Using the word 'mosque' for Masjid

22/01/2012| IslamWeb

 Question

assalamualaikum
if i write word of mosque replacement of word masjid are its sin coz so many people said that ,,Please try not to use the word "Mosque" for "Masjid" as it is derived from Mosquito by jews plz tell me what to do jazakallah khiar

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.

The word ‘mosque’ which you mentioned in the question means Masjid, as far as we know, and it does not mean mosquito. Therefore, it is permissible to call the Masjid by this word [mosque] when speaking or writing in English. The fact that this word [mosque] resembles the word mosquito does not mean that it is derived from it. Also, it is not possible to forbid its use just because of the claim that it is the Jews who used it, and the like. However, if its use is wide-spread among the Christians for the purpose of mocking, then it becomes impermissible to use it.

Indeed, Allah forbade the believers from saying “Ra’ina”.  The word, “Ra’ina” in Arabic literally means “consider us,” i.e. give us time to hear you and listen to us. The Jews used to use the same word with the meaning of an insult in their language (Hebrew). Therefore, the believers were ordered to avoid this expression and use instead the word “Unthurna” i.e. “wait for us [so that we may understand].” Allah Says (what means): {O you who have believed, say not [to Allah’s Messenger], “Ra‘ina” but say, “Unthurna” and listen.}[Quran 2:104]

 Allah Knows best.

Fatwa answered by: The Fatwa Center at Islamweb