12 July 2008
Some
essential rules of conduct
1. While entering the Masjid, recite the
following Du’a:
( I enter with the name of Allah and with the prayer that Allah bless His
Messenger and bestow upon him. O Allah, open for me the doors of Thy mercy.)
2. Immediately on entering the Masjid, make an intention that ‘I shall be in
I’tikaf for whatever time I stay in the Masjid: By doing so, Insha’-Allah, the
spiritual reward of I’tikaf can also be hoped for.
3. Following entry into the Masjid, it is better to sit in the front row. But,
in case space in the front has already been taken up, sit wherever you find an
opening. Advancing forward by leap-frogging people’s necks is not permissible.
4. Salam greeting should not be offered to those already sitting in the Masjid
and busy in Dhikr or recitation of the Qur'an. However, should one of them be
not so engaged and looking at you on his own, there is no harm in offering such
Salam greeting to him.
5. If you have to offer Sunnah or Nafl Salah in the Masjid, select a spot where
there is the least likelihood of people crossing in front of you. Some people
start up their Salah in the back rows while ample space remains open in the
front. Because of this act of theirs, it becomes difficult for other to cross
over and they have to make a long detour to reach open sitting spots. Offering
Salah in this manner is a sin in itself, and should a person happen to cross in
front of the person making his Salah, then this sin of his crossing over in
that manner will also rest on the shoulders of the person making such a Salah.
6. After entering the Masjid, if you find that you are there a little ahead of
the Salah timing, then, before you sit down, make two raka’ahs with the
intention of Tahiyyah al-Masjid. This has great merit. If there is not time for
that, you can combine the intention of Tahiyyah al-Masjid within the Sunnah
Salah. And if, you do not have the time even to make your Sunnah Salah and the
jama’ah is ready, this intention could also be a combine with that of the Fard
Salah.
7. As long as you sit in the Masjid, keep doing Dhikr. Specially, keep reciting
the following Kalimah devotedly:
Sanctified is Allah and for Allah is all praise and there is no god but Allah
is great.
8. Do not engage yourself in unnecessary conversation while sitting in the
nothing else that may disturb those devoting to their ‘Ibadah of Salah or
Dhikr.
9. If the jama’ah is ready, fill in the front rows first. If space is open in
the front row, it is not permissible to stand in the back row.
10. From the time when the Iman takes his place on the Mimbar to deliver the
Friday Khutbah right through the end of the Salah, it is not permissible for
anyone to talk, make Salah or to offer Salam to anyone or to answer Salam
offered. However, should anyone start talking during this time, it is also not
permissible that he be asked to keep quiet.
11. Sit during the Khutbah as you sit in Qa’dah when reciting at-Tahiyyat. Some
people sit hand folded during the first part of the Khutbah and then place
their hands on the things during the second. This method is baseless. One
should sit with hands on the thighs during both.
12. Abstain from everything that may spread filth or smell in the Masjid or
cause pain to anyone.
13. When you see anyone doing something wrong, ask him not to do so, quietly
and softly. Totally avoid insulting him openly, or rebuking him, or quarreling
with him.
By Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani
