Ash-Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan, may Allah preserve him, was asked the following question:
The Questioner:
Is it permissible to sell siwaaks at the steps of the outside doors of the Masjid bearing in mind that the Masjid doesn’t have dividers that encircle it?
The Shaykh:
How does it have stairs yet doesn’t have any walls (i.e. dividers)?
The Questioner:
Huh?
The Shaykh:
Repeat the question.
The Questioner:
Is it permissible to sell siwaaks at the steps of the outside doors of the Masjid?
The Shaykh:
It has doors and stairs, so that means it has dividers [right?].
The Questioner:
Yes.
The Shaykh:
Therefore if it is at the outside doors [i.e. the masjid] then it is okay. As for if it is inside the doors of the masjid, then that is impermissible. Yes.
The Lajnah ad-Da’imah was the following question :
Question:
Many Masjids (mosques) in America are comprised of a hall for Salah (Prayer) and other rooms attached to it. Is it permissible to buy and sell in these rooms? Is it permissible to buy and sell, or to promote commodities and services in the area dedicated for Salah?
Answer:
It is impermissible to buy, sell, or promote commodities in the area dedicated for Salah if it is attached to the Masjid. The Prophet (peace be upon him) stated,
When you see someone buying or selling in the Masjid, say to them: ‘May Allah not make your bargain profitable!’
He (peace be upon him) also stated,
If anyone hears a person announcing a lost item in the Masjid, they should say: ‘May Allah not restore it to you.’
As for other rooms, there is more than one ruling. If they are inside the walls of the Masjid, they take the same ruling as the Masjid. If they are outside the walls of the Masjid, even if they are adjacent to it, they do not take the same ruling, as the Prophet’s house where `Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) lived had its door adjacent to the Masjid; however, it did not carry the same ruling.
May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.
The Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta’
Shaykh Muhammad bin Saalih al-Uthaymeen, rahimahullah, said:
“The Scholars, may Allaah have mercy upon them, say [that] whatever is within the walls of the Masjid and if the entrance to it is within the Masjid, then it is a part of the Masjid [i.e. the rulings of the masjid apply to it]…”
[al liqaa’ul Maftuuh, (232/2), Question: 956, Print: Daarul Baseerah[
And Ash-Shaykh Abdul-Azeez ar-Raajihi, may Allah preserve him, was asked the following question:
Question:
Is it permissible to buy and sell in the courtyards of the masjid while it is connected to the masjid? And what is obligatory upon us towards those who we see doing the likes of that?
Answer:
What is apparent is that the courtyards are not part of the masjid although it is connected to it, meaning that when the masjid gets full, the people pray there, hence this (occasionally) occurs while the salaat is valid therein. However, it’s not part of the masjid [i.e. the rulings of the masjid doesn’t apply to it].”
[“Al-Fataawa al-Munawwah (8)” on min 21:41 to 22:10 as seen here]
—
Some of the other shuyookh added two more conditions:
- that those selling at the doors of the Masjid should not bring any harm to those entering the masjid
- that they must refrain from selling once prayer time comes in
—
Ash-Shaykh Abdul-Muhsin al-Abbaad, may Allah preserve him, said:
والبيع عند أبواب المساجد لا بأس به، وإنما الممنوع المساجد، فالمساجد لا بيع فيها ولا شراء، ولا إنشاد ضالة، والمقصود من أبواب المساجد خارج الأبواب والجدران،
“There is no harm in selling at the doors of the Masjid. What is only prohibited are the masaajid [themselves]. Thus, there shouldn’t be any business transactions in the mosques or any announcements for lost items therein. And what is intended by the word ‘the doors of the Masjid’ is what is outside the doors and the walls [of the masjid]”
وإذا كان المسجد له فناء ومساحات تابعة له فهي من ضمن المسجد، وحكمها حكم المسجد، فكل ما تحيط به الجدران والأبواب يعتبر مسجداً، سواءٌ أكان مغطى أم مكشوفاً.
“And if the masjid has a courtyard and open space which is attached to it, then it is part of the Masjid and its ruling is the ruling of the masjid. Therefore, everything that the walls and the doors encircle is considered to be part of the Masjid whether it is concealed or not.”
[Sharh Sunan Abu Dawud (#136)]
Also Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan has some speech found on the link here that if it is outside the masjid, at the doors of the Masjid or close to it, then it is permissible :
So, if the bookstore has a separate wall and entrance to it, then it is permissible similar to some mosques when you enter the building before entering the masjid, there is another main door before entering the actual masjid and it is divided from it.
Translated and Answered by
AbdulFattaah bin Uthman
Abu Fajr
