From the echoing call to prayer that pierces the dawn to the hushed murmurs of contemplation during solo night vigils, mosques stand as the beating heart of Muslim communities around the world.
But beyond their architectural splendor and sacred spaces, these humble sanctuaries hold a deeper significance etched in the very fabric of Islam.
Delving into the Quran and Hadith, this article unravels the tapestry of meaning woven around mosques, illuminating their pivotal status and profound importance in the lives of believers.
Places of Mosque
Whole Earth is a Mosque
Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudri narrated that: Allah’s Messenger said: “All of the earth is a Masjid except for the graveyard and the washroom.” Jami` at-Tirmidhi 317
It was narrated that Abu Sa’eed Khudri said: “The Messenger of Allah said: ‘All the earth is a mosque, except for graveyards and Hammam.'” Sunan Ibn Majah 745
Narrated AbuDharr: The earth has been made for me purifying and as a mosque (place for prayer). Sunan Abi Dawud 489
It was narrated that Ibrahim said: “I used to recite Qur’an to my father on the road, and if I recited a verse in which prostration was required, he would prostrate. I said: ‘O my father, do you prostrate on the street?’ He said: ‘I heard Abu Dharr say: “I asked the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ): ‘Which Masjid was built first?’ He said: ‘Al-Masjid Al-Haram.’ [1] I said: ‘Then which?’ He said: ‘Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa.’ [2] I said: ‘How long was there between them?’ He said: ‘Forty years. And the earth is a Masjid (or a place of prostration) for you, so wherever you are when the time for prayer comes, pray.'” [1] In Makkah. [2] “Furthest Masjid”, meaning the Masjid in Jerulsalem. Sunan an-Nasa’i 690
Mosque in Villages
It was narrated from ‘Aishah that: The Messenger of Allah commanded that mosque to be built in (Ad-Dur) villages, and that they be purified and perfumed. Sunan Ibn Majah 758
First Mosque on Earth
Abu Dharr reported: I said: Messenger of Allah, which mosque was set up first on the earth? He said: Al-Masjid al-Haram (the sacred). I (again) said: Then which next? He said: It was the Masjid Aqsa. I (again) said: How long the space of time (between their setting up)? He (the Holy Prophet) said: It was forty years. And whenever the time comes for prayer, pray there, for that is a mosque; and in the hadith transmitted by Abu Kamil (the words are):” Whenever time comes for prayer, pray, for that is a mosque (for you).” Sahih Muslim 520a
We revealed to Moses and his brother, “Appoint houses for your people in Egypt. Turn these houses into places of worship, establish prayer, and give good news to the believers!” 10:87
Purpose of Mosques
The places of worship are ˹only˺ for Allah, so do not invoke anyone besides Him. 72:18
Managers of Mosques
It is not for the polytheists to maintain the mosques of Allah while they openly profess disbelief. Their deeds are void, and they will be in the Fire forever. 9:17
The mosques of Allah should only be maintained by those who believe in Allah and the Last Day, establish prayer, pay alms-tax, and fear none but Allah. It is right to hope that they will be among the ˹truly˺ guided. 9:18
Do you ˹pagans˺ consider providing the pilgrims with water and maintaining the Sacred Mosque as equal to believing in Allah and the Last Day and struggling in the cause of Allah? They are not equal in Allah’s sight. And Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people. 9:19
There are also those ˹hypocrites˺ who set up a mosque ˹only˺ to cause harm, promote disbelief, divide the believers, and as a base for those who had previously fought against Allah and His Messenger. They will definitely swear, “We intended nothing but good,” but Allah bears witness that they are surely liars. 9:107
Do not ˹O Prophet˺ ever pray in it. Certainly, a mosque founded on righteousness from the first day is more worthy of your prayers. In it are men who love to be purified. And Allah loves those who purify themselves. 9:108
Mosques are for all People: No Discrimination
Indeed, those who persist in disbelief and hinder ˹others˺ from the Way of Allah and from the Sacred Mosque—which We have appointed for all people, residents and visitors alike—along with whoever intends to deviate by doing wrong in it, We will cause them to taste a painful punishment. 22:25
And why should Allah not punish them while they hinder pilgrims from the Sacred Mosque, claiming to be its rightful guardians? None has the right to guardianship except those mindful ˹of Allah˺, but most pagans do not know. 8:34
Obstructing Mosques
Who does more wrong than those who prevent Allah’s Name from being mentioned in His places of worshipand strive to destroy them? Such people have no right to enter these places except with fear. For them is disgrace in this world, and they will suffer a tremendous punishment in the Hereafter. 2:114
˹They are˺ those who have been expelled from their homes for no reason other than proclaiming: “Our Lord is Allah.” Had Allah not repelled ˹the aggression of˺ some people by means of others, destruction would have surely claimed monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques in which Allah’s Name is often mentioned. Allah will certainly help those who stand up for Him. Allah is truly All-Powerful, Almighty. 40:41
Shape, Size and Decoration of Mosques
Prophet’s first Mosque
Narrated Anas: Prior to the construction of the mosque, the Prophet (ﷺ) offered the prayers at sheep-folds. Sahih al-Bukhari 234
Anas reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to pray in the folds of the sheep and goats before the mosque was built. Sahih Muslim 524b
Narrated ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar- ‘In the lifetime of Allah’s Apostle the mosque was built of adobes (clay), its roof of the leaves of date palms and its pillars of the stems of date-palms. Abu Bakr did not alter it. ‘Umar expanded it on the same pattern as it was in the lifetime of Allah’s Apostle by using adobes, leaves of date palms, and changing the pillars into wooden ones. ‘Uthman changed it by expanding it to a great extent and built its walls with engraved stones and lime and made its pillars of engraved stones and its roof of teak wood. Sahih Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 8, Number 437
Size and Decoration of Mosques
Narrated Abdullah ibn Abbas: I was not commanded to build high mosques. Ibn Abbas said: You will certainly adorn them as the Jews and Christians did. Grade: Sahih (Al-Albani) Sunan Abi Dawud 448
Narrated Ibn ‘Abbas (RA): Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said: “I was not commanded to build beautified mosques”. [Reported by Abu Dawud and Ibn Hibban graded it Sahih (authentic)] Bulugh ul Maram Book 2, Hadith 136
Ibn ‘Abbas reported God’s Messenger as saying, “I was not commanded to build high mosques.” Ibn ‘Abbas said, “You* will certainly ornament them as the Jews and Christians did.” * The verb is plural addressed by Ibn ‘Abbas to some hearers. Abu Dawud transmitted it. Mishkat al-Masabih 718
Pilgrimage to Mosques
Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Do not set out on a journey except for three Mosques i.e. Al-Masjid-AI-Haram, the Mosque of Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) , and the Mosque of Al-Aqsa, (Mosque of Jerusalem).” Bukhari 1189
Narrated Abu Sa’id al-Khudri (RA): The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “No (religious) journey is to be undertaken except to (pray in) the three mosques: The Sacred Mosque (Makkah), the Aqsa Mosque (Jerusalem), and this Mosque of mine (al-Madinah).” [Agreed upon, and the wording is al-Bukhari’s]. Bulugh al-Maram 1395
Entry of Women in Mosques
Narrated AbuHurayrah: Do not prevent the female servants of Allah from visiting the mosques of Allah, but they may go out (to the mosque) having no perfumed themselves. Abi Dawud 565
Narrated Ibn `Umar: The Prophet (p.b.u.h) said, “Allow women to go to the Mosques at night.” Sahih al-Bukhari 899
Prohibited Activities in Mosques
Trade & Poetry
It was narrated from ‘Amr bin Shu’aib from his father that his grandfather said: “The Messenger of Allah forbade buying and selling in the mosque, and reciting poetry in the mosque.” Ibn Majah 749
Amr b. Shu’aib on his father’s authority reported his grandfather as saying that God’s Messenger prohibited the recitation of poems in a mosque, buying and selling in it, and sitting in a circle in a mosque on Friday before the prayer. Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi transmitted it. Mishkat al-Masabih 732
Spitting
Anas bin Malik narrated that: the Messenger of Allah said: “To spit in the Masjid is a sin, and burying it is its atonement.” Jami` at-Tirmidhi 572
Shu’ba reported: I asked Qatada about spitting, in the mosque. He said: I heard Anas b. Malik say: I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: Spitting in the mosque is a sin, and its expiation is that it should be buried. Sahih Muslim 552b
Graves
It was narrated from Aishah that the Prophet said: “May Allah curse people who take the graves of their prophets as Masjids.” Sunan an-Nasa’i 2046
Narrated Abu Hurairah: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as saying: Allah’s curse to be on the Jews, they made the graves of their Prophets mosques. Sunan Abi Dawud 3227
Narrated AbuHurayrah: The Prophet (ﷺ) said: If anyone prays over the dead in the mosque, there is nothing on him. Sunan Abi Dawud 3191
Crying
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: If anyone hears a man crying out in the mosque about something he has lost, he should say: May Allah not restore it to you, for the mosques were not built for this. Sahih Muslim 568a
Intoxication
O believers! Do not approach prayer while intoxicated until you are aware of what you say, nor in a state of ˹full˺ impurity—unless you merely pass through ˹the mosque˺—until you have bathed. But if you are ill, on a journey, or have relieved yourselves, or been intimate with your wives and cannot find water, then purify yourselves with clean earth, wiping your faces and hands. And Allah is Ever-Pardoning, All-Forgiving. 4:43
Intimacy
It has been made permissible for you to be intimate with your wives during the nights preceding the fast. Your spouses are a garment for you as you are for them. Allah knows that you were deceiving yourselves. So He has accepted your repentance and pardoned you. So now you may be intimate with them and seek what Allah has prescribed for you. ˹You may˺ eat and drink until you see the light of dawn breaking the darkness of night, then complete the fast until nightfall. Do not be intimate with your spouses while you are meditating in the mosques. These are the limits set by Allah, so do not exceed them. This is how Allah makes His revelations clear to people, so they may become mindful ˹of Him˺. 2:187
Going out during call to Prayer
Abu Sha’tha’ reported: While we were sitting with Abu Huraira in a mosque a man went out of the mosque after the call to prayer had been announced. (A man stood up in the mosque and set off.) Abu Huraira’s eyes followed him till he went out of the mosque. Upon this Abu Huraira said: This man has disobeyed Abu’l- Qasim (Muhammad) (ﷺ). Sahih Muslim 655a
Permitted activities in Mosques
Sleeping
It was narrated that Ibn ‘Umar said: “We used to sleep in the mosque at the time of the Messenger of Allah.” Sunan Ibn Majah 751
Ibn ‘Umar said: I used to sleep in the mosque in the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) when I was young and bachelor. The dogs would urinate frequently visit the mosque, and no one would sprinkle over it. Sunan Abi Dawud 382
Narrated Nafi: Abdullah bin `Umar said: I used to sleep in the mosque of the Prophet (ﷺ) while I was young and unmarried. Sahih al-Bukhari 440
Narrated `Abbad bin Tamim’s uncle: I saw the Prophet (ﷺ) lying-down in the mosque and placing one leg on the other. Sahih al-Bukhari 5969
Narrated AbuHurayrah: The Prophet (ﷺ) said: The further one is from the mosque , the greater will be one’s reward. Sunan Abi Dawud 556
Going to Mosques
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “He who goes to the mosque in the morning or in the evening, Allah prepares for him a place in Jannah whenever he goes to the mosque in the morning and returns from it in the evening.” Riyad as-Salihin 1053
Ranking of Mosques
Anas b. Malik reported God’s Messenger as saying, “A man’s prayer in his house is equivalent to a single observance of prayer, his prayer in a tribal mosque is equivalent to twenty-five, his prayer in a mosque in which the Friday prayer is observed is equivalent to five hundred, his prayer in the Aqsa mosque is equivalent to fifty thousand, his prayer in my mosque is equivalent to fifty thousand, and his prayer in the sacred mosque (the Ka’ba) is equivalent to a hundred thousand.” Ibn Majah transmitted it. Mishkat al-Masabih 752
When Hypocrites built a Mosque to create discord
There are also those ˹hypocrites˺ who set up a mosque ˹only˺ to cause harm, promote disbelief, divide the believers, and as a base for those who had previously fought against Allah and His Messenger. They will definitely swear, “We intended nothing but good,” but Allah bears witness that they are surely liars. 9:107
Do not ˹O Prophet˺ ever pray in it. Certainly, a mosque founded on righteousness from the first day is more worthy of your prayers. In it are men who love to be purified. And Allah loves those who purify themselves. 9:108
Which is better: those who laid the foundation of their building on the fear and pleasure of Allah, or those who did so on the edge of a crumbling cliff that tumbled down with them into the Fire of Hell? And Allah does not guide the wrongdoing people. 9:109
The building which they erected will never cease to fuel hypocrisy in their hearts until their hearts are torn apart. And Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise. 9:110