Chapter 20: Etiquettes of The Musjid And
The Qibla
Law: To paint the Musjid
with lime (i.e. whitewash) and to use mortar is permissible. It is also
permissible to use gold and silver gilding on the engravings or carvings (in
the Musjid), as long as this has been done with the wealth of an individual and
not with money belonging to the Waqf[1].
If the Trustee of the Mosque used the Waqf funds of the Mosque to do such gold
and silver carvings (decorations etc.), then he will have to make amends (i.e.
pay the penalty for this). However, if the founder of the Musjid (i.e. the one
who built the Mosque) had initially done such carvings and they have been damaged,
then the Mutawali[2] of the Musjid can use the
Musjid’s funds to rebuild this carving (i.e. to have it repaired). Some Masha’ikh[3]
have mentioned that it is Makruh to do any decorations or carving etc. on the
Qibla wall of the Mosque, as the heart of the Namaazi[4]
will be diverted towards it. [Durr-e-Mukhtar,
Raddul Muhtar]
Law: It is permissible to
use cement and to plaster the walls of the Musjid, as this allows the building
to remain intact. When plastering the Musjid, or when doing plating or when
using mud plaster, one should not use water that is impure. [Alamgiri]
Law: To teach (Islamic
lessons) in the Musjid is permissible, even though the Musal’las[5]
and grass mats of the Musjid are used at the time of teaching. To eat, and
sleep in the Musjid is only permissible for a Mu’takif[6].
This is Makruh for one who is not in I’tekaaf. If a person needs to eat or
sleep in the Musjid, then he should enter the Musjid with the intention of
I’tekaaf, make some Zikr or pray some Namaaz, and after this, he can do that
(i.e. eat or sleep). [Alamgiri] It is common in almost all parts of India, that during the month
of Ramadan people generally break their fast in the Musjid. If there is an area
outside the Musjid where Iftar can be made, then Iftar should not be made
inside the Musjid. Otherwise, one should make the intention of I’tekaaf on
entering. There is no objection to making Iftar inside. However, one must still
be fully cautious not to soil the mats or floors of the Musjid.
Law: The Musjid should not
be made a pathway (road / walkway). For example, if there are two doors in the
Musjid and one needs to go somewhere, and it is easier for him to enter from
one door and exit (in that direction) through the other door, then one should
not do this. If a person went in (i.e. into the Musjid) with the intention that
he would enter through this door and then exit through the other door (i.e. he
will use it as a walkway), and after entering he regretted this action of his,
then he should not exit through the door from which he had intended to exit, but
he should use another door. Some Ulama have stated that such a person should
first pray Namaaz and then exit (the Musjid), and others have said that if he
does not have wudu, then he should exit from the same door through which he
entered. To enter the Musjid whilst wearing shoes is Makruh. [Alamgiri]
Law: Selling of Taweez in
the Jaame Musjid is not permissible, like it is done by those who do this as a
business and compel people to pay a stipulated price to get a taweez. [Alamgiri]
Law: To perform a Nikah ceremony
in the Musjid is Mustahab (desirable). [Alamgiri].
However, one must be cautious not to cause any
disturbance, din in the Musjid or do anything therein that is contrary to the
sanctity of the Musjid. If one knows that the etiquettes of the sanctity or the
Musjid will be violated, then one should not have the Nikah in the Musjid.
Law: One who has any
impurity on his clothing or body should not enter the Musjid. [Alamgiri]
Law: One must observe the
following Etiquettes of the Musjid: (1)
On entering the Musjid one should convey
Salaam, on condition that those present inside are not engrossed in Zikr or in
teaching. If there is no one inside or if those inside are occupied, then say: اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَیْنَا مِنْ رَّبِّنَا وَعَلٰی عِبَادِ اللہِ
الصّٰلِحِیْنَ۔
‘As
Salaamu Alayna Mir Rab’bina Wa Ala Ibaadil’laahis Saaliheen’. (2) If it is not within the Makruh time, pray two Raka’at Tahiyatul
Musjid. (3) Do not buy or sell (i.e. do not do business transactions inside
the Musjid). (4) Do not take an unsheathed sword inside the Musjid. (5) Do not look for a lost
item in the Musjid. (6) Do not raise your voice except in Zikr (remembrance of Allah). (7) Do not discuss worldly
issues in it. (8) Do not clamber over the necks of people. (9) Do not fight with
anyone because of place. (10) Do not sit in a manner, which causes discomfort to others. (11) Do not
walk in front of a Namaazi. (12) Do not spit or cough out phlegm in the Musjid. (13) Do not
snap your fingers in the Musjid. (14)
Protect the Musjid from impurities, children
(who have not reached the age of understanding), and insane people. (15) Make
Zikr-e-Ilahi in abundance. [Alamgiri]
Law: If the Musjid is full,
then the person who wishes to read his Namaaz can ask the person who is sitting
to move aside and give him some space to read his Namaaz. This applies even if
the person (sitting) is engrossed in (some form of) Zikr, he is teaching, or reciting
the Qur’an, and even if he is a Mu’takif. [Alamgiri]
Law: To give money to one
who begs inside the Musjid is not allowed. To have worldly discussions in the
Musjid is Makruh. To talk in the Musjid, devours ones good deeds like fire eats
up wood. This is the case when having a permissible conversation, so what can
be said about the sin of impermissible conversations. [Durr-e-Mukhtar, Raddul Muhtar]
Law: After performing
Namaaz, we fold up our Musal’las and keep them away. This is a good thing as it
is an act that is more appropriate with regards to being cautious. However,
some people only fold the corner of the Musal’la, and they say that by not
doing so, shaitaan will read Namaaz on it. This is baseless!
Law: It is Makruh to climb
onto the roof of the Musjid. To perform Jama’at on the roof of the Mosque
because it is too hot is Makruh. However, if the Musjid is full due to an
overflow of Namaazis, then one may read Namaaz on the roof of the Musjid, just
as Jama’at takes place on the Musjid roofs in Bombay and Calcutta etc. due to a
shortage of space. [Alamgiri]
Law: If a (Deeni) student
used a straw from a mat in the Musjid as a marker in his book, it is excused. [Alamgiri]
However, this does not mean that he should break (or pull out)
straw from a good mat and use it as a marker, because continuously doing this,
will cause the (prayer) mat to be damaged.
Law: To make a ‘Hadf’, in
other words to place a target in the direction of the Qibla and to fire arrows
at it, or to shoot bullets towards it, is Makruh. In other words, target
practice in the direction of Qibla is Makruh. [Raddul
Muhtar]
[1] Waqf refers to an Endowment for the sake of Allah.
[2] Mutawali here refers to a trustee of the Musjid.
[3] Masha’ikh refers to Pious Predecessors.
[4] Namaazi is the one who is performing his Namaaz.
[5] Musal’la refers to a prayer mat.
[6]
Mu’takif is a person in I’tekaaf; i.e. one secluded to the Musjid
for the remembrance of Allah.
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