Talking with people in the mosque about worldly matters
Fatwa No: 91141

Question

Is it allowed talk with someone in the Masjid I heard it is the sign of the Day of Judgment that people will talk in the Masjid so is it allowed?

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

 

There are authentic narrations which prove that it is permissible to talk in the mosque without organizing a circle for this purpose. Jaabir Ibn Samrah narrated: "They [the companions] used to talk about the stories of the pre-Islamic era, and they would laugh, and the Prophet would smile." [Muslim] Nonetheless, we would say that if talking aloud in the mosque disturbs the praying people and those who recite the Quran, then this is disliked and it might even be forbidden. An-Nawawi said: 'It is disliked to dispute and speak aloud in the mosque, and speak about lost and found properties. This view is supported by the narration reported by Imaam Muslim that the Prophet said: "Let those who are wise and possess religious knowledge be directly behind me in the prayer, and then those who are nearest to them in these respects." He repeated this three times and then added: ''And beware of indulging in the loose talks of the markets (when you are in the mosque)." Imaam An-Nawawi said: 'That is to cause noise [because of speaking loudly], disputing and arguing, speaking loudly, and causing afflictions.'

As regards organizing circles in the mosque in order to discuss worldly matters, then this is not permissible. Ibn Mas'ood narrated that the Prophet said: "When the Last Day is near, there would be people who would sit in the mosque in circles, and their main concern (or talk) would be the worldly life. Do not sit with them as Allaah does not care about them." [At-Tabaraani, and Al-Albaani classified it as authentic]

To conclude, it is an obligation not to take the mosque for purposes other than those it was built for and turn them into market places. Indeed the mosque is built for the mention of Allaah, performing the prayer and reciting the Quran.

Allaah Knows best.

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