Things Prohibited for the One Who is Ritually Impure - Passing Through the Masjid [Part 2]

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-It is permissible for a person who is impure (either via minor impurity, or Janaabah or a woman on her menses) to pass through the Masjid if there is a need. Al-'Uthaymeen explains that this means it is not permissible for the person in major impurity to stay in the Masjid – even if it is for a short period of time, but is allowed to pass through if there is a need.

The evidence for this includes:

-          The Statement of Allaah the Most High, “O you who believe! Approach not As-Salat (the prayer) when you are in a drunken state until you know (the meaning) of what you utter, nor when you are in a state of Janaba, (i.e. in a state of sexual impurity and have not yet taken a bath) except when travelling on the road (without enough water, or just passing through a mosque), till you wash your whole body” [an-Nisaa 4:43]

Meaning, do not stay in the Masjid unless if one is passing by.

-          The Masjid is the House of Allaah, the Most High, thus it is a place of His Remembrance, worshipping Him, and being the place of His Angels. So if a person who eats raw onions and garlic is not permitted (Makrooh) to enter the Masjid then preventing those who are impure is even more appropriate.

A – It is permissible to pass through if there is a need, but if there is no real need then it is not permitted for the impure person to enter the Masjid.

This is the view of the Hanbalee Madhab, however Imaam Ahmad himself disliked (Makrooh) in making the Masjid a pathway or a route in which a person crosses to get to the other side, except if there is a dire need. This is based on the Hadeeth, “The Masjid have been built for Dhikr, as-Salaat and for the recital of the Quraan.” So if a person takes the Masjid as a crossing then this defies the purpose stated in this Hadeeth.

B – It is Makrooh to stay in the Masjid unless if a person has Wudhoo. Al-Uthaymeen explains that this based on the following evidences:

-The Companions [may Allaah be Pleased with them all] used to perform al-I’tikaaf and if they became impure, major or minor, would hasten to purify themselves. This happened during the period of the Prophet being alive and he didn’t rebuke them for it.