What is the ruling on reserving places in the Sacred Mosque?
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The questioner : O Shaykh, may Allah reward you, what many people do in the Makkah Haram.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : What many people do in the Makkah Haram and in some mosques is reserving places. One places a chair or a mushaf, for example, on his spot, and then comes back after six or seven hours, reserving it from other Muslims who arrive before him. Is this permissible or not?
The Shaykh : What we see regarding reserving places in the Sacred Mosque or in other mosques is that if one reserves a place while he is in the mosque, or if he leaves the mosque for a temporary reason that will end soon and he will return soon, then there is nothing wrong with that. However, the condition, if he is in the mosque, is that when the rows become connected, he must go to his place so that he does not step over people’s necks.
As for what some people do, where one reserves a place and then goes to his house to sleep, eat, and drink, or goes to his business to sell and buy, this is forbidden and not permissible.
This is the correct opinion in this issue.
However, the issue of reserving places in Mina may come up to us, for it is reported that it was said to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):.
So we say: If people are reserving places in Mina, then reserve, because if you do not, you will not find a place. If all people feared Allah the Mighty and Majestic and left off reserving, and whoever arrived first had the right, that would be the good. But now the matter is the opposite.
However, by the praise of Allah, in my opinion, what has happened recently with the campaigns that take land with the permission of those in charge of distributing land is much better than reserving, because the areas are organized and every person knows his place. So, go ahead, go ahead, may Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : What many people do in the Makkah Haram and in some mosques is reserving places. One places a chair or a mushaf, for example, on his spot, and then comes back after six or seven hours, reserving it from other Muslims who arrive before him. Is this permissible or not?
The Shaykh : What we see regarding reserving places in the Sacred Mosque or in other mosques is that if one reserves a place while he is in the mosque, or if he leaves the mosque for a temporary reason that will end soon and he will return soon, then there is nothing wrong with that. However, the condition, if he is in the mosque, is that when the rows become connected, he must go to his place so that he does not step over people’s necks.
As for what some people do, where one reserves a place and then goes to his house to sleep, eat, and drink, or goes to his business to sell and buy, this is forbidden and not permissible.
This is the correct opinion in this issue.
However, the issue of reserving places in Mina may come up to us, for it is reported that it was said to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
Shall we build for you a building? Meaning: in Mina. He said: Mina is the resting place of whoever arrives first.
ألا نبني لك بناء أي : في منى فقال : منى مناخ من سبقSo we say: If people are reserving places in Mina, then reserve, because if you do not, you will not find a place. If all people feared Allah the Mighty and Majestic and left off reserving, and whoever arrived first had the right, that would be the good. But now the matter is the opposite.
However, by the praise of Allah, in my opinion, what has happened recently with the campaigns that take land with the permission of those in charge of distributing land is much better than reserving, because the areas are organized and every person knows his place. So, go ahead, go ahead, may Allah bless you.