Etiquettes of the Musjid

Q: Is worldly talk in the masjid makrooh or haraam?

Q: We know to announce in the masjid if a item is lost is not permissible.

What about announcing in the masjid if a item is found to inform the people present that may be unaware of the loss? Is it permissible?

Q: Is it prohibited to keep the fingers of one hand in the other hand (intertwining) generally or it is only during Friday sermon?

Q: What is Mufti Saheb's view on masjid opening programmes and serving refreshments thereafter?

Q: There are a few things worrying me when attending the masjid:

1. Some uncles bring a chair to the middle of the saff’s before Jamaat making me uneasy as I feel my saff is now broken and I don’t know how to react so just end up accepting it but feel down. 

2. Sometimes it becomes a bit tight shoulder to shoulder and even though I keep my touch light but the person next to me shows disapproval towards me as if I’m the cause for it and tries to look at me in an upset way thereby making me feel uneasy. 

3. I try at times to get to the masjid early before azaan to sit right behind the imaams position but when the muezzin comes to give iqaamah there’s pressure to move to the side by him and even before iqaamah while sitting there’s a sense of pressure to move aside by the musallees talking nearby, I try to ignore but it creates a tense moment for me before Salaat but as I remain in Zikr it helps take the uneasiness away.

At first I just didn’t care even though these feelings were there because i thought it’s their fault for taking offence because there’s nothing to be offended about as I came way early and did not take the place of anyone sitting there or push over anyone and this is my salaat and responsibility of my head in Sajdah to Allah Ta’ala so I should strive for the best of it even if it means showing resistance to what others may think.

However now I just back off to be safe of being guilty of my behaviour being offensive to the muezzin or anyone, so I walk in and read my sunnats in the back away from the front and then at the time of Jamaat go towards the front of the masjid and take whichever space avails itself, I do this with mixed emotions though.

4. People are bringing young kids with them to the masjid and I feel upset that they should not be here as even though they innocent their minds are not there like while I’m reading salaah their hands or body move to where my head will be making Sajda in a few seconds or when I’m in a Saff behind them because the masjid is full or they next to me in Salah and sometimes it feels upsetting that can’t they see the kids are causing inconvenience during salaat but how to say it so I just keep it in but it doesn’t feel good

5. Phones ringing in the masjid especially Jumah but even other days in the front saff just before Jamaat starts phone is in the hand even of older men, I feel irritated and want to say something and I know I should look at myself because they probably better than me but the irritation is compounded because I don’t carry my phone into the masjid out of respect and I feel the need to do or say something but end up quiet not knowing how to approach it and feeling helpless to deal with it upsets me within as it’s kept in. 

What are these upsetting feelings I have with regards to the above, am I wrong and should I just accept it the way it is and keep it inside and look for my own faults or perhaps should I write a letter to the imaam highlighting the above and suggesting that the masjid manager should be on guard before salaah and given the authority of enforcing the rules of the masjid making sure no phones are inside, young kids are in the back with parents, whoever comes first to a spot should be allowed to be there without any pressure, chairs are to the sides of the saffs. Maybe a letter will be a good way to deal with it. Please tell me how to deal with these feelings and where I am wrong so I can correct myself.

Q: I have a few questions regarding a musallee and his children that come to the Musjid for Namaaz.

1. If a musallee becomes abusive and uses bad language on the Imam of the Musjid, and this was also mentioned in the presence of a Senior Aalim.

2. A musallee screams and shouts at an elderly Aalim regarding his Jumah Bayaan, this screaming and shouting is done in the presence of his children and in the Musjid premises.

3. Has no respect for the Musjid. He goes to the gas heater to warm his private parts by lifting his kurta up in the presence of all.

4. He reads his Sunday namaaz on the Imams Musalla.

5. He sits on the Mimbar and receites whatever he wants to receive.

6. He allows his children to stand next to the Muazzin who is giving Iqaamah, as he feels his children have the right to stand there.

7. He wants his children to correct the Imam during Fard Salaah even though they are not qualified Hafez.

8. He screams and shouts and utters vulgar language to any musallee and even went to the extent of accusing them that they are discriminating against him.

9. He reads his Sunnat namaaz anywhere in the Musjid even in the Mehrab and also at times moves the elderly out just so that he can prove he read on all the musallas in the Musjid.

What will the ruling be on the above matter. Can such a person still be allowed to come to the Musjid. By the way he only comes for Fajar and Jumah Salaah.

Q: Does purposely spitting inside the musjid and spreading it with one's hand so that its dried fast and others may not notice, is this kufr?

Q: From what I understand, it is impermissible to do business in the Musjid. However we find that with the widespread technology around us, business methods have transformed drastically. A person could be doing banking, checking banking statements, creating, reviewing or viewing pricellists or adverts, making bookings and even doing his shopping with the use of a mobile device.

We often find people doing such form of business related work, shopping or even casually browsing through adverts which are received in the form of messages, whilst being seated within the Musjid. Is this permissible?

Q: In our Masjid, as in many others there is a proliferation of chairs that are being used by Musallees to perform their salaat.

1. Can one Musallee (who uses a chair) place another chair reserving that place for another Musallee (who also uses the chair) in the absence of that Musallee. This implies that should the second Musallee arrive for Salaat (if and when?), he then has a place that has been reserved for him. This process is used to reserve a dedicated place/point in the Saff for themselves for all of their Salaat regardless if one of them attends or not.

2. For all intents and purpose is their merit in the suggestion that persons who use chairs to perform their salaat should perhaps be seated in the end/wing of each Saff?

3. Would it be appropriate to request that chairs be returned to their “designated” area after each Salaat and not left in the Saff once the Salaat has been completed.

Q: There is going to be a Masjid Open Day at our Masjid where Non-Muslims will be invited into the Masjid and given a tour of the Masjid as well as a presentation about Islam. Men and Women will be separated. Is it permissible to take part in this and is there reward for it?