al-Mashru wal-Mamnu fi al-Masjid - Falih al-Saghir
- Author died
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- Editions
- Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Da'wah and Guidance - Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
al-Mashru‘ wa-al-Mamnu‘ fi al-Masjid (What Is Prescribed and Prohibited in the Mosque) is a legal treatise by the contemporary Saudi scholar Falih bin Muhammad al-Saghir, outlining the legal rulings, religious functions, construction guidelines, and prohibited practices associated with mosques in Islamic jurisprudence.
Background and Composition
The treatise originated as a research lecture prepared in response to an invitation from the Saudi Minister of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Da‘wah, and Guidance to participate in the "Mosque Architecture" (‘Imarat al-Masajid) symposium. The event was organized in collaboration with the College of Architecture and Planning at King Saud University in Riyadh. The author completed the text in Riyadh on 25 Rajab 1419 AH (November 1998 CE).
Structure and Content
The work is organized into an introduction, four main chapters (mabahith), and a concluding section:
- Introduction (Tamhid): Explores the definition of the mosque, its central standing in Islam as a venue for prayer, education, spiritual retreat (i‘tikaf), and consultation, alongside the virtues of both its physical upkeep and spiritual maintenance.
- Chapter 1: Prescribed Practices in the Mosque (al-Mashru‘ fi al-Masjid): Details acts of worship legislated within the mosque, focusing on the obligation and merits of congregational prayer for men and the Friday prayer (Jumu‘ah).
- Chapter 2: Prescribed Guidelines for Construction and Maintenance (al-Mashru‘ fi ‘Imarat al-Masajid wa-Bina’ihi wa-Siyanatih): Covers the physical construction of mosques, the suitability of land (excluding grounds containing Muslim graves), ornamentation, and facilities.
- Chapter 3: Prohibited Acts in the Mosque (al-Mamnu‘ fi al-Masjid): Discusses impermissible (haram) and reprehensible (makruh) actions, including commercial buying and selling, bargaining, and practicing trades, while noting the permissibility of teaching children beneficial knowledge subject to safeguarding the mosque.
- Chapter 4: Miscellaneous Observations (Waqafat Mutafarriqah): Focuses on legal rulings specific to the three sacred sanctuaries—al-Masjid al-Haram in Mecca, the Prophet's Mosque in Medina, and al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem—including the prohibition of journeying solely to other mosques (shadd al-rihal), multiplied prayer rewards, circumambulation (tawaf) as the specific greeting of al-Masjid al-Haram, and passing in front of worshippers.
- Conclusion (Khatimah): Summarizes the multi-faceted role of the mosque and offers practical recommendations, such as adopting standardized architectural models approved by the ministry, establishing cooperation between neighborhood schools and mosques for Quran memorization and student supervision, and organizing training and consultative courses for neighborhood imams.
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