The Book of the Masjids

كتاب المساجد

Chapter 1: The Virtue Of Building Masjids

It was narrated from 'Amr bin 'Abasah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said

"Whoever builds a Masjid in which Allah is remembered, Allah, (the Mighty and Sublime) will build for him a house in Paradise."

Chapter 6: The Virtue Of Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa And Praying Therein

It was narrated from 'Abdullah bin 'Amr that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said

"When Sulaiman bin Dawud finished building Bait Al-Maqdis, he asked Allah for three things: Judgement that was in harmony with His judgement, and he was given that. And he asked Allah for a dominion that no one after him would have, and he was given that. And when he finished building the Masjid he asked Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, that no one should come to it, intending only to pray there, but he would emerge free of sin as the day his mother bore him."

Chapter 8: The Masjid Which Was Founded On Piety

It was narrated from Ibn Abi Sa'eed Al-Khudri that his father said

"Two men argued about the Masjid which was founded on piety from the first day. [1] One man said that it was the Masjid of Quba', and the other said that it was the Masjid of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'It is this Masjid of mine.'"[1] At-Tawbah 9:108.

Chapter 9: The Virtue Of The Majid Of Quba' [1] And Praying Therein

Abu Umamah bin Sahl bin Hunaif said

"My father said: 'The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'Whoever goes out to his Masjid - the Masjid of Quba' and prays therein, that will be equivalent to 'Umrah.'"

Chapter 17: The One To Be Taken Out Of The Masjid

It was narrated from Ma'dam bin Abi Talhah that 'Umar bin Al-Khattab said

"O people, you eat of two plants which I do not think are anything but bad, this onion and garlic. I have seen the Prophet of Allah (ﷺ), if he noticed their smell coming from a man, ordering that he be taken out to Al-Baqi'. Whoever eats them, let him cook them to death."

Chapter 19: Bringing Children Into The Masjid

It was narrated from 'Amr bin Sulaim Az-Zuraqi that he heard Abu Qatadah say

"While we were sitting in the Masjid. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came out to us carrying Umamah bint Abi Al-'As bin Ar-Rabi', whose mother was Zainab, the daughter of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). She was a little girl and he was carrying her. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prayed with her on his shoulder, putting her down when he bowed and picking her up again when he stood up, until he completed his prayer."

Chapter 23: The Prohibition Of Reciting Poetry In The Masjid

It was narrated from 'Amr bin Shu'aib, from his father, from his grandfather, that the Prophet (ﷺ) forbade reciting poetry in the Masjid.

Chapter 24: The Concession Allowing The Recitation Of Good Poetry In The Masjid

It was narrated that Sa'eed bin Al-Musayyab said

"Umar passed by Hassan bin Thabit while he was reciting poetry in the Masjid, and glared at him. He said: 'I recited poetry when there was someone better than you in the Masjid.' Then he turned to Abu Hurairah and said: 'Did you not hear the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) when he said: "Answer back on my behalf. O Allah, help him with the Holy Spirit!'" He said: 'Yes, by Allah.'"

Chapter 26: Brandishing Weapons In The Masjid

Sufyan said

"I said to 'Amr: 'Did you hear Jabir say: "A man passed through the Masjid carrying arrows, and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to him: 'Hold then by the blades.'? He said: 'Yes.'"

Chapter 32: The Prophet's Prohibition Of A Man Spitting To The Front Or To His Right When Praying

It was narrated from Abu Sa'eed Al-Khudri that the Prophet (ﷺ) saw some spittle in the Qiblah of the Masjid. He scratched it off with a pebble and forbade a man to spit to his front or to his right. He said

"Let him spit to his left or beneath his left foot."

Chapter 37: The Command To Pray Before Sitting Down In It

It was narrated from Abu Qatadah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said

"When any one of you enters the Masjid, let him pray two Rak'ahs before he sits down."

Chapter 38: Concession Allowing One To Sit Down In The Masjid And To Exit Without Praying

'Abdullah bin Ka'b said

"I heard Ka'b bin Malik telling the story of when he stayed behind from going out on the campaign of Tabuk with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). He said: 'The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came back in the morning, and when he came back from a journey he would go to the Masjid first and pray two Rak'ahs there, then he would sit to (meet with) the people. When he did that, those who had stayed behind came to him and started giving their excuses, swearing by Allah. There were eighty-odd men, and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) accepted what they declared and accepted their oaths of allegiance; he prayed for forgiveness for them and left whatever was in their hearts to Allah. Then when I came and greeted him, he smiled as one who is angry, then he said: 'Come here.' So I came and sat in front of him, [1] and he said: 'What kept you behind? Did you not buy a mount?' I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, if I were to sit before anyone other than you of those who hold high positions in this world, I would find a way to avoid his anger. I am an eloquent man but, by Allah, I know that if I were to tell you a lie today to make you pleased with me, Allah would soon make you angry with me, but if I tell you the truth, it will make you angry with me, but I will still have the hope that Allah may forgive me. I have never been in a better position, physically or financially, than the time when I stayed behind and did not join you.' The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'This man has spoken the truth. Go away until Allah decides concerning you.' So I got up and went away." This is an abridged version of narration.[1] It is this which the author cited the narration for. While the absence of the mention of a thing - in this case prayer - is not a proof that it does not exist.

Chapter 39: The Prayer Of One Who Is Passing Through The Masjid

It was narrated that Abu Sa'eed bin Al-Mu'alla said

"We used to go to the marketplace in the morning at the time of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), and we would pass through the Masjid and pray there."

Chapter 45: Praying On The Minbar

Abu Hazim bin Dinar narrated that some men came to Sahl bin Sa'd As-Sa'idi. They were wondering what kind of wood the Minbar was made of, so they asked him about that. He said

"By Allah, I know what it is made of. I saw it the first day it was set up and the first day the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) sat on it. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) sent word to so-and-so" - a woman whose name Sahl mentioned - "telling her: 'Tell your carpenter slave to make me something of wood that I can sit on when I speak to the people.' So she told him, and he made it from tamarisk wood from Al-Ghabah (a place near Al-Madinah). Then he brought it and it was sent to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), who commanded that it be set up here. Then I saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) ascend it and praying on it, and saying the Takbir while he was on top of it, then he bowed when he was on top of it, then he came down backward and prostrated at the base of the Minbar, then he went back. When he had finished he turned to face the people and said: 'O people, I only did this so that you can follow me in prayer and learn how I pray.'"

Chapter 46: Praying On A Donkey

It was narrated that Ibn 'Umar said

"I saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) praying on a donkey, when he was heading toward Khaibar."