Leaving the Masjid after the Adhan and talking in its green-shaded courtyard about worldly matters

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تصفح برقم المجلد > Group 2 > Volume 5: Fiqh – Salah 1 > Rulings related to Masjids > Leaving the Masjid after the Adhan and talking in its green-shaded courtyard about worldly matters

The second question of Fatwa no. 18700

Q 2: Some people in our Masjid (mosque) used to leave after the Mu’adhin (caller to prayer) finishes announcing Adhan (call to prayer) along with the Mu’adhin and they stay in the courtyard of the Masjid under trees talking about matters of life and people’s concerns. These people do not respect the dignity of the Masjid and may leave their children playing inside it. When we warned them against doing so, they said that there is no Shar`y (Islamic legal) text that forbids this. What is the ruling in this regard?

A: It is obligatory to respect the Masjids and prevent children from playing inside them. Leaving the Masjid after Adhan is Makruh (disliked) except for a necessity such as performing Wudu’ (ablution) or going to another Masjid for an urgent matter and the like.

(Part No. 5; Page No. 262)

As for leaving Masjids after Adhan for the sake of talking and sitting in markets, it should be given up and condemned. It is narrated that

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) saw a man who left the Masjid after the Adhan. Abu Hurayrah said: "Indeed, this (man) has disobeyed Abu Al-Qasim (Muhammad, peace be upon him)." [1]

This will be the ruling if the courtyard is outside the Masjid, but if it is inside the Masjid, it takes the ruling of the Masjid. Accordingly, speaking about matters of life or evil talk such as backbiting and calumny should be avoided. After hearing the adhan, it is prescribed for those who perform Salah (Prayer) to occupy themselves with directing the rows, completing the first row then the one next to it and so on, performing the prescribed supererogatory acts of worship such as Al-Sunan Al-Rawatib (supererogatory acts that were stressed and regularly performed by the Prophet) and others, supplicating to Allah and reciting the Qur’an as indicated by the Sahih (authentic) Hadith mentioned in this concern. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

Complete the first row then the one next to it. [2]

Also, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

If people were to know what is in the call to prayer (Adhan) and the first row, then they found no other way but to draw lots over it, they would draw lots. [3]

And:

Du‘a’ (supplication) between the Adhan (call to Prayer) and ‘Iqamah (call to start prayer) is not rejected. [4]

Moreover, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

Anyone who keeps on praying regularly four Rak‘ahs (units of Prayer) before Zuhr (Noon) Prayer

(Part No. 5; Page No. 263)

and four after it, Allah will make them forbidden to the Fire. [5]

And:

May Allah show mercy to a person who offers four Rak‘ahs before ‘Asr (Afternoon) Prayer. [6]

Also, he (peace be upon him) said:

Between every two calls (Adhan and ‘Iqamah) there is a (supererogatory) Salah! Between every two calls there is a Salah! And in the third he (peace be upon him) said: To those who wish (to offer it). [7]

May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.

Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta’

Member	Member	Deputy Chairman	Chairman
Bakr Abu Zayd	Salih Al-Fawzan	`Abdul-`Aziz Al Al-Shaykh	`Abdul-`Aziz ibn `Abdullah ibn Baz

[1] Muslim, Sahih, Book on Masjids and places for Salah, no. 655; Al-Tirmidhy, Sunan, Book on Salah, no. 204; Ahmad, Musnad, vol. 2, p. 471; and Al-Darimy, Sunan, Book on Salah, no. 1205.
[2] Related by Ahmad, vol. 3, pp. 132, 215, and 233; Abu Dawud, vol. 1, p. 435, no. 671; Al-Nasa*y, vol. 1, p. 435, no. 671; Ibn Khuzaymah, vol. 3, p. 22, no. 1546; Abu Ya`la, vol. 5, p. 450, no. 3163; Ibn Hibban, vol. 5, p. 529, no. 2155; and Al-Bayhaqy, vol. 3, p. 102.
[3] Al-Bukhari, Sahih, Book on testimonies, no. 2689; Muslim, Sahih, Book on Salah, no. 437; Al-Nasa*y, Sunan, Book on Adhan, no. 671; and Malik, Al-Muwatta*, Book on call to Prayer, no. 295.
[4] Related by Ahmad, vol. 3, pp. 119, 155, 225 and 254; Abu Dawud, vol. 1, pp. 358-359, no. 521; Al-Tirmidhy, vol. 1, p. 416 and 5, p. 577, no. 212, 3594 and 3595; Ibn Abu Shaybah, vol. 10, pp. 225- 226; `Abdul-Razzaq, vol. 1, p. 495, no. 1909; Ibn Khuzaymah, vol. 1, p. 222, no. 425- 427; Ibn Hibban, vol. 4, p. 594, no. 1696; and Al-Bayhaqy, vol. 1, p. 410 .
[5] Al-Tirmidhy, Sunan, Book on Salah, no. 428; Al-Nasa*y, Sunan, Book on Qiyam-ul-Layl and optional Salah during the day, no. 1816; and Abu Dawud, Sunan, Book on Salah, no. 1269.
[6] Al-Tirmidhy, Sunan, Book on Salah, no. 430; and Abu Dawud, Sunan, Book on Salah, no. 1271.
[7] Al-Bukhari, Sahih, Book on Adhan, no. 624; Muslim, Sahih, Book on travelers* Salah and Salah shortening, no. 838; Al-Tirmidhy, Sunan, Book on Salah, no. 185; Al-Nasa*y, Sunan, Book on Adhan, no. 681; Abu Dawud, Sunan, Book on Salah, no. 1283; Ibn Majah, Sunan, Book on performing Prayer and its Sunan, no. 1162; Ahmad, Musnad, vol. 4, p. 86; and Al-Darimy, Sunan, Book on Salah, no. 1440.

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