Selling merchandise inside Mosques

[aabassi]

assalamo alaikum warahmatulahi wabarakat,

I was wondering what the shariah says about Mosques openly selling books, audio and other merchandise in its foyers. I know all the goods sold are of an Islamic nature but what if the proceeds of the sale are going towards an unjust cause or for the dawah of bad aqeedah. I know this can be difficult to prove but surely its better not to 'sell' any items inside the House of God as this has only come to prominence in the last 10-15 years.

[Imam]

Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem

Wa'alaykum Assalam,


The first question is that is the foyer part of the mosque?

If it is then any kind of selling in a Mosque is not permissible as is stated in ‘Alamghir’. Most great scholars are of this view. However, to sell books in that part, where for example no prostration is made, because Masjid means a place where you make a prostration, then as long as it does not interfere with the Namàzïs is O.K., otherwise, these days shoes are also taken off, toilets are visited, wudh’u is made, mobile phones are listened to, in Mosque foyers, but not in the ‘Masjid’ itself, as explained above.


If the proceeds are going for an unjust cause, or for the da’wah of a bad ‘aqïdah, then it is not permissible under any circumstances because ;

a) You are promoting false beliefs
b) Your mosque is being used to do this
c) You will be held accountable, not only for yourself, but anybody else who is influenced by such literature
d) You will be inclined towards accepting such false literature
e) You will be giving the authors of such books the opportunity to promote THEIR way of Islàm in your Mosque who you are responsible for, as opposed to the orthodox Sunnï beliefs etc.
f) As for the House of God, then where prostration is made, there is no trade…


And Allàh (Subhanahu wa Ta'ala) knows best!

M.Waseem Ashrafï