Fatwa on Sale Announcements in The Masjid

Fatwa on Sale Announcements in The Masjid

Aug 25, ’09 8:25 PM

In The Name of Allah The Merciful, The Bestower of His Mercy

Some time earlier this year Sheikh Abdullah bin Abdul Rahman Al Ghudayan (may Allah preserve him) was asked the following question:

Questioner: Is it permissible to make announcements for sales in the masjid if the profit for the items or food being sold returns to the benefit of the masjid itself? This is something commonly done in the masajid in the West.

Answer: It is not permissible for any announcements pertaining to sales or buying and purchasing to be made from within the masjid. The houses of Allah were not built for this purpose.

Questioner: Even if the profit from the sales return to the upkeep of the masjid?

Answer: Even if, no such announcement should be made from inside the masjid.

Translator’s note: There are several texts from the authentic Sunnah of the Prophet (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) which support the answer given by our beloved Sheikh, and from them:

It is recorded in Sahih Muslim on the authority of Abu Hurayrah who said:

The Messenger of Allah (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: If you witness a person selling or seeking to purchase within the masjid, then say to him:

May Allah not profit you in your transaction!

And if you witness a person making an announcement concerning his lost property then say:

May Allah not return your property to you!

It is likewise recorded in Al Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Nisaee on the authority of ‘Amrin bin Shua’b who reported on the authority of his father, on the authority of his grandfather who said:

Indeed the Messenger (may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) forbid buying and selling inside the masjid.

It is also recorded in the Muwatta of Imam Malik on the authority of ‘Ata bin Yasar that he would pass by individuals who were performing business transactions in the masajid and say to them:

What do you have for sale, and what would you like?

If they informed him that they wish to sell some goods, he (‘Ata) would reply:

You should (leave here and) go to the worldly market places, for indeed this is the market place for the hereafter!

We supplicate to Allah and ask His forgiveness for our faults and shortcomings, and we seek from Him His great bounty and blessings. It’s possible, in fact it’s certain, that if the masajid leave off such an act, Allah will increase the amount of assistance needed to support the masajid. Also, one should keep in mind, the selling of food and goods is not in itself forbidden, but what is forbidden is that announcements are made from within the masjid pertaining to the selling of these items and goods, and of course the actual selling and purchasing should take place outside the masjid and not at the back as you find in some masajid in the Wes