While you are in the masjid (1)

Praised be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds [i.e., people]. Peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.

The masjid is open for views and an open field for all sects and religions by writing, commenting, and discussing all ideas, it jumped into my mind to add something beneficial to the people perhaps it will be a reserve for me on a day where money and children will be of no avail except those who come with pure hearts.

I have made up my mind to begin my first writings on the site in jurisprudential topics which Muslims need most and the need of others to it has become persistent.

My first article entitled: While you are in the masjid

The importance of this subject and the importance of handling it properly is not hidden from the honorable readers taking into account the accumulated and consecutive corruptions that are done in the houses of Allah (may He be Glorified and Exalted) by Muslims as a result of their ignorance or because of their false upbringing and culture which caused the sanctity of the houses of Allah to disappear from their hearts.

Out of our concern to spread the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and explain the truth which is indispensible, I have mentioned the rulings and etiquettes that have been authentically reported, perhaps they would be a haven to those who desire to follow the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him).

I ask Allah to make these etiquettes good provision for the people on the day in which we shall return to Allah, for He is Sufficient for us and the best Trustee.

While you are in the masjid

All praise be to Allah, we praise Him, seek His Help, and we ask for His Forgiveness. We seek refuge with Allah from the evils of ourselves and the evils of our actions. Whom Allah guides no one can mislead him and whoever has been misled no one can guide him.

I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone who has no partner and I bear witness that Muhammad is His Servant and Messenger.

My brother who usually goes to masjids and fill them with Adhkar (invocations and Remembrances said at certain times on a regular basis), this is a good news for you.

Allah (may He be Exalted) says: "The Mosques of Allâh shall be maintained only by those who believe in Allâh and the Last Day, perform As-Salât (Iqâmat-as-Salât), and give Zakât and fear none but Allâh. It is they who are on true guidance." [Surat At-Tawbah: 18].

Allah revealed to His Prophet (peace be upon him) to say: "Allah shall call on the Day of Recompense: Where are my neighbors? Where are my neighbors? He (the Messenger) said: Angels will say: O our Lord, who should be your neighbors? He will say: Where are the people who used to visit masjids?" [As-Silsilah As-Sahihah 2728].

Dear Muslim brother, you should know that by stepping in the masjid, you are a guest of the Lord of all the Worlds. He (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever performs ablution and comes to the masjid he is guest of Allah (may He be Exalted) and it is the right of a host to honor his visitors." [As-Silsilah As-Sahihah (1169)].

Because you are honorable in the sight of Allah, He chose for you the eternal abode which He prepared specially for you.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Allah will prepare for him who goes to the mosque (every) morning and in the afternoon (for the congregational prayer) an honorable place in Paradise with good hospitality for (what he has done) every morning and afternoon goings." [Reported by Al Bukhari and Muslim].

While you are keen to please your Creator, you should know the etiquettes which you should follow and the rulings which you should apply so as to take your full reward complete and in order not to miss the chance but if you do these mistakes, they will be against you.

If you go to the Masjid, you should do the following:

1- You should know that you go to the best spot on earth. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "The parts of land dearest to Allah are its mosques, and the parts most hateful to Allah are markets." [Reported by Muslim 671].

2- So, prim up for your lord and come to the masjid while you are in a good shape and in a good appearance. Allah guided us in the Qur'an when He said: "O Children of Adam! Take your adornment (by wearing your clean clothes), while praying [and going round (the Tawâf of) the Ka'bah,] and eat and drink but waste not by extravagance, certainly He (Allâh) likes not Al-Musrifûn (those who waste by extravagance)." [Surat Al A`raf: 31].

3- Apply perfume and be keen not to let any bad odor that may harm the angels of the Most Gracious as well as your Muslims brothers come out of you because the Messenger (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever has eaten garlic or onion should keep away from us (or he said: Should keep away from our mosque and stay at his home." [Reported by Al Bukhari and Muslim].

`Umar ibn Al Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: "O people, you eat these two plants and these are onions and garlic. I find them nothing but repugnant for I saw that when the Messenger of Allah (may peace and blessings be upon him) sensed the odor of these two from a person in a mosque, he was made to go to Al Baqi`. So, he who eats it should (make its odor) die by cooking it well." [Reported by Muslim 567].

4- Walk to the masjid with tranquility and dignity because the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "If the Salah has started, do not run for it but just walk for it calmly, perform Salah whatever you get, and complete whatever is missed." [If any of you go to perform Salah, he is in the middle of Salah]. [Reported by Al Bukhari (866) and Muslim (602)].

5- Go early to Salah because the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "If the people knew the reward for pronouncing Adhan and for standing in the first row (in congregational prayers) and found no other way to get that except by drawing lots they would draw lots. And if they knew the reward of the Zuhr prayer (in the early moments of its stated time) they would race for it (go early). And if they knew the reward of 'Isha' and Fajr (morning) prayers in congregation, they would come to offer them even if they had to crawl." [Reported by Al Bukhari and Muslim].

7- Dear Muslim brother, rejoice with the great reward that you shall receive if your Salah is in masjid Quba' because the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Performing one Salah in my Mosque is better than one thousand Salah in any other masjid excepting Al Masjid Al Haram and Salah in Al Masjid Al Haram is better than one hundred thousand Salah elsewhere."

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever performs ablution in his home then comes to Masjid Quba' and performs Salah therein shall have the same reward of performing `Umrah." [Reported by Ibn Majah 1410].

Ibn `Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to go to Masjid Quba' every Saturday walking and riding and offer two Rak`ahs therein]. [Reported by Al Bukhari 1136 with his own wordings, and Muslim 1399].

8- Perform Salah in the nearest Masjid except if this masjid is the assembly of the people who follow their whims and heresies. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "A person should offer Salah in the Masjid which is nearer to him and should not go to far masjids." [As-Silsilah As-Sahihah 2200].

9- Feel the great favor of your Lord (may He be Glorified and Exalted) that He made the motto of Islam superior when you see a synagogue or a church turn to be a masjid.

Talq ibn `Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: "We set out as a delegation to the Prophet (peace be upon him) and we gave homage to him. We performed Salah with him then told him that we have a synagogue in our land, and we asked for the remnant of his ablution. Thereupon, he asked for some water, performed ablution, and rinsed his month then poured it in a small skin. He said: Set out! When you reach your land, break down your synagogue and pour this water in its place, then take that place as masjid. We said: The village is far, the heat is severe, and water will dry out. He said: Add water to it, for it will increase its goodness. So, we set out until we reached the village, broke our synagogue, poured water in its place, and took it as masjid, then we pronounced Adhan (call to Prayer). He (the narrator) said: The monk was a man from Tay', and when he heard the Adhan, he said: A call of truth then he faced a higher place and we saw him no more." [Reported by An-Nasa'y 701].

10- Seek the reward of Allah for every step to the masjid because there is no reward for those who do not dedicate the intention to their Lord.

Let it be known that the people of the greatest reward in Salah are those who live farthest away, and who have to walk the farthest distance.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "If a person performs ablution and does it perfectly, and then proceeds to the masjid with the sole intention of performing Salah, then for each step which he takes towards the masjid, Allah upgrades him a degree in reward and (forgives) crosses out one sin till he enters the masjid." [Reported by Al Bukhari and Muslim].

11- Do not cross your fingers because you are in the middle of Salah. Thumamat Al Hannat (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that Ka`b ibn `Ujrah met him while he was going to the mosque; one of the two (companions) met his companion (on his way to the mosque). He said: And he met crossing the fingers of my both hands. He prohibited me to do so, and said: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) has said: “If any of you performs ablution, and performs his ablution perfectly, and then goes out intending for the mosque, he should not cross the fingers of his hand because he is already in the middle of Salah." [Reported by Abu Dawud 562].

If you want to enter the Masjid.

12- Enter with your right leg. Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: "It is part of the Sunnah to enter the masjid with your right leg and when you came out, you should get out with your left leg." [As-Silsilah As-Sahihah 2478].

13- You should send peace and blessings on the Prophet (peace be upon him) then say: "O Allah! Open for me the doors of Your Mercy." Thus, was the Prophet (peace be upon him) teaching his Companions. Or you may say: "I seek refuge with Almighty Allah, with His Noble Face, and His eternal authority from the cursed Satan." He said: When a person says that: Satan says: He shall be protected all day long." [Reported by Abu Dawud 466].

14- Start with your right hand side before your left if you want to take off your shoes. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "When one of you puts on his shoes, he should begin with the right foot, and when he takes then off, he should take off the left one first, or he should put them on together or take them off together." [Reported by Al Bukhari and Muslim].

15- You should salute the people of the masjid whether those who are performing Salah or those who are sitting.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "You shall not enter Paradise so long as you do not affirm belief (in all those things which are the articles of faith). And you will not believe as long as you do not love one another. Shall I direct you to a thing which, if you do, will foster love amongst you: Spread i.e., spread among you peace among you." [Reported by Muslim 541].

The Companions of the Prophet (peace be upon him) used to salute him while he was performing Salah. Ibn `Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: "I asked Bilal: How was the Prophet (peace be upon him) answer them when they were saluting him while he was praying? He said: He used to salute back with his hand." [Reported by At-Tirmidhy 368].