◈ Shar‘i Ruling on Worldly Talk and Noise in the Masjid ◈
Source: Fatāwā Muḥammadiyyah, Vol. 1, p. 311
What is the Islamic ruling on arguing or speaking worldly matters aloud in the masjid?
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ʾAmma baʿd!
Making noise, engaging in loud worldly conversations, and even announcing lost items in the masjid is not permissible.
This is clarified by a narration in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, in which Abū Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه) reports the Prophet ﷺ said:
«مَنْ سَمِعَ رَجُلًا يَنْشُدُ ضَالَّةً فِي الْمَسْجِدِ، فَلْيَقُلْ: لَا رَدَّهَا اللهُ عَلَيْكَ، فَإِنَّ الْمَسَاجِدَ لَمْ تُبْنَ لِهَذَا»
“If you hear someone announcing a lost item in the masjid, say: ‘May Allah not return it to you,’ for indeed masājid were not built for this purpose.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Book of Masājid)
Another narration reinforces this:
«لَا وَجَدْتَهُ، إِنَّمَا بُنِيَتِ الْمَسَاجِدُ لِمَا بُنِيَتْ لَهُ»
“May you not find it, for masājid were built only for what they were intended for.”
In his commentary, Imām al-Nawawī writes:
“The phrase ‘masājid were built only for what they were built for’ means they are meant for dhikr of Allah, ṣalāh, religious discussions, and righteous deeds.”
(Sharḥ al-Nawawī ʿala Muslim, Vol. 1, p. 210)
Reference: Sharḥ al-Nawawī (Vol. 1, p. 210)
Al-Sāʾib (رضي الله عنه) reported:
“I was in the masjid when someone threw a small stone at me. I looked and saw it was ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb (رضي الله عنه). He said, ‘Bring me those two men.’ When I brought them, he asked, ‘Where are you from?’ They said, ‘From Ṭāʾif.’ ʿUmar said, ‘Had you been from Madīnah, I would have punished you, for you were raising your voices in the masjid of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.’”
(Reported by al-Bukhārī; Mishkāt al-Maṣābīḥ with Taqrīb al-Ruwāt, Vol. 1, p. 133)
Shaykh Sayyid Aḥmad Ḥasan al-Muḥaddith al-Dehlawī explains:
Imām al-Bukhārī (رحمه الله) first mentioned this narration under “Chapter: Raising the Voice in the Masjid”, then included another under “Chapter: Demanding Debt and Raising Voices in the Masjid”, where ʿAbdullāh ibn Abī Ḥadard (رضي الله عنه) demanded repayment and both parties raised their voices. The Prophet ﷺ did not object.
Hence, Imām al-Bukhārī’s approach demonstrates:
Unnecessary noise and worldly talk is forbidden,
but beneficial and necessary speech is allowed, even if raised.
Engaging in futile worldly conversations
Making noise or commotion
Sloganeering during sermons or lectures
Flattering speakers with phrases like “Zindabad,” etc.
Taking photographs in the masjid (a modern trend)
All of these are forbidden, ḥarām, and fall under blameworthy innovation (bidʿah sayyiʾah).
✔ Raising one’s voice for futile, worldly matters in the masjid is ḥarām.
✔ Speaking beneficial or necessary matters is permissible, even if done loudly.
✔ The purpose of masājid is worship, dhikr, religious learning, and righteousness.
✔ Respecting the sanctity of the masjid is an obligation.
✔ Loud talking, disputing, or treating it like a public hall contradicts its sacred nature.
ھٰذَا مَا عِنْدِي، وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
Source: Fatāwā Muḥammadiyyah, Vol. 1, p. 311
❖ Question
What is the Islamic ruling on arguing or speaking worldly matters aloud in the masjid?
❖ Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, ʾAmma baʿd!
✿ Ruling on Loud Worldly Speech in the Masjid
Making noise, engaging in loud worldly conversations, and even announcing lost items in the masjid is not permissible.
This is clarified by a narration in Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, in which Abū Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه) reports the Prophet ﷺ said:
«مَنْ سَمِعَ رَجُلًا يَنْشُدُ ضَالَّةً فِي الْمَسْجِدِ، فَلْيَقُلْ: لَا رَدَّهَا اللهُ عَلَيْكَ، فَإِنَّ الْمَسَاجِدَ لَمْ تُبْنَ لِهَذَا»
“If you hear someone announcing a lost item in the masjid, say: ‘May Allah not return it to you,’ for indeed masājid were not built for this purpose.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Book of Masājid)
Another narration reinforces this:
«لَا وَجَدْتَهُ، إِنَّمَا بُنِيَتِ الْمَسَاجِدُ لِمَا بُنِيَتْ لَهُ»
“May you not find it, for masājid were built only for what they were intended for.”
✿ Commentary of Imām al-Nawawī (رحمه الله)
In his commentary, Imām al-Nawawī writes:
“The phrase ‘masājid were built only for what they were built for’ means they are meant for dhikr of Allah, ṣalāh, religious discussions, and righteous deeds.”
(Sharḥ al-Nawawī ʿala Muslim, Vol. 1, p. 210)
✿ Opinions of the Scholars
- Imām Mālik (رحمه الله) and those who follow his view:
→ Even speaking of religious matters loudly in the masjid is makrūh (discouraged). - Imām Abū Ḥanīfah (رحمه الله) and Imām Muḥammad ibn Musallamah al-Mālikī:
→ Permitted loud discussion of religious knowledge or worldly necessities in the masjid.
Reference: Sharḥ al-Nawawī (Vol. 1, p. 210)
✿ Incident of ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb (رضي الله عنه)
Al-Sāʾib (رضي الله عنه) reported:
“I was in the masjid when someone threw a small stone at me. I looked and saw it was ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb (رضي الله عنه). He said, ‘Bring me those two men.’ When I brought them, he asked, ‘Where are you from?’ They said, ‘From Ṭāʾif.’ ʿUmar said, ‘Had you been from Madīnah, I would have punished you, for you were raising your voices in the masjid of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.’”
(Reported by al-Bukhārī; Mishkāt al-Maṣābīḥ with Taqrīb al-Ruwāt, Vol. 1, p. 133)
✿ Clarification by Ḥadīth Scholars
Shaykh Sayyid Aḥmad Ḥasan al-Muḥaddith al-Dehlawī explains:
Imām al-Bukhārī (رحمه الله) first mentioned this narration under “Chapter: Raising the Voice in the Masjid”, then included another under “Chapter: Demanding Debt and Raising Voices in the Masjid”, where ʿAbdullāh ibn Abī Ḥadard (رضي الله عنه) demanded repayment and both parties raised their voices. The Prophet ﷺ did not object.
◉ Conclusion from this Comparison:
- ʿUmar’s narration: Prohibits futile and unnecessary talk in the masjid.
- Ibn Abī Ḥadard’s narration: Permits raising the voice when necessary.
Hence, Imām al-Bukhārī’s approach demonstrates:Unnecessary noise and worldly talk is forbidden,
but beneficial and necessary speech is allowed, even if raised.
✿ Prohibited Practices in the Masjid
Engaging in futile worldly conversations Making noise or commotion Sloganeering during sermons or lectures Flattering speakers with phrases like “Zindabad,” etc. Taking photographs in the masjid (a modern trend) All of these are forbidden, ḥarām, and fall under blameworthy innovation (bidʿah sayyiʾah).❖ Summary
✔ Raising one’s voice for futile, worldly matters in the masjid is ḥarām.
✔ Speaking beneficial or necessary matters is permissible, even if done loudly.
✔ The purpose of masājid is worship, dhikr, religious learning, and righteousness.
✔ Respecting the sanctity of the masjid is an obligation.
✔ Loud talking, disputing, or treating it like a public hall contradicts its sacred nature.
ھٰذَا مَا عِنْدِي، وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
