A person said to the imam in front of his mosque: Maulana, I will not come to the mosque from tomorrow? Pesh Imam Sahib asked: Can I know the reason?
He replied: Yes, why not! Actually, the reason is that every time I come to the mosque, I see that someone is talking on the phone, someone is looking at their messages even while praying, someone is gossiping in the corner, and someone is watching the local news. He is commenting, etc., etc.
After listening to the reason, Imam Sahib said: If possible, do one thing before making your final decision not to come to the mosque.
He said: Of course I am ready.
Maulana went to his room adjacent to the mosque and brought a full glass of water and told the man to take this glass in his hand and go round the inside of the mosque twice but be careful not to spill the water.
The man said: What is the big deal about the Qiblah, I can do this easily.
He took the glass and carefully made two rounds around the mosque, returning to Maulana and happily told him that not a single drop of water had spilled.
Pesh Imam Sahib said: Tell me when you were going around the mosque, how many people were talking on the phone or gossiping or commenting on the news of the neighborhood?
He said: I was all focused on the Qibla so that the water did not spill, I did not pay attention to the people.
The Pesh Imam Sahib said: When you come to the mosque, keep all your attention in the direction of “God”; When you come to the mosque for pure God, you will not know who is doing what.
This is why the Qur’an says to “follow the Messenger” it does not say to keep an eye on Muslims to see who is doing what. Your connection with God is strengthened by your own actions and not by the actions of others. And all will come alone on the Day of Resurrection.