building programmes and annual mosque assessments, while building partnerships with lawyers, engineers, accountants, architects and environmental experts.

He stressed that the impact of mosque development initiatives should be measured by tangible improvements rather than the number of activities conducted.

Grand Chief Imam warns against construction without title documents

The Grand Chief Imam of Lagos State, Sheikh Sulaiman Abou-Noulla, also urged Imams and mosque administrators to secure legal title documents before commencing construction on land designated for mosques.

He warned that failure to comply with land laws and other regulations could expose religious institutions to litigation and demolition, stressing that mosques were not exempt from the laws governing society.

“Every country has its government and laws, and the laws of the land must be obeyed. Nobody is above the law,” he said.

Citing the Qur'anic injunction on obedience to Allah, His Messenger and those in authority, the cleric urged Muslims to demonstrate responsibility by complying with lawful regulations.

He also referenced Surah Al-Baqarah 2:282, which emphasises documenting deferred financial transactions to protect the rights of parties involved.

Applying the principle to mosque development, he said prospective builders must establish the legal status of land before commencing construction.

“If you want to build a mosque in Lagos and you have identified a piece of land, you have to conduct a survey to establish its status and obtain the necessary title documents before embarking on construction,” he said.

He appealed to Imams and mosque management committees to make proper documentation a priority.

Mosque disputes inspired MGDLI's establishment

The Chairman of MGDLI, Alhaji Musoddiq Adele Sanni, said the initiative was established in response to recurring complaints about mosque demolitions, disputed ownership and the sale of properties donated for Islamic purposes.

Tracing its origin to his tenure as chairman of the Muslim Lawyers Association of Nigeria (MULAN), Sanni explained that some donors failed to legally transfer ownership of donated land to the mosques, leaving their successors to claim the properties as family inheritance.

The situation, he said, exposed Islamic institutions to ownership disputes, illegal sales and possible demolition, prompting consultations with stakeholders on preventive measures.

He acknowledged the support of the Grand Chief Imam of Lagos, His Eminence Sheikh (Engineer) Sulaiman Oluwatoyin Abu-Nolla, and the late Baba Adinni of Lagos, Sheikh Abu, during the initiative's formative stages.

Sanni said the first mosque development sensitisation programme was held on October 28, 2023, at the Shamsideen Adisa Central Mosque.

He disclosed that MGDLI had grown to more than 20 members from different professional backgrounds, including law, media, surveying and engineering.

He added that the initiative's engagements had revealed other challenges confronting mosques, including leadership disputes, poor administration, environmental problems and inadequate hygiene.

Calling for collective responsibility, he said Muslims must take the initiative in addressing problems affecting their religious institutions.

“Who would help us solve these problems? The honest answer was clear: nobody but we the Muslims ourselves. We must take responsibility for addressing our own challenges,” he said.

He added that MGDLI had continued its advocacy through public lectures, educational publications, mosque visits and legal interventions where necessary.

Danmole seeks institutional backing

The President of the Lagos Muslim Community and former Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs, Oyinlomo Danmole, urged MGDLI to secure institutional support from established religious and government bodies to strengthen its interventions.

He recommended stronger collaboration with the Lagos Muslim Community, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC), saying such partnerships would give the initiative greater recognition and improve compliance with its recommendations.

“When people don't have authority, nobody will listen to you if you want to do something. Get your authority from an authorised body,” he said.

Danmole maintained that institutional backing would enable MGDLI to report identified problems to relevant authorities for necessary action.

He assured the initiative of the Lagos Muslim Community's willingness to support its activities, describing its work as part of the community's broader responsibility.

Abdulhakeem pledges support

Also speaking during a panel discussion, former Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs, Dr Abdullateef Abdulhakeem, urged Muslims to pay greater attention to the organisation and management of mosques.

He volunteered to join MGDLI and pledged to promote its activities to a wider audience, emphasising the need for greater participation by Muslim leaders, professionals and community stakeholders.

The anniversary discussions reinforced the need for mosques to move beyond informal and personality-driven administration towards institutions built on proper documentation, transparency, accountability and effective management.

Ultimately, stakeholders maintained that protecting mosques requires collective commitment to securing their properties, managing resources responsibly and maintaining clean environments.

Beyond their physical structures, they said, mosques must remain sustainable institutions capable of fulfilling their religious, educational, social and developmental responsibilities for generations to come.