The Linguistic Definition of the word Masjid

The Linguistic Definition of the word Masjid

Question:  What is the Masjid, (mosque) linguistically and religiously?

Answer:

Linguistically, the masjid is the place of prostration.

Religiously, it is everything that is built for the Muslims to offer the five prayers in congregation.
It is also used to refer to that which is more general that this. Thus, it also includes that place that a person uses in his house(or has allocated) to offer the voluntary prayers in, or he uses it to perform the obligatory prayers when he is unable to offer them in the masjid where the people have established congregational prayer. From this is that which Al-Bukhari and others recorded from Jabir, may Allah be pleased with him, who said that the messenger of Allah sallahu alayhi was sallam said:

"I was given five (things) that no one was given before me. I was aided with Ar-Ru'b (fright cast into the hearts of enemies) for a month's distance (of travel), and the earth was made a Masjid (place of prayer) for me and a means of purification. So any man from my nation (the Muslims) whom the (time for) prayer catches, then let him offer the prayer...."

(Al-Bukhari no. 33 and Muslim no.521)

Permanent Committee for Research and Verdicts
Fatawa Islamiyah vol.3 p.19 DARUSSALAM

http://www.fatwaisl am.com/fis/ index.cfm? scn=fd&ID=884

Talking About Worldly Matters Inside the Masjid

Talking about worldly matters inside the masjid

Question: Is it permissible to talk about worldly matters inside the masjid and at a time other than the salaat?

Answer: All praise is due to Allaah. It is not permissible to take the masaajid as places of selling, trading, and their like from the worldly affairs, in which the voices are raised. Because the masaajid… they were built for the remembrance of Allaah, recitation of the Qur’aan and making of the salaat, in them. But it is permissible to speak a little about worldly matters as long as it does not distract the reciters (of the Qur’aan) or the one’s making the salaat. And with Allaah is all tawfeeq. And may the peace and blessings of Allaah be upon our Prophet Muhammad and on his family and on his companions.

Permanent Committee for Research and Verdicts Shaykh `Abdul-`Azeez Bin Baz Shaykh `Abdullah bin Ghudayaan Shaykh `Abdullaah bin Qu`ood Shaykh `Abdur-Razzaaq al-`Afeefee

Fataawa al-Lajnatud Da'imah