Can I buy and sell in the mosque?
No, buying and selling inside the prayer area of the mosque is not allowed. The Prophet ﷺ forbade trading in the mosque, and most scholars say it is at least disliked. Stalls in a separate hall, car park or courtyard outside the prayer space are a different matter, and many mosques hold charity bazaars there.
What the Prophet ﷺ said
The Prophet ﷺ forbade buying and selling in the mosque and announcing lost property there (Sunan Abi Dawud 1079). He also said, "If you see someone selling or buying in the mosque, say: May Allah not make your trade profitable" (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 1321). The point is not that trade is bad. It is that the mosque has a different job.
How the schools see it
The majority of scholars (Hanafi, Maliki and Shafi'i) say trading inside the mosque is disliked (makruh), though a sale made there still counts. Many Hanbali scholars go further and call it forbidden. All agree it should not be done, especially in the prayer hall. A small exception many allow is a quick, necessary exchange, like someone in i'tikaf buying food, without bringing goods into the hall.
What about mosque bazaars and bookstalls?
Most Western mosques are not just a prayer hall. They often have a community hall, classrooms, a shop or a car park. Many scholars say the ruling applies to the area set aside as the masjid (the prayer space), not to separate rooms or the land around it. That's why you'll see:
- Charity bake sales in the community hall after Jumu'ah.
- Bookshops and Islamic gift stalls in the lobby or outside.
- Eid bazaars in the car park.
If your mosque allows these, it has usually checked with its imam. Ask before setting up anything yourself. See Can I volunteer at a mosque as a new Muslim?
Paying for things in the mosque
Giving a donation, paying a membership fee, or paying for a class is not the same as running a business in the hall, and scholars generally don't treat it as forbidden trade. Still, keep cash, card readers and long conversations about prices out of the prayer rows when you can. See Do I have to pay to join a mosque?
- Trading inside the prayer hall is disliked or forbidden.
- The Prophet ﷺ also forbade announcing lost items there.
- Separate halls, lobbies and car parks are treated differently.
- Donations and fees are not the same as business deals.
People also ask
Can I take photos inside a mosque?
Yes, you can usually take photos inside a mosque if it's allowed. Ask before photographing people praying and never disturb worship.
Read the full answer →Which foot do I enter the mosque with?
Enter the mosque with your right foot and leave with your left. It's a sunnah, not a duty, and forgetting it is no sin. Here's the full etiquette.
Read the full answer →Can I eat in the mosque?
Yes, you can eat in the mosque. The Companions ate bread and meat there. Keep the carpet clean, avoid strong smells and follow mosque rules.
Read the full answer →Can I use my phone in the mosque?
Yes, you can use your phone in the mosque for Quran or quick tasks if it disturbs no one. Silence it, and put it away during prayer and khutbah.
Read the full answer →Can I talk in the mosque?
Yes, you can talk in the mosque if it's polite and quiet. The Companions chatted there; avoid loud voices, trading and talk during the khutbah.
Read the full answer →