What is the reward for cleaning the mosque?
Cleaning the mosque is a beloved good deed that the Prophet ﷺ honoured personally. He asked about a woman who swept his mosque when she died, and went to pray at her grave. Looking after Allah's house is part of keeping it alive, and every small effort counts.
The woman who swept the mosque
A Black woman (or man, according to one narrator) used to clean the Prophet's ﷺ mosque in Medina. When she died, the Companions buried her at night without telling him, thinking it was a small matter. When he noticed she was missing and asked, he said, "Why didn't you tell me?", then asked to be shown her grave and prayed the funeral prayer there (Sahih al-Bukhari 458, Sahih Muslim 956).
That story says a lot: someone the people overlooked was so valued by the Prophet ﷺ that he went out of his way to pray for her.
What the Quran and Sunnah say
Allah told Ibrahim and Ismail to keep the Kaaba pure for worshippers:
Aisha reported that the Prophet ﷺ ordered mosques to be built in neighbourhoods, and that they be kept clean and perfumed (Sunan Abi Dawud 455). Removing something harmful from people's way is itself a branch of faith (Sahih Muslim 35), and a mosque is where people put their foreheads down, so keeping it clean is even more fitting.
Is there a specific reward?
Some popular narrations promise a fixed reward for removing dust from the mosque, but scholars consider them weak, so it's best not to quote a number. What is certain is that it's a righteous deed, a form of service to the community, and a way of honouring the places "Allah has ordered to be raised" (Quran 24:36). If you help maintain a mosque that keeps serving people, it can also be a lasting good. See What is sadaqah jariyah?
Ways to help today
- Vacuum the prayer hall after Jumu'ah or tarawih.
- Tidy shoe racks, straighten Qurans and fold prayer mats.
- Wipe down the wudu area, which gets messy quickly.
- Pick up litter outside the entrance, too.
Even an hour a month counts as charity of your time. See Does volunteering count as charity in Islam? Most mosques have a volunteer rota, and converts are very welcome on it. See Can I volunteer at a mosque as a new Muslim?
- The Prophet ﷺ honoured the woman who swept his mosque.
- Mosques should be kept clean and pleasant (Sunan Abi Dawud 455).
- Avoid quoting weak hadith with fixed rewards.
- Any help, however small, is a good deed.
People also ask
Can I pray between the pillars in a mosque?
Yes, you can pray alone between pillars in a mosque. In congregation, avoid rows between pillars unless it's crowded. What the schools say.
Read the full answer →Can I charge my phone at the mosque?
Yes, you can usually charge your phone at the mosque if it's allowed. It runs on donations, so ask first, keep it small and give back.
Read the full answer →Can mosques in the West call the adhan aloud?
Can mosques in the West call the adhan aloud? It depends on local law. Where outdoor adhans are allowed in the USA and Europe, and why it's fine.
Read the full answer →Is Hagia Sophia a mosque?
Yes, Hagia Sophia in Istanbul has been a mosque again since July 2020. Its history as cathedral, mosque and museum, and why the change was debated.
Read the full answer →What happens at a mosque iftar?
At a mosque iftar, people break the fast with dates and water at the Maghrib adhan, pray, then share a free meal. What to expect and tips.
Read the full answer →