Cleaning and Maintaining the Mosque Is Not Contingent on the Imam
Fatwa No: 451084

Question

Assalam alaykum,I had a question about helping a mosque as a volunteer (security or cleaning), so if the leaders of that mosque may have shortcomings or are not on the path of Sunnah is it permissible to help them and the Muslim community, knowing that the mosque needs to be maintained and secured on the day of the Friday prayer.BarakAllahu fikum

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

Mosques are the homes of Allah Almighty. Cleaning them and maintaining them is not contingent on the Imam doing his work in a perfect manner, or him not being in conflict with the Sunnah. There is no relation between the two.

Allah Says (what means): {[Such niches are] in mosques which Allah has ordered to be raised and that His name be mentioned therein; exalting Him within them in the morning and the evenings.} [Quran 24:36]

Ibn Katheer said:

Meaning, Allah has commanded that they be established and that they be kept clean of any filth, idle talk or words or deeds that are inappropriate.” [End of quote]

Al-Qurtubi said about the interpretation of this verse:

Al-Hasan al-Basri and others said: ‘The meaning of "to be established" means to be honored and glorified, and that it is cleansed of impurities and dirt’; the Hadeeth reads: “Impurities should be removed from mosques in the same manner that the skin shrinks (and contracts) when exposed to fire.’

Moreover, Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudri narrated that the Prophet said: “Whoever removes something harmful from the mosque, Allah will build for him a house in Paradise.” [Ibn Maajah]

Besides, ‘Aa’ishah narrated: “The Prophet commanded us to reserve a mosque in the neighborhood and that it be purified and perfumed.

[Note: الدُّورِ ad-door in Arabic that is translated by neighborhood could also mean a room or part of the house that is dedicated to this purpose]

Allah knows best.

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