Importance and Virtue of Mosque Cleanliness in Authentic Ahadith
Excerpt taken from Sheikh Muhammad Munir Qamar’s book Ahkam al-Masajid
◈ Command of the Prophet ﷺ Regarding Cleanliness of Mosques
If mosques are built as needed—no matter how large—kept simple in plain white or cream color, and free from decorative patterns, then there is no restriction on maintaining their cleanliness. In fact, the Prophet ﷺ commanded keeping them clean and perfumed.
Narrated from Umm al-Muʾminin ʿAʾishah (RA):
أمرنا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ببناء المساجد فى الدور، وأن تنظف وأن تطيب
"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ commanded us to build mosques in our localities and to keep them clean and perfumed."
(Sahih Abi Dawud 346, Sahih Tirmidhi 487, Ibn Majah 759, Ibn Khuzaymah 574, Ibn Hibban – al-Mawarid 306, Sahih al-Targhib 1/113)
Another narration from Samurah ibn Jundub (RA) states:
أمرنا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أن نتخذ المساجد فى ديارنا وأمرنا أن تنظفها
"The Messenger of Allah ﷺ commanded us to build mosques in our dwellings and to keep them clean."
(Sahih al-Targhib wa al-Tarhib 1/112)
◈ The Virtue of Those Who Clean Mosques
The high status of those who take care of mosque cleanliness is evident in authentic narrations.
Narrated by Abu Hurayrah (RA):
إن رجلا أسود أو امرأة سوداء كان يقم المسجد، فمات فسأل النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم عنه فقالوا مات، قال: أفلا كنتم آذنتموني به، دلوني على قبره أو قال قبرها، فأتى قبرها فصلى عليها
"A black man or a black woman used to clean the mosque. When he/she died, the Prophet ﷺ inquired about him/her. They told him he/she had passed away. The Prophet ﷺ said: ‘Why did you not inform me?’ Then he ﷺ asked to be shown the grave, went there, and offered the funeral prayer."
(Bukhari with Fath 1/552, Mukhtasar Muslim 579, Ibn Majah 1527, Sahih al-Targhib 1/112)
Another narration specifies that it was a woman. Abu Saʿid al-Khudri (RA) reported:
كانت سوداء تقم المسجد، فتوفيت ليلا فلما أصبح رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أخبر بها فقال: ألا آذنتموني، فخرج بأصحابه فوقف على قبرها، فكبر عليها والناس خلفه ودعا لها ثم انصرف
"There was a black woman who used to clean the mosque. She passed away during the night. In the morning, when the Prophet ﷺ was informed, he said: ‘Why did you not inform me?’ Then he ﷺ went to her grave with his companions, prayed over her, made duʿa for her, and then returned."
(Ibn Majah 1533, Sahih al-Targhib 275)
Imam Bukhari brought this narration under the chapter “Sweeping the mosque and picking up rags and dirt.” Later he also established a chapter titled “Servants for the mosque”, thereby indicating that it was indeed a woman.
According to Sunan al-Kubra of Bayhaqi, her name was Umm Mahjan, while in Ibn Manda’s narration from Anas (RA), she is named Khirqāʾ. Hafiz Ibn Hajar reconciled that her name was Khirqāʾ, and her kunyah was Umm Mahjan.
(Fath al-Bari 3/205)
The reason why the Sahabah buried her without informing the Prophet ﷺ is mentioned in Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah and Bayhaqi:
فكرهنا أن نوقظك
"We did not like to disturb you during the night."
Whereas another report in Sahih Bukhari (Kitab al-Janaʾiz) mentions:
فحقرها وأشأنه
"They considered her matter to be insignificant (due to her low worldly status)."
Yet, the Prophet ﷺ honored her service by praying over her grave, teaching the Ummah the immense virtue of mosque caretakers.
◈ Mosque Service and Appointing Caretakers
Imam Bukhari also deduced that it is permissible to appoint a servant or caretaker for the mosque, based on these Ahadith. That woman had devoted herself to cleaning the Prophet’s ﷺ mosque, and the Prophet ﷺ approved of her dedication.
To support this, Bukhari cited Surah Aal ʿImran, verse 35:
﴿رَبِّ إِنِّي نَذَرْتُ لَكَ مَا فِي بَطْنِي مُحَرَّرًا﴾
"My Lord, indeed I have vowed to You what is in my womb, dedicated [to Your service]."
Ibn ʿAbbas (RA) explained:
للمسجد يخدمه
"Meaning, dedicated to serve the mosque."
Thus, even in previous nations, dedicating oneself or even one’s child to the service of the mosque was practiced.
◈ Summary
✔ The Prophet ﷺ commanded building mosques in localities, keeping them clean and perfumed.
✔ Cleaning the mosque is such a noble service that the Prophet ﷺ personally honored a woman who used to clean the mosque by praying over her grave.
✔ This highlights the virtue, respect, and importance of mosque cleanliness.
✔ Dedicating individuals for mosque service has precedence from both the Sunnah and earlier scriptures.
