The rulings of mosques

One of the Companions went out to Qubā' Mosque in the outskirts of Madīnah, and he found that the people there had not received the news of the abrogation of the prayer direction, and were still praying toward the first Qiblah. So, he informed them that the prayer direction was changed toward the Ka‘bah, and that Qur'anic verses relating to that matter had been revealed to the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), alluding to the verse where Allah, the Exalted, says: {We have certainly seen the turning of your face toward the heaven, and We will surely turn you to a Qiblah with which you will be pleased. So turn your face toward the Sacred Mosque. And wherever you [believers] are, turn your faces toward it [in prayer]. Indeed, those who have been given the Scripture well know that it is the truth from their Lord. And Allah is not unaware of what they do} [Al-Baqarah: 144]. He also informed them that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was then facing the direction of the Ka‘bah. Thanks to their quick and sound understanding, they turned from the direction of Bayt al-Maqdis in Jerusalem – their first Qiblah – to their second Qiblah, which was the honorable Ka‘bah.

تيسير العلام شرح عمدة الأحكام، للبسام، حققه وعلق عليه وخرج أحاديثه وصنع فهارسه: محمد صبحي بن حسن حلاق، ط10، مكتبة الصحابة، الإمارات - مكتبة التابعين، القاهرة، 1426هـ. الإلمام بشرح عمدة الأحكام، لإسماعيل الأنصاري، ط1، دار الفكر، دمشق، 1381هـ. تنبيه الأفهام، للعثيمين -طبعة مكتبة الصحابة الامارات -مكتبة التابعين- القاهرة- الطبعة الأولى 1426هـ. صحيح البخاري، تحقيق: محمد زهير بن ناصر الناصر، ط1، دار طوق النجاة (مصورة عن السلطانية بإضافة ترقيم: محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي)، 1422هـ. صحيح مسلم، تحقيق: محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي، دار إحياء التراث العربي، بيروت.

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) commands those who perform the prayer to straighten their rows, not being forward or backward from the row, and that straightening the rows is part of the completion and perfection of the prayer, whereas the crookedness of the row is a flaw and deficiency in the prayer.

1. Permissibility of paying attention to whatever leads to perfecting the prayer and keeps it far from deficiency.
2. Wisdom of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) in teaching as he joined the ruling with its cause to clarify the rationale behind the legislation and encourage people to comply.

صحيح البخاري (1/ 145) (723). صحيح مسلم (1/ 324) (433). تيسير العلام شرح عمدة الأحكام، للبسام (ص127). تنبيه الأفهام شرح عمدة الأحكام، لابن عثيمين (1/ 161). الإفهام في شرح عمدة الأحكام، لابن باز (ص173).

Harshness and ignorance are natural habits of the Bedouins because they live in isolation from learning what Allah, the Almighty, revealed unto His Messenger (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). Once, while the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was with his Companions in the mosque, a Bedouin entered and urinated in one corner of the mosque assuming it was an open space. His action offended the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them), due to the mosque's sanctity. As a result, they rebuked him while he was urinating. Knowing the habits of the Bedouins, however, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) who was sent with ease and glad tidings ordered them to stop rebuking him, otherwise he would urinate on a larger spot in the mosque, or make his clothes impure, and to avoid harm had he been interrupted during passing urine. Moreover, he would be more inclined that way to accept the advice of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) when he advises him. He ordered them to purify the place where he urinated by pouring a bucket of water over it.

تيسير العلام شرح عمدة الأحكام للبسام، حققه وعلق عليه وخرج أحاديثه وصنع فهارسه: محمد صبحي بن حسن حلاق، ط10، مكتبة الصحابة، الأمارات - مكتبة التابعين، القاهرة، 1426 هـ. تنبيه الأفهام شرح عمدة لأحكام لابن عثيمين، ط1، مكتبة الصحابة، الإمارات، 1426هـ. صحيح البخاري، تحقيق: محمد زهير بن ناصر الناصر، ط1، دار طوق النجاة (مصورة عن السلطانية بإضافة ترقيم: محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي)، 1422هـ. صحيح مسلم، تحقيق: محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي، دار إحياء التراث العربي، بيروت.

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) emphasized that if the rows are not straightened in the prayer, Allah will cause dissension amongst the worshippers, thus making them turn their faces away from each other. This occurs when some of them step forward and leave gaps in the rows. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to teach his companions with his words and actions. He straightened them with his hands until he thought that they had learned. Then in a prayer, he saw one of his companions with his chest sticking out from the row. This made him angry and he said: ''Straighten your rows, or Allah will cause dissension amongst you.''

الإلمام بشرح عمدة الأحكام لإسماعيل الأنصاري، ط1، دار الفكر، دمشق، 1381ه. تيسير العلام شرح عمدة الأحكام للبسام، حققه وعلق عليه وخرج أحاديثه وصنع فهارسه: محمد صبحي بن حسن حلاق، ط10، مكتبة الصحابة، الأمارات - مكتبة التابعين، القاهرة، 1426هـ. تنبيه الأفهام شرح عمدة لأحكام لابن عثيمين، ط1، مكتبة الصحابة، الإمارات، 1426ه. عمدة الأحكام من كلام خير الأنام صلى الله عليه وسلم لعبد الغني المقدسي، دراسة وتحقيق: محمود الأرناؤوط، مراجعة وتقديم: عبد القادر الأرناؤوط، ط2، دار الثقافة العربية، دمشق ، بيروت، مؤسسة قرطبة، 1408هـ. صحيح البخاري، تحقيق: محمد زهير بن ناصر الناصر، ط1، دار طوق النجاة (مصورة عن السلطانية بإضافة ترقيم: محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي)، 1422ه. صحيح مسلم، تحقيق: محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي، دار إحياء التراث العربي، بيروت، 1423هـ.

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) supplicated to his Lord to not make his grave like an idol that people worship by extolling it and facing it in prostration. Then, he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) mentioned that Allah Almighty banished and expelled from His mercy those who took the graves of their prophets as places of worship, for taking them as places of worship is conducive to worshiping and having faith in them.

1. Exceeding the limits set by the Shariah with regard to the graves of the prophets and the righteous people turns them into idols worshiped apart from Allah. So, we should beware of the means leading to Shirk (polytheism).
2. It is not permissible to visit the graves to show reverence to them and perform worship there, regardless of the closeness of those buried to Allah.
3. It is prohibited to build mosques over the graves.
4. It is prohibited to perform prayer at the graves, even if no mosque is built there, except for prayer for a dead person upon whom the funeral prayer has not been offered.

مسند أحمد (12/ 314) (7358). فتح المجيد شرح كتاب التوحيد، لعبد الرحمن التميمي (1/ 434). القول المفيد على كتاب التوحيد، لمحمد بن عثيمين (1/ 434). الملخص في شرح كتاب التوحيد، لصالح الفوزان (ص178). الجديد في شرح كتاب التوحيد، لمحمد القرعاوي (ص194). التمهيد لشرح كتاب التوحيد، لصالح آل الشيخ (ص51). مشكاة المصابيح، للتبريزي (1/ 234).

Ali ibn al-Husayn (may Allah be pleased with him) informs us that he saw a man invoking Allah at the grave of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him). He forbade the man from doing so based on a Hadīth in which the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) forbade visiting his grave repeatedly, and also forbade non-observance of remembering Allah and worshiping Allah at homes, thereby rendering them similar to graves. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said that sending peace upon him will definitely reach him, regardless of the sender's whereabouts.

كتاب التوحيد، للإمام محمد بن عبد الوهاب، ت: د. دغش العجمي، مكتبة أهل الأثر, الطبعة الخامسة, 1435ه. الجديد في شرح كتاب التوحيد، لمحمد بن عبد العزيز السليمان القرعاوي, ت: محمد بن أحمد سيد, مكتبة السوادي، الطبعة: الخامسة، 1424ه. الملخص في شرح كتاب التوحيد، للشيخ صالح الفوزان, دار العاصمة, الطبعة الأولى، 1422ه. مصنف ابن أبي شيبة، تحقيق: كمال يوسف الحوت، نشر: مكتبة الرشد - الرياض، الطبعة: الأولى، 1409ه. تحذير الساجد من اتخاذ القبور مساجد, الألباني, المكتب الإسلامي - الطبعة: الرابعة.

Hadīth explanation: The tribe of Banu Salimah wanted to move from their neighborhood, which was far from the mosque, to a place closer to the mosque. The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) disliked that a part of Madīnah be depopulated (as stated in Al-Bukhāri's version of the Hadīth). He rather wished that Madīnah be expanded so that the hypocrites and polytheists see the increasing number of Muslims. He then asked them: "I heard that you all wish to move closer to the mosque?" They replied in the affirmative, so he said to them twice: "Stay in your neighborhood; your footsteps (to the mosque) are recorded for you." He also clarified that for every step they take to the mosque, they will receive a reward or one higher rank. In a relevant report, Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "The ones with the most reward amongst you are the ones who live farthest away (from the mosque)." He was asked: "Why is that, O Abu Hurayrah?" He answered: "Because of the many steps (taken to the mosque)." [Narrated by Mālik in al-Muwatta’, no. 33] The farther the house is from the mosque, the more chances of reward one can receive and the more of one’s sins will be erased. Such reward can be realized if one makes ablution at home, perfecting his ablution, then walks to the mosque, not rides, whether it is a short or a long distance. For every step he takes, two things are written for him: he is raised one rank and one sin is erased from his record of deeds. One of the noble Companions reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "If one of you makes ablution in the best manner, then goes out for the prayer, every time he lifts his right foot, Allah records one good deed for him, and every time he puts down his left foot, Allah erases one sin from his record of bad deeds. So live near or live far" [Abu Dāwud; classified as Sahīh by Al-Albāni]. In another Hadīth, Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "My Lord came to me tonight in the best image - I think he meant in his sleep - and He said to me: 'O Muhammad, do you know what the Higher Assembly (in the heavens) argue about?' I said: 'Yes, they argue about expiation for sins and the raising of ranks.' He asked: 'And what are the expiation of sins and the raising of ranks?' I said: 'Staying in the mosque after the prayers, walking on foot to the congregational prayers, and making ablution when it is difficult.'" [Ahmad; classified as Sahīh by Al-Albāni] This Hadīth indicates that receiving higher ranks is realized by the following: 1. Going to the mosque in the state of ablution. 2. Intending to go to the mosque to receive reward; in accordance with the Hadīth: "Actions are rewarded by intentions, and every person will be rewarded for what he intended." [Al-Bukhāri and Muslim] 3. Leaving one's home with the sole intention of going to the mosque. 4. Walking on foot, not riding, except for someone who has a valid excuse. If a person has a valid excuse, then he may go by car. One full rotation of the car wheel is equivalent to one footstep, since it resembles lifting the foot off the ground then putting it down again. This is yet another benefit of walking to mosques, that every time one goes and returns, his footsteps are rewarded.

كنوز رياض الصالحين، أ. د. حمد بن ناصر بن عبد الرحمن العمار، دار كنوز اشبيليا، الطبعة الأولى، 1430هـ. بهجة الناظرين، الشيخ: سليم بن عيد الهلالي، دار ابن الجوزي، الكتاب غير نازل في الشاملة وحملته من المكتبة الوقفية، ولم أجد بيانات غير ما ذكرنا. نزهة المتقين، د. مصطفى سعيد الخن، د. مصطفى البغا، محي الدين مستو، علي الشرجبي، محمد أمين لطفي، مؤسسة الرسالة، بيروت، الطبعة الأولى. 1397هـ - 1977م. شرح رياض الصالحين، الشيخ: محمد بن صالح العثيمين، مدار الوطن للنشر، طبع عام 1426هـ. رياض الصالحين، د. ماهر بن ياسين الفحل، الناشر: دار ابن كثير للطباعة والنشر والتوزيع، دمشق - بيروت، الطبعة: الأولى، 1428هـ - 2007م. صحيح البخاري، محمد بن اسماعيل البخاري، دار طوق النجاة، الطبعة الأولى، 1422هـ. صحيح مسلم، المؤلف: مسلم بن الحجاج أبو الحسن القشيري، المحقق: محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي، الناشر: دار إحياء التراث العربي - بيروت. شرح الزرقاني على موطأ الإمام مالك، المؤلف: محمد بن عبد الباقي بن يوسف الزرقاني، تحقيق: طه عبد الرءوف سعد، الناشر: مكتبة الثقافة الدينية - القاهرة، الطبعة: الأولى، 1424هـ - 2003م. موطأ الإمام مالك، المؤلف: مالك بن أنس بن مالك الأصبحي، صححه ورقمه وخرج أحاديثه وعلق عليه: محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي، الناشر: دار إحياء التراث العربي، بيروت - لبنان، عام النشر: 1406هـ - 1985م. سنن أبي داود، المؤلف: أبو داود سليمان بن الأشعث الأزدي، المحقق: محمد محيي الدين عبد الحميد، الناشر: المكتبة العصرية، صيدا - بيروت. صحيح أبي داود - الأم، المؤلف: محمد ناصر الدين الألباني، الناشر: مؤسسة غراس للنشر والتوزيع، الكويت، الطبعة الأولى، 1423هـ - 2002م. مسند الإمام أحمد بن حنبل، المؤلف: أبو عبد الله أحمد بن محمد بن حنبل الشيباني، المحقق: شعيب الأرناؤوط - عادل مرشد، وآخرون، إشراف: د عبد الله بن عبد المحسن التركي، الناشر: مؤسسة الرسالة، الطبعة الأولى، 1421هـ - 2001م.

Allah, Glorified and Exalted, presented the deeds of all Muslims to our Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and he found the removal of harmful things from the road among the good deeds, and spitting in the mosque and not removing the spit by burying it or by any other way is among the bad deeds.

- دليل الفالحين لطرق رياض الصالحين، لابن علان، نشر دار الكتاب العربي. - نزهة المتقين شرح رياض الصالحين، نشر: مؤسسة الرسالة، الطبعة: الرابعة عشر، 1407هـ - 1987م. - شرح رياض الصالحين، لابن عثيمين، نشر: دار الوطن للنشر، الرياض، الطبعة: 1426هـ. - بهجة الناظرين شرح رياض الصالحين، للهلالي، نشر: دار ابن الجوزي. الطبعة الأولى1418هـ. - صحيح مسلم، تحقيق: محمد فؤاد عبد الباقي، نشر: دار إحياء التراث العربي – بيروت.