Allah says, “…A mosque founded on righteousness from the first day is more worthy for you to stand in. Within it are men who love to purify themselves; and Allah loves those who purify themselves.” (Surah Tawba 9:108)
What really matters when building a mosque, a school is not just the walls and structure, but the intention and sincerity behind it. The Prophet (ﷺ) built people before he built physical spaces. When he (ﷺ) came to Madinah, he built Masjid Quba on a foundation of taqwa (God-consciousness) showing that true success comes from starting with faith, knowledge and sincerity.
This is a lesson for us today: before focusing on beautiful buildings, we should focus on building people—hearts that love Allah, minds filled with knowledge, and lives anchored in worship. A strong community of believers is the real foundation, and the buildings come after.