Question Summary:
Cleaning the Masjid

Question Detail:

Assalamu Alaykum
I would like to know if there are any rewards for doing the work of the Masjid, like vacuuming the carpets and washing the towels for the Wudhu Khana. Jazaakallah Khair

Answer :

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
 
Taking care of the Masjid is a praiseworthy act for which one will be rewarded. To take care of a Masjid and its affairs is a sign of strong and healthy Īmān as is understood from the following Ḥadīth:
وَعَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ، قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ - صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ -: «إِذَا رَأَيْتُمُ الرَّجُلَ يَتَعَاهَدُ الْمَسْجِدَ، فَاشْهَدُوا لَهُ بِالْإِيمَانِ. فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ يَقُولُ: {إِنَّمَا يَعْمُرُ مَسَاجِدَ اللَّهِ مَنْ آمَنَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ} [التوبة: 18] »[1]
Abū Saʿīd Khudrī Radi Allāhu ‘anhu narrates that the Messenger of Allah Sallallāhu ‘alaihi wa Sallam said: “When you see a person taking care of the Masjid then bear testimony to his Īmān, for verily Allah Ta‛ālā says, “Only those who believe in Allah and the Last Day frequent and take care of the Masjids of Allah.””
 
The following Hadīth is narrated showing that a person who cleans the Masjid to the mere extent of removing a speck of dirt from it will definitely be rewarded for this act:
عَنْ أَنَسٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «عُرِضَتْ عَلَيَّ أُجُورُ أُمَّتِي، حَتَّى الْقَذَاةُ يُخْرِجُهَا الرَّجُلُ مِنَ الْمَسْجِدِ»[2]
It is reported on the authority of Anas Radi Allāhu ‘anhu that the Messenger of Allah Sallallāhu ‘alaihi wa Sallam said: “The rewards of my Ummah were presented to me, to the extent that (the reward of) a speck of dirt a person removes from the Masjid (was also presented to me).” {Abū Dāwūd (126/1), al-Tirmiẓī (178/5), Ibn Khuzaimah (271/2)}
 
Also, by caring for the Masjid, a person will be rewarded for carrying out the command of Nabi Sallallāhu ‘alaihi wa Sallam as he has instructed in the following Hadīth:
وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ قَالَتْ: «أَمَرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِبِنَاءِ الْمَسَاجِدِ فِي الدُّورِ وَأَنْ تُنَظَّفَ وَتُطَيَّبَ»[3]
It is narrated that ʿĀishah Radi Allāhu ‘anhā has mentioned: “The Messenger of Allah Sallallāhu ‘alaihi wa Sallam has commanded that Masjids should be built in the localities and they should be cleaned and perfumed.” {Ahmad (279/6), al-Tirmiẓī (489/2), Abū Dāwūd (124/1)}
 
The great scholar of Ḥadīth, Imām al-Nawawī, in his book ‘Khulāsah al-Aḥkām’, in ‘The Chapter of Cleaning the Masjid and Providing Lighting for It’ transmits the following Hadīth which indicates the noble status of a person who cleans the Masjid:
عَن أبي هُرَيْرَة: أَنَّ رَجُلًا أَسْوَدَ أَوِ امْرَأَةً سَوْدَاءَ كَانَ يَقُمُّ المسْجِدَ فَمَاتَ، فَسَأَلَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَنْهُ، فَقَالُوا: مَاتَ، فَقَالَ: «أَفَلاَ كُنْتُمْ آذَنْتُمُونِي بِهِ، دُلُّونِي عَلَى قَبْرِهِ، فَأَتَى قَبْرَهُ فَصَلَّى عَلَيْهِ»[4]
Abū Hurairah Radi Allāhu ‘anhu narrates that there was a black man or black woman (a narrator had doubt as to whether it was a male or female) who used to sweep the Masjid. She/he passed away. Nabi Sallallāhu ‘alaihi wa Sallam asked (his companions) regarding this person, to which they replied, “She/he has passed away.” So Nabi Sallallāhu ‘alaihi wa Sallam exclaimed, “Why did you not inform me about her/his death. Show me where her/his grave is.” Nabi Sallallāhu ‘alaihi wa Sallam then came to this person’s grave and performed Salātul Janāzah on her/him. {al-Bukhārī (no. 457) and Muslim (no. 965)}
 
From this Ḥadith, commentators explain that the woman who used to sweep the Masjid was not a person who Nabi Sallallāhu ‘alaihi wa Sallam was oblivious of. Nabi Sallallāhu ‘alaihi wa Sallam was well aware of her and thus enquired regarding her when he did not see her for several days.
 
Therefore, vacuuming the carpets, washing the towels and all other forms of cleaning and caring for the Masjid are not insignificant acts. They are meritorious deeds which hold great rewards as can be seen from the above-mentioned Aḥādīth.
 
And Allah Ta’ālā Knows Best
Mahmood Patel
Azaadville, South Africa
Student Darul Iftaa
 
Checked and Approved by
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
www.daruliftaa.net