Mosques That Serve, Surau That Educate

In recent times, various regions have once again been faced with youth brawls, illegal street racing, and various forms of delinquency involving young people. Some incidents end in injury, while others even claim lives. We are busy searching for the causes, with some blaming families, schools, or even social media.

In reality, this phenomenon indicates a deeper issue: a crisis in the spaces available for nurturing the next generation. When the immense energy possessed by young people finds no appropriate outlet, it can easily transform into behaviour that harms both themselves and others. Amidst these various explanations, there is one question rarely asked: where do young people spend their nights?

This question is vital because character is not formed by occasional advice. Character is shaped by an environment that continuously accompanies an individual through life. The Qur’an reminds us, “Protect yourselves and your families from the fire of Hell” (QS. At-Tahrim: 6). This verse teaches that protecting a generation is not enough through mere advice; it also requires providing an environment that habituates them to goodness and protects them from harmful things.

In this context, two interesting initiatives deserve attention. In Sukabandum, West Java, the ‘Gerakan Masjid Sejuta Pemuda’ (One Million Youth Mosque Movement) is developing. In Padang, West Sumatra, the ‘Smart Surau’ programme has emerged. Both originate from different regions but offer complementary answers to the problems facing the youth.

The ‘Gerakan Masjid Sejuta Pemuda’ stems from the awareness that mosques must be spaces friendly to young people. A mosque should not merely wait for worshippers to arrive but must also present an atmosphere that makes them want to return. This awareness is evident in how these mosques are managed. Young people are not just worshippers, but also administrators and drivers of various programmes. Comfortable gathering spaces, cafe areas, and diverse community activities close to their interests are provided. Some mosques even operate 24 hours a day, providing rest areas for travellers and worshippers in need. Rather than being just a stopover during prayer times, these mosques strive to present themselves as an open and living home throughout the day.

This approach reminds us of the mosques during the era of the Prophet ﷺ. The mosque was not just a place for prayer, but also a space for learning, deliberation, and growing together. When a Bedouin man urinated in the mosque, the Prophet ﷺ chose education over anger. When his grandchildren played in the mosque, he did not expel them but provided space for them to feel close to the house of worship. This is where the importance of service lies. A serving mosque is one that welcomes before demanding, embraces before judging, and opens space for involvement before requesting obedience.

However, getting youth to come to the mosque is only the first step. The next challenge is how to ensure that this presence results in character change. This is where the strength of ‘Smart Surau’ lies.

Many view ‘Smart Surau’ merely as a programme to encourage the presence (via digital attendance) of children and teenagers in mosques and prayer rooms. In reality, its meaning is much deeper. The programme seeks to revive the function of the ‘surau’ (prayer room) as a centre for community education, as was once a tradition in Minangkabau.

In Minangkabau history, the surau was not just a place for prayer. It was a place to learn religion, form manners, train independence, prepare the next generation of society, and even practice martial arts (pencak silat). Its presence was an essential part of the philosophy ‘adat basandi syarak, syarak basandi Kitabullah’ (custom based on religious law, religious law based on the Book of Allah).

Therefore, when ‘Smart Surau’ habituates children and teenagers to be close to the surau, what is being built is not just an increase in the number of worshippers, but a way of life. A teenager accustomed to congregational prayer will learn time discipline, manage daily activities, and exercise self-control. Character is often not shaped by major events, but by small habits performed consistently.

Upon closer inspection, ‘Masjid Sejuta Pemuda’ and ‘Smart Surau’ essentially address two basic needs of the younger generation: first, the need to be accepted; and second, the need to be guided. ‘Masjid Selevuta Pemuda’ shows that young people need spaces where they feel valued and involved. ‘Smart Surau’ shows that once they arrive, the educational process must proceed through continuous habituation and guidance.

Amidst increasing concerns regarding brawls, youth violence, drug abuse, and other generational crises, the required solution is not enough through mere supervision and enforcement. The younger generation needs spaces where they feel both accepted and guided. A serving mosque will make them come without fear. An educating surau will help them find their life’s direction. Service without education will only produce closeness without change. Conversely, education without service risks producing rules without affection.

Therefore, both must go hand in hand. When mosques learn to serve and suraus return to educating, we are not just prospering houses of worship. We are preparing the generation that will eventually prosper them. For the imams, preachers, religious teachers, and community leaders of the future do not emerge suddenly. They grow from the children who today feel accepted in the mosque and educated in the surau.