Etiquettes of the Prophet's Mosque

Should one visit the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)?

 

There is a Hadith in Sunan Daraqutni, Shu’abul Iman, Jame’ Ul Ahadith, Jam Ul Jawame’, Majma Uz Zawaaid, Kanz Ul Ummal:

 

Translation:  It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Abdullah Bin Umar (May Allah be well pleased with them), he narrates that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: My intercession (Shafa'at) becomes Compulsory (Wajib) for the person who visits my blessed grave.

 

Sunan Daraqutni, Hadith No. 2727

 

Shu'abul Iman, Hadith No. 4159

 

Jame' Ul Ahadith, Hadith No. 22304

 

Jam Ul Jawame', Hadith No. 5035

 

Majma Uz Zawaaid, Vol. 4, Pg. No. 6, Hadith No. 5841,

 

Kanz Ul Ummal, Hadith No. 42583

 

Why should we offer 40 Salaat in Prophet’s Mosque

 

It is the ultimate aim of a Muslim to pay his/her respects to the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) and it is a great privilege and honor to offer as many Salaat as possible in His mosque, which has such a relationship of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).

 

Offering 40 Salaat in Prophet’s Mosque, which all the organizers stress, is because the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) has given the good news of freedom from the fire of Hell, safety from hypocrisy and relief from punishment of Hell, as given in a Hadith in Musnad Imam Ahmed and Majma ‘Uz Zawaaid:

 

Translation: Hadhrat Anas bin Malik (May Allah be well pleased with him) narrates from the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam):  Any person who offers 40 Salaat in my mosque in such a way that no Salaat is missed, for that person freedom from hell and relief from punishment of hell is decreed and that person is saved from hypocrisy. (Musnad Imam Ahmed, Hadith No. 12123, Pg. No: 55; Majma ‘Uz Zawaaid, Vol. 4, Pg. No: 8)

 

The author of Majma ‘Uz Zawaaid, Hadhrat ‘Ali bin Abu Bakr bin Sulaiman Haithami (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) writes after mentioning this Hadith:

 

Translation: I say that Imam Tirmidhi has recorded a part of this Hadith.  Imam Ahmed has recorded this in his Musnad and Imam Tabarani in his Mo’jam Ausat and the persons who narrate this Hadith are reliable and trustworthy.

 

This Hadith is also mentioned in Mo’jam Ausat of Imam Tabarani, Vol. 5, Hadith No. 5602, with a slight change in wording:

 

Translation h:  It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Anas (May Allah be well pleased with him) that the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: Whoever offers 40 Salaat in my mosque in such a way that no Salaat is missed, Allah Most High  decrees for that person freedom from hell and deliverance from the punishment of hell.

 

Etiquette of Prophet’s Mosque

 

While entering the mosque, while leaving it or while inside it, the manners of the mosque should be kept in mind.  No such sound should be made which disturbs the worshippers or those who are busy in remembering Allah Most High.   Even while removing slippers etc. restraint and calmness should be maintained.   These are the rules of all mosques.  The manners of the Prophet’s Mosque, the Prophet’s Mosque, are more when compared to other mosques.  So, the  Hajis should keep the status of these holy places in mind and should restrain from carelessness, so that no act which may be considered as disrespect might be committed; as this might lead to heavy losses of this world and the hereafter.

 

Calling out to someone in Prophet’s Mosque is strictly forbidden and against propriety.  This is that mosque in which the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) is resting.  We should come here as the very personifications of propriety.   This is that court where raising one’s voice is prohibited.   And the punishment for doing so is all acts of worship will be wiped out and the person will not even realize it, as Allah Most High says in Surah Hujuraat:

 

O believers! Do not raise your voices above the voice of the Prophet (blessings and peace be upon him), and (also) do not speak to him so loud as you are loud when you speak to one another (lest) all your actions should come to nothing (including your faith), and you are not even aware (that your faith and all pious works have been wrecked).  (49:02)

 

Even after the Holy Prophet’s (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) passing away into the presence of Allah Most High, the same commandment holds good.   There is a Hadith in Sahih Bukhari, Hadith no.  470:

 

Translation: It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Saaib bin Yazid (May Allah be well pleased with him), he said:  I was standing in Prophet’s Mosque, somebody threw a pebble at me to call me.  I saw that it was Hadhrat ‘Umar bin Khattab (May Allah be well pleased with him).  He gestured towards 2 men and wanted me to bring them to him.  I took those 2 men to him.  He asked them:  Which tribe do you belong to? or maybe he asked: Which area do you belong to?  They said:  We are natives of Taaif.  He said:  If you were natives of this city, I would have certainly punished you.  You raise your voice in the Prophet’s mosque!

 

Our master Shaykh Ul Islam, Imam Muhammad Anwarullah Farooqui, the founder of Jamia Nizamia, writes in the explanation of this Hadith:

 

This shows that nobody raised their voice in Prophet’s Mosque, and anybody who did so was considered worthy of punishment.  Although Hadhrat Saaib (May Allah be well pleased with him) was not far at all, only because of this propriety, Hadhrat ‘Umar (May Allah be well pleased with him) did not call out to him but threw a pebble to attract his attention.  All these manners are only because the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) is resting there with eternal life.   If it was only because of the propriety of the mosque, it was not necessary to say, “….in the Prophet’s mosque.”  The second point here is that the punishment was reserved only for the natives of the city, who were well aware of the propriety of the Prophet’s mosque.  If it was only for the sake of a mosque, then even the natives of Taaif would not have been excused, as there were mosques in Taaif as well.

 

Hadhrat Abul Fadhl Qazi ‘Iyaaz (May Allah shower His Mercy on him), writes in his magnum opus Ash Shifa after describing in detail the manners of entering the presence of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), writes:

 

Translation: The way being respectful in the presence of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) was compulsory in the earthly life of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), it is compulsory even after the Holy Prophet’s (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) passing away into the presence of Allah Most High.  It is compulsory for every believer, that whenever he/she makes a mention of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) or hears it, then he/should express utmost humility.   He/she should be full of propriety in his/her actions.   He/she should keep in mind the lofty status and grandeur of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  He/she should express respect and reverence for the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) in the manner that Allah Most High has ordered it, as he/she is present in the presence of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  Imam Qazi ‘Iyaaz (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) says that this was the method of all our pious predecessors and great Imams.

 

In Madina, the visitors of the Holy Prophet’s (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) mausoleum should keep these manners in mind.  Nobody should be called out to in Prophet’s Mosque and no act which has even a trace of disrespect should be committed.