Is it permissible to speak in the mosque without a benefit, such as buying or selling?
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The questioner : Is it permissible to speak in the mosque without a benefit, such as buying or selling? What is the hadith regarding this?
The Shaykh : Yes. Buying, selling, leasing, and hiring are forbidden in the mosque because they contradict the purpose for which mosques were built. For this reason, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1321Sahih (Darussalam) Likewise, calling out for lost items is forbidden; for example, if a person loses something and then stands in the mosque saying, "O people, who found such and such," this is forbidden because mosques were not built for this.
As for when a person finds a lost item and says to people, for example, "Whose is this?" this is less severe than asking about a lost item. Nevertheless, we say: go out to the mosque door or to the street, and speak as you wish regarding buying, selling, or calling out for lost items. This is the obligatory conduct toward these mosques. However, there remains a problem that occurs with many people: a poor person passes by you asking for charity, and you have a fifty-riyal bill, but you only want to give him ten. Is it permissible to give him the fifty and say, "Give me back forty"? In reality, this is not intended for trade, and the charity is not completed without it, because you are between two options: either you give him forty and he gives you ten, or you say you do not have ten and turn the questioner away. I think, and Allah knows best, that there is nothing wrong with this, because it is not intended for trade, nor for anything of this world, but rather for something of the Hereafter. However, we have no means except this, so I hope there is no harm in this. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you, O honorable Shaykh, and may Allah bless you and your knowledge, and benefit the Muslims through you.
O dear brothers and listeners, His Eminence Shaykh Muhammad ibn Salih al-Uthaymeen, professor at the College of Sharia and Principles of Religion in al-Qasim, and preacher and imam of the Grand Mosque in the city of Unaizah, has answered your questions.
May Allah reward your eminence, and thank you all. In conclusion, please accept the greetings of my colleague, the sound engineer Sa'd 'Abd al-'Aziz Khumays. And may peace and the mercy of Allah and His blessings be upon you.
The Shaykh : Yes. Buying, selling, leasing, and hiring are forbidden in the mosque because they contradict the purpose for which mosques were built. For this reason, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
When you see someone selling or buying in the Masjid then say: 'May Allah not profit your business.'
إذا رأيتم من يبيع أو يبتاع في المسجد فقولوا لا أربح الله تجارتك فإن المساجد لم تبنى لهذاAs for when a person finds a lost item and says to people, for example, "Whose is this?" this is less severe than asking about a lost item. Nevertheless, we say: go out to the mosque door or to the street, and speak as you wish regarding buying, selling, or calling out for lost items. This is the obligatory conduct toward these mosques. However, there remains a problem that occurs with many people: a poor person passes by you asking for charity, and you have a fifty-riyal bill, but you only want to give him ten. Is it permissible to give him the fifty and say, "Give me back forty"? In reality, this is not intended for trade, and the charity is not completed without it, because you are between two options: either you give him forty and he gives you ten, or you say you do not have ten and turn the questioner away. I think, and Allah knows best, that there is nothing wrong with this, because it is not intended for trade, nor for anything of this world, but rather for something of the Hereafter. However, we have no means except this, so I hope there is no harm in this. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you, O honorable Shaykh, and may Allah bless you and your knowledge, and benefit the Muslims through you.
O dear brothers and listeners, His Eminence Shaykh Muhammad ibn Salih al-Uthaymeen, professor at the College of Sharia and Principles of Religion in al-Qasim, and preacher and imam of the Grand Mosque in the city of Unaizah, has answered your questions.
May Allah reward your eminence, and thank you all. In conclusion, please accept the greetings of my colleague, the sound engineer Sa'd 'Abd al-'Aziz Khumays. And may peace and the mercy of Allah and His blessings be upon you.