Etiquettes [Àdāb] of the Masjid

The Masājid [Mosques] are from the sacred symbols of the religion of Islam. They are a place in which Allah is remembered, hence it is an honoured place by Allah. Since it is a virtuous and honoured place, they are rules and guidelines that need to be adhered to, due to its sacredness by Allah. This article attempts to mention some of its etiquettes and also some of its virtues.

 

 

A list of the 12 etiquettes followed by a brief explanation.

 

1. Perform Ablution [Wuḍū] at home properly
2. Remove bad odour
3. Beautify yourself
4. Recite duʿā’ when leaving home
5. Walk with calmness and ease [Parking car properly]
6. Remove any harmful objects in the path
7. Entering with right foot first and reciting duʿā
8. Perform taḥiyyat al-masjid [Prayer of welcoming the Masjid]
9. Going early and sitting in front row
10. Avoid worldly talk
11. Engage in the remembrance of Allah [Quran and Aḍhkār]
12. Leaving the Masjid with left foot first and duʿā

 

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Before going into the Etiquettes of the Masjid, a quick word regarding the importance of Salah [5 daily prayers]. Allah has made Salah obligatory on us 5 times a day, and it considered one of the 5 pillars of Islam. A Hadith states:

 

عَنْ ابْنِ عُمَرَ عَنْ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ بُنِيَ الْإِسْلَامُ عَلَى خَمْسٍ عَلَى أَنْ يُعْبَدَ اللَّهُ وَيُكْفَرَ بِمَا دُونَهُ وَإِقَامِ الصَّلَاةِ وَإِيتَاءِ الزَّكَاةِ وَحَجِّ الْبَيْتِ وَصَوْمِ رَمَضَانَ

 [8 صحيح البخاري كتاب الإيمان باب قول النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم بني الإسلام على خمس]

[16 صحيح مسلم كتاب الإيمان باب بيان أركان الإسلام ودعائمه العظام]

 

 

Ibn Umar [رضي الله عنه] reported:

The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Islam is built upon five: to worship Allah and to disbelieve in what is worshiped besides Him, to establish prayer, to give charity, to perform the Hajj pilgrimage to the house, and to fast the month of Ramadan.”

[Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 8, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 16]

 

 

Hence, every believer must offer his 5 daily prayers and maintain its performance.

 

 

حَـٰفِظُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلصَّلَوَٰتِ وَٱلصَّلَوٰةِ ٱلْوُسْطَىٰ وَقُومُوا۟ لِلَّهِ قَـٰنِتِينَ ٢٣٨

 

Take due care of all the prayers, and the middle prayer, and stand before Allah in total devotion. [2:238]

 

 

 

Introduction

 

Honoured by Almighty Allah

 

The Masjids are from amongst the sacred signs of Allah, in fact Allah attaches the places of worship towards himself, as a way of honouring it [Idafatul-Ikram]. Almighty Allah states:

 

 

وَأَنَّ ٱلْمَسَـٰجِدَ لِلَّهِ فَلَا تَدْعُوا۟ مَعَ ٱللَّهِ أَحَدًۭا ١٨

And that masājid (mosques) belong to Allah; so, do not invoke anyone along with Allah. [72:18]

 

 

 

Most beloved places to Almighty Allah

 

The best place and most beloved to Allah are the Masjids. Consider the following Hadith:

 

 

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ أَحَبُّ الْبِلَادِ إِلَى اللَّهِ مَسَاجِدُهَا وَأَبْغَضُ الْبِلَادِ إِلَى اللَّهِ أَسْوَاقُهَا

[671 صحيح مسلم كتاب المساجد ومواضع الصلاة باب فضل الجلوس في مصلاه بعد الصبح وفضل المساجد]

Abu Hurairah [رضي الله عنه] reported:

The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “The most beloved of places to Allah are the mosques, and the most hated of places to Allah are the markets.”

[Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 671]

 

 

 

Acquiring the prayer of The Noble Prophet (ﷺ)

 

In another Hadith, the best of creation, The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prayed for a women who used to clean the Masjid. Hence her action of venerating and cleaning the Masjid, resulted in acquiring the blessed prayers from our beloved Prophet (ﷺ). 

 

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَجُلاً، أَسْوَدَ ـ أَوِ امْرَأَةً سَوْدَاءَ ـ كَانَ يَقُمُّ الْمَسْجِدَ، فَمَاتَ، فَسَأَلَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنْهُ فَقَالُوا مَاتَ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏ “‏ أَفَلاَ كُنْتُمْ آذَنْتُمُونِي بِهِ دُلُّونِي عَلَى قَبْرِهِ ‏”‏‏.‏ ـ أَوْ قَالَ قَبْرِهَا ـ فَأَتَى قَبْرَهُ فَصَلَّى عَلَيْهِ‏.‏

 

A black man or a black woman used to sweep the mosque and he or she died. The Prophet (ﷺ) asked about her (or him). He was told that she (or he) had died. He said, “Why did you not inform me? Show me his grave (or her grave).” So he went to her (his) grave and offered her (his) funeral prayer.”

[Source: Sahih Bukhari, Chapter 72, Hadith 458]

 

The first action The Noble Prophet (ﷺ) engaged in when arriving into al-Madinah was building a Masjid.

 

Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) said in Zad al-Ma’ad (3/58), when describing the arrival of the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) in al-Madinah:

“The Muslims said takbir, rejoicing at his arrival, and they went out to meet him… He continued until he stopped in Quba, among Banu ‘Amr ibn ‘Awf, and he stayed among them for fourteen days, and founded the mosque of Quba, which is the first mosque to be established after the beginning of his Prophethood.”

 

 

Virtue of offering Salah in the Masjid

 

There are many virtues of offering Salah in the Masjid, we will suffice with the following:

 

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ عَنْ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ مَنْ غَدَا إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ وَرَاحَ أَعَدَّ اللَّهُ لَهُ نُزُلَهُ مِنْ الْجَنَّةِ كُلَّمَا غَدَا أَوْ رَاحَ

[662 صحيح البخاري أبواب صلاة الجماعة والإمامة باب فضل من غدا إلى المسجد ومن راح]

669 صحيح مسلم كتاب المساجد ومواضع الصلاة باب المشي إلى الصلاة تمحى به الخطايا وترفع به الدرجات

 

 

 

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Etiquettes [Adāb] of the Masjid

 

 

Perform Ablution [Wuḍū] at home properly

 

 

Performing Wudu and cleansing oneself is from the Etiquettes if the Masjid. Each step a person takes in going to the Masjid, he will get one reward, one sin wiped out and his rank will be elevated for each step [this only applies if he has done Wudu from home]. A hadith in Sahih Muslim records:

 

 

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مَنْ تَطَهَّرَ فِي بَيْتِهِ ثُمَّ مَشَى إِلَى بَيْتٍ مِنْ بُيُوتِ اللَّهِ لِيَقْضِيَ فَرِيضَةً مِنْ فَرَائِضِ اللَّهِ كَانَتْ خَطْوَتَاهُ إِحْدَاهُمَا تَحُطُّ خَطِيئَةً وَالْأُخْرَى تَرْفَعُ دَرَجَةً

[666 صحيح مسلم كتاب المساجد ومواضع الصلاة باب المشي إلى الصلاة تمحى به الخطايا وترفع به الدرجات]

 

Abu Hurairah [رضي الله عنه] reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said,

”Whoever purifies himself with ablution in his house, then he walks to a house among the houses of Allah to fulfill an obligation among the obligations of Allah, one step of his will expiate his sins and another step will raise his status.”

[Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 666]

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ قَالَ ‏ “‏ كَفَّارَاتُ الْخَطَايَا إِسْبَاغُ الْوُضُوءِ عَلَى الْمَكَارِهِ وَإِعْمَالُ الأَقْدَامِ إِلَى الْمَسَاجِدِ وَانْتِظَارُ الصَّلاَةِ بَعْدَ الصَّلاَةِ ‏”‏ ‏.‏

 

 

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah [رضي الله عنه] that:

 

The Prophet (ﷺ)  said: “Sins are expiated by well-performed ablution despite difficulties, increasing the number of steps one takes towards the mosque, (and waiting for the next prayer after prayer).“

 

 

 

 

Any person going to the Masjid should ensure he has removed any foul and strong smell, so the Angels and the worshippers are not disturbed. This includes things like Garlic, Onions and even Cigarettes! 

 

 

 

عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ عَنْ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ مَنْ أَكَلَ الْبَصَلَ وَالثُّومَ وَالْكُرَّاثَ فَلَا يَقْرَبَنَّ مَسْجِدَنَا فَإِنَّ الْمَلَائِكَةَ تَتَأَذَّى مِمَّا يَتَأَذَّى مِنْهُ بَنُو آدَمَ

 

 

Jabir ibn Abdullah [رضي الله عنه] reported:

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Whoever eats onions, garlic, or leeks should not approach our mosque, for the angels are offended by whatever offends the children of Adam.”

[Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 564]

 

 

 

Beautify yourself

 

۞ يَـٰبَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ خُذُوا۟ زِينَتَكُمْ عِندَ كُلِّ مَسْجِدٍۢ وَكُلُوا۟ وَٱشْرَبُوا۟ وَلَا تُسْرِفُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُحِبُّ ٱلْمُسْرِفِينَ ٣١

 

 

O children of Adam, take your adornment [i.e., wear your clothing] at every masjid, and eat and drink, but be not excessive. Indeed, He likes not those who commit excess. [7:31]

 

 

 

 

Recite supplication [duʿā’] when leaving home

 

 

The following supplication can be recited when leaving home:

 

بِسْمِ اللهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَى اللهِ ، لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللهِ

 

Bismi-llāhi tawakkaltu ʿalal-llāh, lā ḥawla wa lā quwwata illā bi-llāh.

 

Translation: In the Name of Allah, I have placed my trust in Allah. There is no power (in averting evil) or strength (in attaining good) except through Allah.

(Abū Dāwūd 5095, Tirmidhī 3426)

 

These supplications will become a means of blessings [barakah] from Allah and also reward, due to following the Sunnah of our beloved Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ

 

Other supplications recorded in the Sunnah are:

 

 

اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنِّيْ أَعُوْذُ بِكَ أَنْ أَضِلَّ أَوْ أُضَلَّ ، أَوْ أَزِلَّ أَوْ أُزَلَّ ، أَوْ أَظْلِمَ أَوْ أُظْلَمَ ، أَوْ أَجْهَلَ أَوْ يُجْهَلَ عَ

 

Allāhumma innī aʿūdhu bika an aḍilla aw uḍalla, aw azilla aw uzalla, aw aẓlima aw uẓlama, aw ajhala aw yujhala ʿalayy.

 

Translation: O Allah, I seek Your protection from misguiding others or being misguided; from erring or others causing me to err; from oppressing others or being oppressed; and from acting ignorantly or others acting ignorantly towards me.

 

[Sunan Abu Dawud: 5094]

 

 

The above Hadith mentions that: ‘The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) never went out of my [Umm Salamah, Ummul Mu’minin] house without raising his eye to the sky and saying:’ followed by the above supplication.

 

 

Whereas the above supplications are recited when leaving the house in general, the following supplication is specific for when leaving for the masjid:

 

 

اَللّٰهُمَّ اجْعَلْ فِيْ قَلْبِيْ نُوْرًا ، وَفِيْ بَصَرِيْ نُوْرًا ، وَفِيْ سَمْعِيْ نُوْرًا ، وَعَنْ يَّمِيْنِيْ نُوْرًا ، وَعَنْ يَّسَارِيْ نُوْرًا ، وَفَوْقِيْ نُوْرًا ، وَتَحْتِيْ نُوْرًا ، وَأَمَامِيْ نُوْرًا ، وَخَلْفِيْ نُوْرًا ، وَاجْعَلْ لِيْ نُوْرًا

 

 

Allāhumma-j-ʿal fī qalbī nūrā, wa fī baṣarī nūrā, wa fī samʿī nūrā, wa ʿay-yamīnī nūrā, wa ʿay-yasārī nūrā, wa fawqī nūrā, wa taḥtī nūrā, wa amāmī nūrā, wa khalfī nūrā, wa-j-ʿal lī nūrā.

 

 

Translation: O Allah, place light in my heart, light in my sight and light in my hearing. Place light on my right and place light on my left. Place light above me and place light beneath me. Place light in front of me, place light behind me and grant me light.

 

(Bukhārī 6316, Muslim 763)

 

 

Walk with calmness and ease [Parking car properly]

 

 

Another etiquette is to approach the Masjid with calmness and dignity. One of the wisdoms of this Hadith is anybody could possibly harm himself if he is rushing towards the Masjid. Also rushing could also cause difficulty to others, for example if taking the car, not parking appropriately. So they are many wisdoms in this etiquette, which could be a means of protecting oneself and also others. 

 

 

Abu Huraira [رضي الله عنه] heard Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) saying,

 

“If the prayer is started do not run for it but just walk for it calmly and pray whatever you get, and complete whatever is missed. “

 

 

 

‏‏Remove any harmful objects in the path

 

 

Whilst walking towards the Masjid [or anywhere] it is recommended to remove harmful objects to the side, this will possibly help others and remove hardship for them. Also it will be a means of reward for him as it will be recorded as charity for him. 

 

 

عَنْ أَبِي بَرْزَةَ قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ عَلِّمْنِي شَيْئًا أَنْتَفِعُ بِهِ قَالَ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ اعْزِلْ الْأَذَى عَنْ طَرِيقِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ

 

[2618 صحيح مسلم كتاب البر والصلة والآداب باب فضل إزالة الأذى عن الطريق]

 

Abu Barzah [رضي الله عنه] reported: I said, “O Prophet of Allah, teach me something that will benefit me.” The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Remove harmful things from the roads of the Muslims.”

[Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2618]

 

 

Along it being a means of reward it also will be a means of forgiveness. 

 

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ بَيْنَمَا رَجُلٌ يَمْشِي بِطَرِيقٍ وَجَدَ غُصْنَ شَوْكٍ عَلَى الطَّرِيقِ فَأَخَذَهُ فَشَكَرَ اللَّهُ لَهُ فَغَفَرَ لَهُ

 

[2472 صحيح البخاري كتاب المظالم باب من أخذ الغصن وما يؤذي الناس في الطريق فرمى به]

 

[1914 صحيح مسلم كتاب البر والصلة والآداب باب فضل إزالة الأذى عن الطريق]

 

Abu Hurairah [رضي الله عنه] reported:

The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “While a man was walking in the road, he found a thorny branch in the road so he moved it aside. Allah appreciated his deed and forgave him.”

[Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 2472, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1914]

 

 

Walking towards the Masjid and removing harmful things are both acts of charity [Sadaqah] as mentioned in the following Hadith:

 

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ‏كُلُّ سُلَامَى مِنْ النَّاسِ عَلَيْهِ صَدَقَةٌ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ تَطْلُعُ فِيهِ الشَّمْسُ تَعْدِلُ بَيْنَ الِاثْنَيْنِ صَدَقَةٌ وَتُعِينُ الرَّجُلَ فِي دَابَّتِهِ فَتَحْمِلُهُ عَلَيْهَا أَوْ تَرْفَعُ لَهُ عَلَيْهَا مَتَاعَهُ صَدَقَةٌ وَالْكَلِمَةُ الطَّيِّبَةُ صَدَقَةٌ وَكُلُّ خُطْوَةٍ تَمْشِيهَا إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ صَدَقَةٌ وَتُمِيطُ الْأَذَى عَنْ الطَّرِيقِ صَدَقَةٌ

 

[2989 صحيح البخاري كتاب الجهاد والسير باب من أخذ بالركاب ونحوه]

[1009 صحيح مسلم كتاب الزكاة باب بيان أن اسم الصدقة يقع على كل نوع من المعروف]

Abu Hurairah [Allah bless him] reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Charity is due upon every joint of the people for every day upon which the sun rises. Justly reconciling two people is charity. Helping a man with his animal and lifting his luggage upon it is charity. A kind word is charity. Every step that you take towards the mosque is charity, and removing harmful things from the road is charity.”

[Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 2989, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 1009]

 

 

Enter with the right foot first and recite the duʿā

 

When a person enters the Masjid it is from the Prophetic Sunnah to enter with the right foot first followed with this supplication:

 

 

بِسْمِ اللهِ ، وَالصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَىٰ رَسُوْلِ اللهِ ، اَللّٰهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِيْ ذُنُوْبِيْ ، اَللّٰهُمَّ افْتَحْ لِيْ أَبْوَابَ رَحْمَتِكَ

 

 

Bismi-llāh, wa-ṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūl-i-llāh, Allāhumma-ghfir lī dhunūbī, Allāhumma-f-taḥ lī abwāba raḥmatik.

 

 

In the Name of Allah. Peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. O Allah, forgive my sins. O Allah, open the gates of Your mercy for me.

 

[Sunan Tirmidhi: 314]

 

 

 

Perform taḥiyyat al-masjid [Prayer of welcoming the Masjid]

 

Also from the Prophetic Sunnah is to offer 2 Nafl [Optional] Rakat’s [units] of taḥiyyat al-masjid.

 

 

عَنْ أَبِي قَتَادَةَ السَّلَمِيِّ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ إِذَا دَخَلَ أَحَدُكُمْ الْمَسْجِدَ فَلْيَرْكَعْ رَكْعَتَيْنِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَجْلِسَ

[444 صحيح البخاري كتاب الصلاة أبواب استقبال القبلة باب إذا دخل أحدكم المسجد فليركع ركعتين قبل أن يجلس]

[714 صحيح مسلم كتاب صلاة المسافرين وقصرها باب استحباب تحية المسجد بركعتين وكراهة الجلوس قبل صلاتهما وأنها مشروعة في جميع الأوقات]

 

 

 

Going early and sitting in front row

 

 

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ “‏ لَوْ يَعْلَمُ النَّاسُ مَا فِي النِّدَاءِ وَالصَّفِّ الأَوَّلِ، ثُمَّ لَمْ يَجِدُوا إِلاَّ أَنْ يَسْتَهِمُوا عَلَيْهِ لاَسْتَهَمُوا، وَلَوْ يَعْلَمُونَ مَا فِي التَّهْجِيرِ لاَسْتَبَقُوا إِلَيْهِ، وَلَوْ يَعْلَمُونَ مَا فِي الْعَتَمَةِ وَالصُّبْحِ لأَتَوْهُمَا وَلَوْ حَبْوًا ‏”‏‏.‏

 

[615 صحيح البخاري كتاب الأذان باب الاِسْتِهَامِ فِي الأَذَانِ]

 

 

 

Also the reward of forgiveness is mentioned in the following Hadith, for the one who waits for the prayer:

 

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ “‏ لاَ يَزَالُ الْعَبْدُ فِي صَلاَةٍ مَا كَانَ فِي مُصَلاَّهُ يَنْتَظِرُ الصَّلاَةَ وَتَقُولُ الْمَلاَئِكَةُ اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لَهُ اللَّهُمَّ ارْحَمْهُ ‏.‏ حَتَّى يَنْصَرِفَ

 

 

[Source: Sahih Muslim 649, The virtue of offering the obligatory prayers in congregation, the virtue of waiting for prayer and taking many steps towards the masjid, the virtue of walking to the masjid]

 

 

 

 

Avoid raising voices and worldy talk

 

 

A person should avoid raising voices in the Mosque, consider the following Hadith:

 

 

عَنِ السَّائِبِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ، قَالَ كُنْتُ قَائِمًا فِي الْمَسْجِدِ فَحَصَبَنِي رَجُلٌ، فَنَظَرْتُ فَإِذَا عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ فَقَالَ اذْهَبْ فَأْتِنِي بِهَذَيْنِ‏.‏ فَجِئْتُهُ بِهِمَا‏.‏ قَالَ مَنْ أَنْتُمَا ـ أَوْ مِنْ أَيْنَ أَنْتُمَا قَالاَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الطَّائِفِ‏.‏ قَالَ لَوْ كُنْتُمَا مِنْ أَهْلِ الْبَلَدِ لأَوْجَعْتُكُمَا، تَرْفَعَانِ أَصْوَاتَكُمَا فِي مَسْجِدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم

 

 

 

[Source: Sahih al-Bukhari 470]

 

 

Raising the voice in the Masjid is of two types as stated by Hafidh Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali [795 AH] in Fathul al-Bari:

 

 

ورفع الأصوات في المسجد على وجهين

 

Raising the voices in the masjid is of two types:

 

 

 

If the voices are raised due to Dhikr [remembrance of Allah], Recitation of the Quran, reminders [lectures], teaching and learning, and all that which is necessary such as, Iqamah & Adhan [call to prayer], Recitation of the Imam in the prayers, then all this is allowed.  

 

 

 

الوجه الثاني: رفع الصوت بالاختصام ونحوه من أمور الدنيا، فهذا هو الذي نهى عنه عمر وغيره من الصحابة.

 

The second type: Raising the voices due to quarrelling and anything similar from the affairs of this world. This is what has been prohibited by Amir al-Mumineen Umar [Allah be pleased with him] and others from the companions [Allah bless them all].  

 

[Source: Fathul al-Bari: ٣ ‏/ ٣٩٧]

 

 

 

 

The purpose of the Mosques are to remember Allah and talking about worldly matters contradicts that. A Hadith in Sunan al-Tirmidhi states some of the signs of the day of judgement: 

 

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ “‏ إِذَا اتُّخِذَ الْفَىْءُ دُوَلاً وَالأَمَانَةُ مَغْنَمًا وَالزَّكَاةُ مَغْرَمًا وَتُعُلِّمَ لِغَيْرِ الدِّينِ وَأَطَاعَ الرَّجُلُ امْرَأَتَهُ وَعَقَّ أُمَّهُ وَأَدْنَى صَدِيقَهُ وَأَقْصَى أَبَاهُ وَظَهَرَتِ الأَصْوَاتُ فِي الْمَسَاجِدِ وَسَادَ الْقَبِيلَةَ فَاسِقُهُمْ وَكَانَ زَعِيمُ الْقَوْمِ أَرْذَلَهُمْ وَأُكْرِمَ الرَّجُلُ مَخَافَةَ شَرِّهِ وَظَهَرَتِ الْقَيْنَاتُ وَالْمَعَازِفُ وَشُرِبَتِ الْخُمُورُ وَلَعَنَ آخِرُ هَذِهِ الأُمَّةِ أَوَّلَهَا فَلْيَرْتَقِبُوا عِنْدَ ذَلِكَ رِيحًا حَمْرَاءَ وَزَلْزَلَةً وَخَسْفًا وَمَسْخًا وَقَذْفًا وَآيَاتٍ تَتَابَعُ كَنِظَامٍ بَالٍ قُطِعَ سِلْكُهُ فَتَتَابَعَ ‏”‏ ‏.‏

 

‘Abu Hurairah [Allah bless him] narrated that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

 

[Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhi: 2211]

 

 

 

Engage in the remembrance of Allah [Qurān and Adhkār]

 

 

Once a person is in the masjid, he should engage himself in the remembrance of Allah, and at the same time being vigilant on those around him, as not to disturb them. The Angels search for those gatherings in which Allah is being remembered and seek they forgiveness. 

 

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ عَنْ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ إِنَّ لِلَّهِ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى مَلَائِكَةً سَيَّارَةً فُضُلًا يَتَتَبَّعُونَ مَجَالِسَ الذِّكْرِ فَإِذَا وَجَدُوا مَجْلِسًا فِيهِ ذِكْرٌ قَعَدُوا مَعَهُمْ وَحَفَّ بَعْضُهُمْ بَعْضًا بِأَجْنِحَتِهِمْ حَتَّى يَمْلَئُوا مَا بَيْنَهُمْ وَبَيْنَ السَّمَاءِ الدُّنْيَا فَإِذَا تَفَرَّقُوا عَرَجُوا وَصَعِدُوا إِلَى السَّمَاءِ قَالَ فَيَسْأَلُهُمْ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِهِمْ مِنْ أَيْنَ جِئْتُمْ فَيَقُولُونَ جِئْنَا مِنْ عِنْدِ عِبَادٍ لَكَ فِي الْأَرْضِ يُسَبِّحُونَكَ وَيُكَبِّرُونَكَ وَيُهَلِّلُونَكَ وَيَحْمَدُونَكَ وَيَسْأَلُونَكَ قَالَ وَمَاذَا يَسْأَلُونِي قَالُوا يَسْأَلُونَكَ جَنَّتَكَ قَالَ وَهَلْ رَأَوْا جَنَّتِي قَالُوا لَا أَيْ رَبِّ قَالَ فَكَيْفَ لَوْ رَأَوْا جَنَّتِي قَالُوا وَيَسْتَجِيرُونَكَ قَالَ وَمِمَّ يَسْتَجِيرُونَنِي قَالُوا مِنْ نَارِكَ يَا رَبِّ قَالَ وَهَلْ رَأَوْا نَارِي قَالُوا لَا قَالَ فَكَيْفَ لَوْ رَأَوْا نَارِي قَالُوا وَيَسْتَغْفِرُونَكَ قَالَ فَيَقُولُ قَدْ غَفَرْتُ لَهُمْ فَأَعْطَيْتُهُمْ مَا سَأَلُوا وَأَجَرْتُهُمْ مِمَّا اسْتَجَارُوا قَالَ فَيَقُولُونَ رَبِّ فِيهِمْ فُلَانٌ عَبْدٌ خَطَّاءٌ إِنَّمَا مَرَّ فَجَلَسَ مَعَهُمْ قَالَ فَيَقُولُ وَلَهُ غَفَرْتُ هُمْ الْقَوْمُ لَا يَشْقَى بِهِمْ جَلِيسُهُمْ

 

 

 

 

[Sahih Bukhāri: 6408]

 

 

 

Regarding being vigilant of those around you and not to disturb anybody, Ibn Alān al-Shāfi [1057 AH] states in his famous commentary on Riyādh al-Sāliheen [Dalil al-Fāliheen]: 

 

 

ومحله إن حصل منه تشويش على نائم أو مصل أو نحوه ولم يشتد به ضرره

 

Those who disturb [by raising voices] the people that are asleep, or offering Salah, or anything similar and is not necessary [it is disliked]. 

Leaving the Masjid with left foot first and duʿā

 

When somebody leaves the Masjid, it is from the Sunnah to leave with the left foot first, followed by the right foot, then followed by this supplication:

 

 

 اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ مِنْ فَضْلِكَ

 

[713 صحيح مسلم كتاب صلاة المسافرين وقصرها باب ما يقول إذا دخل المسجد]

When he leaves, let him say: O Allah, I ask you for your favor.”

 

[Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 713]

 

 

 

Other supplications are also recorded in the Hadith, such as:

 

اَللّٰهُمَّ اعْصِمْنِيْ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيْمِ

 

Allāhumma-ʿṣimnī mina-sh-shayṭāni-r-rajīm.

O Allah, protect me from the rejected Shaytān.

[Source: Ibn Mājah 773]

 

 

 

 

To conclude the article, the Masājid are sacred places and should be respected and revered. A person who follows these etiquettes is an indication of piety in the heart. As Allah says: 

 

 

ذَٰلِكَ وَمَن يُعَظِّمْ شَعَـٰٓئِرَ ٱللَّهِ فَإِنَّهَا مِن تَقْوَى ٱلْقُلُوبِ ٣٢

 

‘And whoever honours the symbols of Allah, it is certainly out of the piety of the heart.’

[Quran – 22:32]