What is the ruling on discussing worldly matters in the mosque?

Question:
The questioner asks: What is the ruling on a person whose conversation is mostly about worldly affairs in the mosque or the prayer area?

Answer:
It is disliked for a person to do so, and I see many of our brothers, may Allah guide them, sitting in circles in the Sacred Mosque, and their voices rise with laughter, talk, and joking. This is a mistake. You are in a mosque, in the Sacred Mosque, in the greatest of houses on the face of the earth. It is obligatory for you to utilize your time in the remembrance of Allah, glorification, saying Allahu Akbar, reciting the Qur'an, performing voluntary prayers, and circumambulating the Ka'bah, instead of sitting and laughing, joking, and discussing worldly matters. This is a loss for you; you have wasted this opportunity. It is obligatory for a person to utilize his presence in this mosque and engage in the remembrance of Allah, obedience to Allah, good deeds, seeking forgiveness, and repentance. This is what a Muslim should do, and likewise in the other mosques. When a person enters the mosque, he is in one of the houses of Allah. He does not speak except to the extent of necessity, and only with little and permissible talk. He does not engage much in joking, laughter, and wasting time.