Part 40

Chapter - 10 The Manners Of Going To The Bathroom 245 Abu Hurairah later related, ‘Then I said, ‘What is the problem with bones and manure?’ He ## said,

‘They are the food of Jinns.’ A delegation of Jinns from Naseebeen - and good indeed are those Jinns - came to me and asked me for provision, and so I invoked Allah 8% for them - that they should never pass by any bones or manure except that they should find food upon them.”“) This

narration makes clear the reason why it is forbidden to purify oneself with either bones or manure.

Related Issue: Based on the above-mentioned ruling for the food of Jinn, it is also forbidden to perform Al-Istinjaa or Al-Istijmaar with the food of human beings. Similarly, it is forbidden to perform Al-Istinjaa or Al-Istijmaar with honored paper, such as paper on which religious knowledge is written, for that paper is likely to have written on it verses of the Quran or Allah’s beautiful Names and Attributes. And an even worst offence is to use the Qur’an itself.

11) When One Performs Al-Istijmaar, It ls Recommended To Clean An Odd Number Of Times And To Use An Odd Number Of Stones

One should purify himself no less than three times, for in the previously related hadith of Salmaan , the Prophet #¥ said,

“Let no one from you purify himself with less than three stones.” Even if full purification is achieved with less than three wipes, one must wipe again to achieve the minimum amount. And if ull purification is achieved after the third wiping, and if it is ichieved at an even number - such as four or six - then it is ‘ecommended to wipe one more time, in order to finish at an odd

wmber. In a hadith related by Abu Hurairah , the Prophet # aid,

"| Related by Bukhaaree in Al-Manaaqib (3860).

“When one of you performs Al-Istijmaar, then let him perform it an odd number of times...”""1

12) When One Is In The Bathroom, It Is Disliked For Him To Talk

") Related by Bukhaaree (161), Muslim (237), Ahmad (7180), An-Nassaaee (88), Abu Daawood (35), Ibn Maajah (409), Maalik (34), and Ad-Daarimee (703). And the above-mentioned wording is from Muslim’s narration of the hadith.

Chapter - 11 The Manners Of Attending Masjids 247

The Manners Of Attending Masjids

“O Children of Adam! Take your adornment (by wearing your clean clothes), while praying and going round (the Tawaf of) the Ka‘bah.” (Quran 7:31)

The Prophet #% said, shal ¢ Zk alan Jy hs te ib J Ol fb tll SG

“Whoever performs ablution (Wudoo) for prayer, performs it well, then walks to the prescribed prayer, and then prays it with the people, or with the congregation, or in the Masjid - Allah forgives for him his sins.”"

The Etiquettes Of Attending The Masjid

1) The Prohibition Of Going To The Masjid After Eating [Raw] Garlic, Onion, Or Anything Else That Emits A Foul Smell

When a person eats raw onion or garlic, he should abstain from going to the Masjid, so as to avoid inflicting harm upon other worshippers with his foul smell; and whosoever harms worshippers harms the angels as well. Jaabir 4 reported that the Prophet # said,

" Related by Muslim (232).

“Whoever eats garlic or onion, then let him withdraw from us,” or he #8 said, ‘Then let him stay away from our Masjid, and let him sit in his home.’

In another hadith, Jaabir # said, “The Messenger of Allah # forbade us from eating onion and leek, but we became overcome by need, and so we ate from them. Then he # said,

“Whoever eats from this foul-smelling tree, then let him not come near our Masjid, for whatever man is harmed by, angels are harmed by as well."

Even though these Ahadeeth expressly prohibit Muslims from going to the Masjid after eating garlic and onion, and even though they are absolved of sin for not attending congregational prayer, some people still violate the prohibition. Allah 4¢ said in His Book:

“And let those who oppose the Messenger’s (Muhammad 3%) commandment (i.e., his Sunnah - legal ways, orders, acts of worship, statements, etc.) beware, lest some Fitnah (disbelief, trials, afflictions, earthquakes, killing, overpowered by a tyrant,

etc.) befall them or a painful torment be inflicted on them.”

True, some of them do not intentionally oppose the Messenger’s commandment; they simply don’t want to miss the congregational prayer, yet that is not an acceptable excuse. Some Muslims from among the masses know about the prohibition but pay no heed to it, an act of negligence that stems from weak Eemaan in their hearts.

i Related by Bukhaaree (855).

'2] Related by Bukhaaree (854), Muslim (564), Ahmad (14596), An-Nassaaee (707), At-Tirmidhee (1806), and Abu Daawood (3823). And the abovementioned wording is from Muslim’s narration of the hadith,

Chapter - 11 The Manners Of Attending Masjids 249

Related Issue: The ruling for garlic, onion, and leek applies to anything that has a foul odor and that will inflict harm upon worshippers - such as cigarette smoke or foul odors that emanate from a person’s body or clothes. A worshipper should consider his situation before he goes to the Masjid, so that he doesn’t end up sinning as a result of inflicting harm on Muslims.

If you eat garlic and onion and then use something to suppress their foul odor, you may go to the Masjid, but you must first be sure that the smell is completely suppressed and that the smell coming from your mouth will not bother other worshippers. Some people make the mistake of using toothpaste to get rid of the smell of garlic and onion, but they are wrong, for the smell of garlic and onion originates from the stomach and not from the mouth.

2) It Is Recommended To Go To The Masjid Early

The Prophet #% exhorted Muslims to go to the Masjid early. Abu Hurairah # related that the Messenger of Allah # said,

“Had people known what is in the Nidaa (the calling to the prayer, ie., the Adhaan) and the first row, and had they found no way (to be in the first row and to perform the call to prayer) except by casting lots, they would have cast lots (so determined would they be). And had people known what is in (i.e., what the virtues are) being early (to the Masjid for prayer), they would have raced to it. And had they known what is in the [congregational] ‘Eesha and

Morning (Fajr) prayers, they would have come to them, even if they had to crawl in order to get there,"]

Muslim narrated it thus: ‘Had you known or had they known

{1 Related by Bukhaaree (615), Muslim (437), Ahmad (7185), At-Tirmidhee (225), An-Nassaaee (540), and Maalik (151).

what is in the front row, [seeing who would be in that row] would have had to be settled by casting lots (because everyone would race to be in that row). These narrations clearly show the virtue and superiority and great reward of going early to the Masjid. That the Prophet 2% did not specify the reward for going to the Masjid early, but instead informed us what lengths we would go to had we known the exact reward, proves that it is indeed a great reward.

3) Walking To The Masjid With Calmness And Serenity

When you walk to the Masjid for prayer, you should not walk as if you are rushed or agitated; instead, you should walk with a sense of calmness and peace. As a result, you are more likely to feel peaceful and concentrated in your prayer. But if you come to prayer in a hurry, by the time you enter into its state, your mind is likely to be distracted and unfocused. The Prophet # forbade the people of his Nation from running and rushing to the prayer, even if the prayer is in progress. Abu Qataadah 4 said, ‘While we were praying with the Prophet 2%, he #% heard the clamor of men. When he finished praying, he # said,

oe SAS tan ‘What is the matter with you?’ They said, ‘We hurried to [join the] prayer.’ He # said, “Do not do so. When you come to prayer, adhere to As-Sakeenah (calmness and quietness). Whatever [part of the prayer] you get,

then pray [it], and whatever you miss, complete it (after the Imam makes Tasleem).’"?!

] Related by Bukhaaree (615), Muslim (437, 439), Ahmad (7680), AtTirmidhee (225), and An-Nassaaee (540).

Chapter - 11 The Manners Of Attending Masjids 251

And Abu Hurairah 4 reported that he heard the Messenger of Allah # say, “When the prayer Ugeemat (when the Iqaamah is made and the prayer commences), then do not come racing (running or jogging) to it, but instead come to it, walking, with a sense of As-Sakeenah (peace and quite) about you. Whatever you get, then pray it; and whatever you miss, then complete it (after the Imam makes Tasleem).”")

One who reflects on both Ahadeeth might notice a difference between them: Abu Qataadah’s narration has the wording, “When you come to prayer,” while Abu Hurairah’s narration has the wording, “When the prayer Ugeemat (when the Iqaamah is made and the prayer commences).” Is there a difference in meaning between the two wordings? According to Abu Qataadah’s narration, when a worshipper goes to the Masjid, he must go with a sense of calm and quiet about him, regardless of whether the prayer has commenced or not. Abu Hurairah’s narration, on the other hand, points to the main reason why people run to the Masjid: the prayer is in progress, and they don’t want to miss any of it. That is the combined meaning of both wordings, and Allah 3 knows best.

4) What Supplication You Should Say While You Are Walking To The Masjid For prayer

When you walk to the Masjid, it is recommended for you to say

what the Prophet #% said when he would go out for prayer. Ibn

‘Abbaas 4 related that the Prophet #%, ‘Then went out for

prayer, and he # was saying,