Etiquettes Of The Masjid
Masjid etiquette emphasises humility, cleanliness, and peaceful presence, including entering with the right foot and reciting a specific supplication, maintaining a quiet voice, turning off or silencing mobile phones, dressing modestly, and not walking in front of those praying. Inside, one should be engaged in the remembrance of Allah, not in conversation, selling, or other distractions, and be considerate of others in the sacred space.
Respecting the Houses of Allah (swt): Status and Etiquette
Masjids serve as the sacred places of worship for Muslims, and it is essential for every Muslim to cultivate a desire to attend the Masjid for prayer. Engaging in this practice not only fulfills a religious obligation but also brings immense rewards, as highlighted in the Hadith: “Whoever goes to the Masjid or returns from it, Allah will prepare a place for him in Jannah with each visit.”
Furthermore, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) emphasised the spiritual benefits of preparing oneself for prayer. For every step taken towards the Masjid after performing ablution, a sin is forgiven, and a degree of reward is granted. Additionally, those who actively support and maintain the Masjid will be among the seven categories of individuals who will find refuge under the shade of Allah SWT on a day when no other shade will be available.
Islam teaches us that there are certain etiquettes that should be observed and implemented when coming to the Masjid.
1. The person who comes should be clean from major impurities like janabah, menses, and post-childbirth bleeding, etc.
2. Wearing good perfume and putting on your nicest clothes. Rasulullah said A Muslim should remember to use Miswak or a toothbrush if he ever eats onion or garlic or any offensive type of food that has a strong smell. O Children of Adam! Take your adornment to every place of worship, and eat and drink, but be not prodigal. He loveth not the prodigals. (7:31) Rasullah (SAW) said, Whoever eats garlic or onion, should avoid our Masjid.
3. Going to it most often. Rasullah said: Shouldn’t I guide you to something if it is done, Allah shall wash out your sins and raise your grades? The companions said, Yes, tell us. He said, perfecting your wudu, going to the Masjid often and waiting for the prayer after the prayer. (Muslim).
4. Making dua when going to the Masjid. Rasullah used to say on his way to the Masjid, O Allah Subhanahu wa ta’ala: enlighten my heart, enlighten my hearing, enlighten my eyesight, put light on my right side, put light on my left side, put light above me, put light from behind me and provide light for me.
5. Walking slowly and humbly to the Masjid. Rasullah said, If you hear the Iqamah, walk to the Masjid slowly and humbly and with tranquillity and do not rush or run to
catch the prayer. If you catch it from the beginning, that is fine; otherwise, make up the rakats you missed. Agreed upon.
6. Entering the Masjid with the right foot and saying the dua. Rasullah (SAW) used to enter the Masjid with his right foot and used to say this dua: Bismillah Allahuma SalliAla Mohammad Rabbi Ighfir Lee
Zunubee Waftah Lee Abwaba Rahmatika. (Muslim)
7. To offer 2 rakaat for the greeting of the Masjid. Rasullah (SAW) said, If any person enters the Masjid, He should offer 2 rakaats for the greeting of the Masjid.
8. Not walking away from the Masjid when the Azan was proclaimed. Rasullah (SAW) said, If you were in the Masjid and you heard the Azan being proclaimed, let not anyone go out from the Masjid without offering the Salah, (Ahmed).
9. Keeping busy with the remembrance of Allah SWT. Rasullah (SAW) said, Masjid were made for the remembrance of Allah SWT, for the performance of the Salah and for reading the Quran. Agreed upon.
10. Avoid passing in front of a person praying. Unfortunately, we tend to neglect this aspect. Rasullah (SAW) said, If the person who passes right in front of another person praying knew the seriousness of his act, it would be better for him to stand 40 THAN passing in front of a praying person.
11. Maintaining the Masjid. This includes both physical and financial as well as spiritual maintenance. Allah SWT said, He only shall tend Allah’s sanctuaries who believeth in Allah and the Last Day and observeth proper worship and payeth the poor due and feareth none save Allah. For such (only) is it possible that they can be of the rightly guided. (9:18) Rasullah said If you see a person visit the Masjid often and maintains it, bear witness that he is a true believer. (Ahmed).
12. Avoiding shouting, yelling, cursing, or using improper language. One day, Omar [R] entered the Masjid of the Prophet and found them shouting at each other. Immediately, he called them up and reprimanded them for doing such things. (Bukhari) Also, a Muslim should avoid making any noise when a person is offering Salah.
13. Keeping it clean. Rasullah ﷺ said, Spitting in the Masjid is a sin. Agreed upon.
14. Building the Masjid for the pleasure of Allah SWT. Rasullah ﷺ said, Whoever builds a Masjid seeking the pleasure of Allah SWT, Allah shall construct for him a palace in paradise.
15. Making Itikaf (seclusion) in the Masjid. A Muslim should intend to make itikaf every time he comes to the Masjid for any time period. Rasullah used to do it especially during the last ten days of Ramadan.
16. Straightening the lines for prayers. Rasullah used to straighten the lines of people praying.
17. When going out of the Masjid, a Muslim should go out with his left foot and say the dua, Bismillah Allahumma Salli Ala Mohammad Allahumma Asalika Min Fadlika. (Muslim) Meaning: In the name of Allah Subhanahu wa ta’ala, O Allah Subhanahu wa ta’ala,send prayers and blessings to Mohammad ﷺ O Allah Subhanahu wa ta’ala, I ask you for your Grace and Mercy.
The Friday Prayer (Salat al-Jumu'ah)
2. Going early to the Masjid on Friday. Hadith: Whoever washes himself up for Jummah, then walk to the Masjid in the early hour, it is as if he sacrificed a camel for Allah Subhanahu wa ta'ala, sake, Whoever comes after that, it is as if he sacrificed a cow, whoever comes after that it is as if he sacrificed a lamb, whoever comes after that it is as if he sacrificed a chicken, whoever comes after that it is as if he gave an egg for the sake of Allah. When the Imam rise to deliver his Khutba, the angels would roll up their records and listen to the khutaba. Agreed upon.
3. Avoid passing the people to get a closer place while you are coming late. Once Rasullah ﷺ a man doing this and told him sit down for you have come late and you hurt people.
4. Listening to the Khutbah. Rasullah (SAW) said, Whoever speaks on Friday and the Imam is delivering his Khutbah he is like a donkey carrying a big load. (Ahmed)