Question:-
Is it permissible to buy and sell in the Masjid? Many Masajid prevent Musallis (that do not don the mask) from entering the Masjid, until they purchase a mask from one of the vendors selling at the Masjid. What is the ruling?
Answer:-
It is inappropriate to buy and sell goods in the Masjid, hence face masks should not be sold in the Masjid, as the Masjid is not a place of bringing one’s items of merchandise for sale.
وَقَالَ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مَسْلَمَةَ لَا يَنْبَغِي لِأَحَدٍ أَنْ يَبِيعَ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ وَلَا يَشْتَرِيَ شَيْئًا حَاضِرًا وَلَا غَائِبًا أَمَّا الْحَاضِرُ فَلِأَنَّ الْمَسْجِدَ لَيْسَ بِمَوْضِعٍ لِلسِّلَعِ (المنتقي شرح الموطا)
It is incorrect to prohibit people from entering the Masjid on the basis that they are not wearing a face mask. Allah Ta’ala states in the Quraan Sharif, “Who can do greater wrong than the one who prevents the name of Allah from being taken in the Masaajid (that is, he prevents others from Salaah and from Dhikr.) [Re:- Surah Baqarah, verse 114] The wearing of a mask is a government regulation and in no way a Shari’ee requirement, and is merely donned as a preventative measure. There is absolutely no certainty that one will not contract the illness by donning the mask, hence it cannot be enforced. The choice of wearing it or not should be left to the individual. In conclusion, none should be prevented from entering the Masajid which are the houses of Allah. Mufti Muhammad Shafi Saheb Rahimahullah has written in Ma’ariful Quraan that it is Haraam to prevent a person from entering the Masjid, or from Salaah, Zikrullah etc.
ALLAH TA’ALA KNOWS BEST!
ANSWERED BY:
Mufti Mohammed Desai
Date: 03 Jumadal Ukhra 1443 / 06 January 2022
