Question:
Assalamualaikum SS Dato’ Seri Mufti. Is it permissible to talk in a mosque, such as asking how others are doing or having a long conversation with a friend we haven’t met for a long time (accidentally see him after prayer)? Hope for an explanation. Thank you.
Answer:
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the many countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
In a hadith from Jabir bin Samurah RA, he said:
كَانَ لاَ يَقُومُ مِنْ مُصَلاَّهُ الَّذِى يُصَلِّى فِيهِ الصُّبْحَ حَتَّى تَطْلُعَ الشَّمْسُ فَإِذَا طَلَعَتْ قَامَ وَكَانُوا يَتَحَدَّثُونَ فَيَأْخُذُونَ فِى أَمْرِ الْجَاهِلِيَّةِ فَيَضْحَكُونَ وَيَتَبَسَّمُ
He (the Holy Prophet) used to sit at the place where he observed the morning or dawn prayer till the sun rose or when it had risen; he would stand, and they (his Companions) would talk about matters (pertaining to the days) of ignorance, and they would laugh (on these matters) while (the Holy Prophet) only smiled.
Sahih Muslim (6179)
Imam al-Nawawi commented on the above hadith saying: The above hadith proves the permissibility of talking regarding the matters of the ummah and of laughing. However, it is prioritized to just smile, as the Prophet PBUH did most of the time. Scholars state, it is makruh (undesirable) to laugh a lot and for scholars, it is greatly discouraged. Wallahua’lam. (See Syarh al-Nawawi ‘ala Sahih Muslim, 15/79)
In the book al-Majmu’, he said: It is permissible to talk regarding permissible matters in a mosque and also the related worldly matters which of the permissible. Even if the conversation also includes laughter. (See al-Majmu’ Syarh al-Muhazzab, 2/180)
Regarding the above question, in our opinion, talking in a mosque is permissible as long as it does not disturb others who are worshipping in the mosque. One should also be mindful of the manners of being inside a mosque.
However, it should be reminded that the conversation must only be of the permissible matters and does not include prohibited matters, such as slander, gossip, insult and other foolish talk or unbeneficial matters that are just distractions. This is in accordance with a hadith from Anas bin Malik RA, where the Prophet PBUH said:
يَأْتِي عَلَى النَّاسِ زَمَانٌ يَتَحَلَّقُونَ فِي مَسَاجِدِهِمْ وَلَيْسَ هِمَّتُهُمْ إِلاَّ الدُّنْيَا لَيْسَ لِلَّهِ فِيهِمْ حَاجَةٌ فَلاَ تُجَالِسُوهُمْ
“There will be a time when humans will congregate in mosques and their intention is only of the worldly matters. Allah do not need their worship and don’t sit with them.”
Narrated by al-Hakim in al-Mustadrak (7916)
Ibnu Qudamah Rahimahullah said:
وَيُكْرَهُ أَنْ يَخُوضَ فِي حَدِيثِ الدُّنْيَا
“Makruh to be distracted by conversation (worldly matters).” (See al-Mughni, 1/329)
While in Surah al-Nur, Allah SWT state:
فِي بُيُوتٍ أَذِنَ اللَّـهُ أَن تُرْفَعَ وَيُذْكَرَ فِيهَا اسْمُهُ يُسَبِّحُ لَهُ فِيهَا بِالْغُدُوِّ وَالْآصَالِ
“[Such niches are] in mosques which Allah has ordered to be raised and that His name be mentioned therein; exalting Him within them in the morning and the evenings.”
Surah al-Nur (36)
Ibnu Kathir commented on the above verse stating: Allah SWT commanded us to honour mosques by purifying it from any type of dirt, unbeneficial things in terms of words and actions related to it. This is the opinion of Abdullah bin Abbas, Ikrimah, al-Dhahak and numerous other commentary scholars. (See Tafsir al-Quran al-‘Azim, 6/62)
This proves that the mosque has a specific purpose which is to enslave ourselves to Allah SWT in worship, whether by praying, zikr, teaching or learning knowledge.
Regarding talking, it is included as things that are permissible. However, one must honour the mosque and not act like he is in a market.
There are claims that there is a hadith that state whoever talks in a mosque, his worships for 40 year will be invalidated. It is a fake hadith. The hadith meant is claimed to be from the Prophet PBUH:
مَنْ تَكَلَّمَ بِكَلامِ الدُّنْيَا فِي الْمَسَاجِدِ ، أَوْ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ ، أَحْبَطَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى أَعْمَالَهُ أَرْبَعِينَ سَنَةً
“Whoever talk of the worldly matters in mosques, Allah SWT will invalidate his worships of 40 years.” (See al-Asrar al-Marfu’ah, 338)
This hadith is fake as stated by al-Shaghani and al-Qari, where he said both the mabna [matan (text)] and sanad of the hadith is unauthentic. (See al-Kasyf al-Khafa’, 2/240). Thus, we state the hadith and its narration is fake and it is prohibited for us to say that it is from our Prophet PBUH or spread it to others. [1]
We hope that mosques would always be as a place of unification for the ummah, building peace, increasing knowledge, strengthening silaturrahim and increasing our love and care. Furthermore, it should also act as the centre of takaful islami for the ummah.
May Allah SWT give us knowledge and understanding in obeying all of His commandments and spreading His teachings. Amin.
Endnotes:
[1] For more information, please refer to our article Irsyad al-Hadith Series 65 through the following link: http://www.muftiwp.gov.my/ms/artikel/irsyad-al-hadith/1143-irsyad-al-hadith-siri-ke-65-apakah-status-hadith-ini