Fatwa ID: 04562

Answered by: Maulana Mujahid Hussain

Question

Did the Sahabah Used to Talk About Worldly Matters in the Masjid
 

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer

Not engaging in worldly talk inside the  Masjid is a recommendation, not a command. Hence to call it a grave sin is wrong.

This recommendation is for our benefit for the Prophet (p.b.u.h.) said:

إِنَّمَا هِيَ لِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَالصَّلاَةِ وَقِرَاءَةِ الْقُرْآنِ

“Indeed the Masaajid are only for the remembrance of Allah, prayer and the recitation of the Qur'an”[1]

Likewise to make personal worldly announcements in the Masjid is not allowed. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) said the Messenger of Allah said, "If anyone hears a man inquiring in the mosque about something he has lost, he should say: 'La Raddaha Allahu 'alaika (May Allah not restore it to you),' for mosques are not built for this purpose."[2]

However, this does not mean you cannot talk about worldly matters from time to time. You rightly pointed out a few examples from the Sahabah and there are plenty more.

Only Allah knows best

Written by Maulana Mujahid Hussain

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah 

Darul Ifta Birmingham