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Talking in the mosque

Answered as per Hanafi Fiqh by DarulIftaBirmingham

What does Shariah say in regards to wordly talk in the mosque. 

In the name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful.

Attending and remaining in the mosque is a virtuous act. However whilst inside one should occupy oneself in the worship of Allah and refrain from talking, backbiting or doing such acts that disturbs others who are praying. Abu Umamah narrates that the Apostle of Allah (sallal lahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “If anyone goes out from his house after performing ablution for saying the prescribed prayer in congregation (in the mosque), his reward will be like that of one who goes for hajj pilgrimage after wearing ihram. And he who goes out to say the mid-morning (duha) prayer, and takes the trouble for this purpose, will take the reward like that of a person who performs umrah. And a prayer followed by a prayer with no worldly talk during the gap between them will be recorded in Illiyyun.” (Sunan Abu Dawood: 220)

Fataawa Aalamgiri states the etiquettes of masjid amongst which is that no worldly talks should be carried out in masjid (Vol.5, p321).

Ibn Al-Haj said, concerning the etiquette of the Muslim when setting out for the mosque: “He should intend to avoid idle talk in the mosque or talking about that which does not concern him, for there is a report that says that speaking in the mosque about anything but the deeds of the Hereafter is like fire in dry wood, it eats up rewards (of good deeds). So he should take care to avoid this…” (Al-Madkhal by Ibn Al-Haj).”

Furthermore it is narrated by Anas ibn Malik (radi allahu anhu) that the Messenger of Allah (sallal lahu alayhi wa sallam), as saying: “There will come a time when people will sit in circles in the mosques and they will have no concern except this world. Allah has no need of them so do not sit with them.” (Al-Mustadrak )

Yahya relates from Malik that he had heard that Umar ibn al-Khattab set aside an area near the mosque called al-Butayha and said, “Whoever wishes to talk nonsense or recite poetry or raise his voice should go to that area.” (Al Muwatta: 9.96)

It is clear from the above that wordly talk in the mosque is prohibited. Whilst in the mosque one should engage in the worship and remembrance of Allah. 

And Allah knows best.

Sayeedur Rahman

Darul Ifta Birmingham

This answer was collected from DarulIftaBirmingham.co.uk, which is run under the supervision of Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah from the United Kingdom.