Chosen Islamic Manners
Manners One Should Abide by in the Masjid
*The reward of building a Masjid is that Allah, the Exalted, will build for that individual a house in Jannah.
*The scholars include in the definition of the Masjid the entire area within its gates and the area past the door that leads to it.
*Allah says: And [He revealed] that the Masjids are for Allah, so do not invoke with Allah anyone. (72:18)
It is unlawful for one to attribute a Masjid to a human in a manner that one may perceive that it belongs to him; but there is no problem if one associates a Masjid with a certain name, so that it can be recognized and known by people. The Prophet (pbuh) attributed his Masjid to himself. He (pbuh) said:
'…this Masjid of mine...' (Abu Dawood)
The Prophet (pbuh) also attributed Masjid Qo'baa to himself as well. We should realize that attributions of names to the Masaajid are so that people will know them; thus, this is not included in the prohibition.[1]
*It is not appropriate for him who eats onion or garlic to go to the Masjid. Jabir () said that the Prophet () said: 'Whoever eats garlic or onion let him not attend with us', or He said: 'let him not attend the congregation in the Masjid; let him stay at his home.' (Bukhari)
Similar to garlic and onion are any unpleasant odors which harm and distract one from their prayers. If this individual uses something to prevent the foul odor, such as brushing his teeth, then there is no problem if he attends the congregation in the Masjid.
*One should attend the congregation in the Masjid as early as possible. The Prophet () said:
'Were they to know the reward of the first line they would have had to make a draw (to see who would stand in it).' (Bukhari)
*It is praiseworthy for one to walk to the masjid and perform prayers. He should walk in a calm and unhurried manner. The Prophet (pbuh) forbade his Ummah to rush to prayers even if the Iqamah has been called. Abu Qatadah () said: 'we were performing prayers with the Prophet (pbuh) and we heard people rushing to join the prayers. When he completed the prayers, he said: 'What is the matter with you?' They answered: 'We rushed to join the prayers.' He said: 'Do not do that, when you come to join the congregation in prayer, walk calmly and in an unhurried manner. Whatever you catch, perform it with the Imam, and what you miss, complete it.' (Bukhari)
*When one walks to the Masjid he should say:
'Al'laahum'ma ij'al fee qalbee nooran waj'al fee le'saane nooran waj'al fee sam'ee noo'ran waj'al fee ba'sa'ree noo'run waj'al khal'fee noo'ran wa a'maa'mee nooran waj'al min fo'qee noo'ran wa min tah'tee noo'ran. Al'laahum'ma wa A'dthim lee noo'ran[2].'[3]
*One should enter the Masjid with his right foot and say: 'Al'laahum'ma sal'lee wa sal'lim ala Muhammad wa ala aa'lee Muhammad. Al'laahum'maf tah-lee ab'waaba rahmatika. Meaning: O Allah, open for me the gates of Your mercy.
*One should exit the masjid with his left foot, and say: 'Al'laahum'ma sal'lee wa sal'lim ala Muhammad wa ala aa'lee Muhammad al'laahum'ma in'nee as'a'lo'ka min fad'le'ka.'[4] Meaning: O Allah, I ask You from Your bounties.
*One should perform Tahiyatul Masjid upon entering the Masjid, as is mentioned in the hadeeth of Abu Qatadah () asSulami, that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said:
'If one of you enters the Masjid, let him perform a two unit prayer before he sits down.' (Bukhari)
One should perform Tahiytaul Masjid upon entering the Masjid, even if he enters it during a time of prohibition.
*There is great reward for sitting in the Masjid and waiting for the prayer. The Prophet (pbuh) said:
'When one enters the Masjid he will be as though he is in prayer as long as the person is waiting to perform the next prayer. The angels will supplicate Allah for him as long as he is in this position; they will supplicate, saying: 'Al'laahum'ma ir'ham'who (O Allah have mercy on him) Al'laahum'ma ighfir'la'who, Al'laahum'ma tob a'laih' (O Allah forgive him) as long as he does not break his wudhu.' (Bukhari)
*It is inappropriate for one to sit with people in the Masjid who talk about worldly affairs; the Prophet (pbuh) prophesized that this would happen. He (pbuh) said:
'A time will come when people sit in the Masjid and only discuss worldly affairs. Allah does not need them, so do not sit with them.' (Hakim)
*It is appropriate that one not use the Masjid to talk falsehood or idle talk. One should not raise their voice to say something blameworthy.
*It is lawful for one to lie down in the Masjid. Abdullah b. Zaid () said that he saw the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) lying down on his back in the Masjid and he had outstretched his feet placing one atop the other.
*It is lawful for one to stretch their feet towards the Qiblah. One should avoid stretching their feet towards the Mushaf (i.e. the Qur'an) out of respect for the words of Allah.
*It is lawful for one to sleep in the Masjid for the people of as-Suffah would sleep in the Masjid. If one has a wet-dream while in the Masjid, he should quickly rush out of the Masjid and perform Ghusl. Ibn Umar () who was an unmarried youth at that time would sleep in the masjid of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh).
*It is unlawful for one to conduct sales in the Masjid. The Prophet () said:
'If you see someone selling in the Masjid say to them:
'May Allah not give success to you in your sales.' (Hakim)
*It is inappropriate for one to place advertisements for products in the Masjid.
*It is inappropriate for one to call out and ask people in the Masjid if they found something that he lost. If this happens it should be said to him:
'May Allah not return your lost item to you for the Masjid is not built for this purpose.' (Muslim)
*It is lawful for one to raise his voice in the Masjid to spread knowledge and when ordering with good things; one should not raise his voice in the Masjid for any other purpose.
*One should not intertwine his fingers when sitting in the Masjid and waiting for a prayer. Ka'b b. A’jurah () said that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said:
'When one of you performs Wudhu and perfects it and then goes to the Masjid, let him not intertwine his fingers, for indeed he is in prayer.' (Abu Dawood)
*It is lawful for one to eat and drink in the Masjid.
Abdullah b. al-Harith b. Juz' az-Zubaidi () said:'We used to eat bread and meat in the Masjid of theProphet () when the Messenger of Allah () was alive.' (Ibn Majah)
*It is lawful for one to recite lines of poetry in the Masjid. Has'san b. Thabit () used to say a few lines of poetry in front of the Messenger of Allah (pbuh). (Bukhari)
*It is lawful for one to play with spears in the Masjid. A'ishah () said: 'I saw the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) standing on the pedestal of my door and the Habashah (Ethiopians) were playing in the Masjid; the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) was covering me with his garment and I was looking at them play in the masjid.' (Bukhari)
*It is inappropriate for one to leave the Masjid after the Adthaan has been called, except if one has a valid reason to do so. This is taken from the hadeeth of Abu ash-Sha'thaa () in which he said: 'We were sitting in the Masjid with Abu Hurairah () and the Mu'adthin called the Adthaan and a man got up to leave the Masjid, Abu Hurairah () followed him until he left the masjid and he said: 'As for this individual, he certainly has disobeyed the Messenger of Allah (pbuh).' (Muslim)
*It is inappropriate for one to decorate the Masjid and etch calligraphy in its walls. The Prophet () said: 'When you decorate the Masjid and beautify the Mushaf, destruction is ominously near.' (As-Silsilah as-Saheehah)
He () also said: 'The Final Hour will not be established until people will decorate and show off the beauty of their Masaajid.' (Abu Dawood)
*It is incorrect for one to perform prayer on decorated or colorful prayer mats.
*It is inappropriate for one to take the Masjid as a walking path. The Prophet () said:
'The Masaajid are indeed for the remembrance of Allah and prayer.' (As-Silsilah as-Saheehah)
*It is inappropriate for one to place clocks with loud bells in the Masjid that ring at timed intervals, for this is similar to the bells Christians use in their Churches.
*One should not recite Qur'an in a loud voice, for this might distract someone while they are performing prayer.
*The Prophet (pbuh) forbade sitting in circles in the Masjid. Jabir b. Samorah () said: 'The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) entered the Masjid and saw people grouped in different circles, and he said:
'Why do I see you divided into groups?' (Muslim)
*It is of the Sunnah that one performs prayers while wearing their sandals.[5] Anas b. Malik () was asked: 'Did the Prophet (pbuh) perform prayers in his sandals?' He said: 'Yes.' (Bukhari & Muslim)
If a person enters the Masjid, and removes his sandals and does not pray in them, he can place them to his left. The Prophet (pbuh) removed his sandals while he was in prayer and placed them to his left side. It is stated in the hadeeth: 'If one of you prays let him not put his shoes on his right or left side, for this would be on the right of someone else. If no one is to his left side he can place his sandals to his left side; otherwise, he should place them between his feet.' (Abu Dawood)
*One should not spit in the Masjid. The Messenger of Allah () said:
'Spitting in the Masjid is a sinful act, and its atonement is that one buries it.' (Agreed Upon)
*One should not pass in front of a praying person. The Prophet () said:
'Were the one who passes in front of someone else (who is performing prayer) to know what punishment this action incurs, one would rather wait forty then to cross in front of the praying person.' (Abu Dawood)
*It is appropriate for the praying person to pray towards a Sutrah (barrier). The Prophet (pbuh) said:
'If one of you prays let him pray towards a Sutrah while standing close towards it.' (Abu Dawood)
*There is great reward in cleaning the Masjid. The Prophet (pbuh) stated that spitting in the masjid is a sinful act, and its atonement was to purify it. There is also a weak hadeeth that the dowry for the Hoor al-Ein is to clean the Masjid.
*It is not lawful for a non-Muslim to enter the two Sacred Mosques, even if he has the permission of a Muslim. It is lawful for a Dhimmi (a non-Muslim living in the Muslim lands and pays Jizyah to the Muslim state) to enter the two sanctuaries if he is contracted to do some structural work, under the condition that no Muslim can do that job.
*Ibn al-Muflih, may Allah have mercy on him, said: 'Our Sheiks said: 'There is nothing wrong in our time for one to lock the Masjid during times other than the prayer times, especially if one fears that thieves will loot what is in it.' (Al a'daab ash-Share'yah 3/384)
*Places assigned for prayers in one's home do not take the rulings that are specific to a Masjid; therefore, one who is in a state of major ritual impurity or a woman in her menstrual period are allowed to sit in them.
[1] Fath al-Bari 2/361.
[2] Meaning: O Allah, place light in my heart, and light on my tongue, and light within my ears and light in my eyes, and place behind me light and in front of me light and above me light and beneath me light. O Allah, bestow on me light!
[3] Bukhari and Muslim
[4] Muslim
[5] During this time and age, it is quite difficult for one to enter the Masjid with his shoes and perform prayer while wearing them.
to be continued . . . .
