Announcements in the Mosque

Author: Sheikh Mubashir Ahmad Rabbani, may Allah protect him

Question:

Is it permissible to make announcements in the mosque, apart from announcing funerals, such as when someone has lost an item or calling someone? If it is not permissible, then why are such announcements made in the mosques of military camps, such as informing that a particular group of a class should go to a specific locality? Please provide a Shari'ah-based proof for this.

Answer:
The announcements that are prohibited in mosques include the announcement of lost items. As narrated from Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him), the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:

"If someone hears a person announcing a lost item in the mosque, he should tell him that may Allah not return your item to you, for mosques are not built for this purpose." [Sahih Muslim, Book of Mosques: Chapter on the prohibition of announcing lost items, 568]

Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) also reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:

"If you see a person engaging in buying and selling in the mosque, tell him that may Allah not grant you success in your trade." [Tirmidhi, Book of Jurisprudence: Chapter on the prohibition of selling in the mosque, 1321]

There is no evidence to exempt the announcement of funerals either.

[Islah al-Masajid: p. 160]

From these hadiths, it is clear that announcing lost items and engaging in buying and selling in mosques are prohibited. A supplication for misfortune is made for those who engage in such actions. However, it is not prohibited to delegate responsibilities for various religious matters among individuals in the mosque.

In the mosques of military camps, responsibilities are assigned, such as sending people for guard duty, distributing food, or telling someone to rest. I do not know of any evidence prohibiting such matters. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to make decisions regarding his affairs within the mosque itself.
 
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