909. It is forbidden to make the floor, ceiling, roof or inner walls of a mosque najis. If a person realizes that any of the aforementioned has been rendered najis, he should immediately make them ÔÁhir. Obligatory precaution dictates that the outer walls of the mosque should similarly not be rendered najis. If they are, the najÁsah should be removed and it should be made ÔÁhir.
910. If a person is unable to make a mosque ÔÁhir or requires help for the task, but is unable to obtain it, it is not obligatory on him to make it ÔÁhir. However, he should inform a person who is able to, and entertains the possibility that such a person will in fact make it ÔÁhir.
911. If an area of the mosque is rendered najis in a manner that it is not possible to make it ÔÁhir without digging or demolishing the area, one should dig it or break it. If it is not a complete demolition, and does not harm that which is dedicated (waqf) to the mosque, it is not obligatory to fill the area that was dug, or rebuild the area that was demolished. However, if an object like a brick becomes najis, it should be washed and returned to its original place if possible.
912. If somebody usurps the property of a mosque and builds a house or a similar construction on it, obligatory precaution dictates that it is forbidden to render it najis, though it is not obligatory to make it ÔÁhir. However, it is not permissible to render a demolished mosque najis and is obligatory to make it ÔÁhir even if it is not utilized for prayers.
913. To render the shrines of the Imams (Peace be upon them all) najis is forbidden. If it is rendered najis, it is obligatory to make it ÔÁhir if it is a cause of its desecration. In fact, recommended precaution dictates that it should be made ÔÁhir even if it is not the cause of its desecration.
914. It is forbidden to make a mat of the mosque najis, and precaution dictates that the one who rendered it najis should make it ÔÁhir. Recommended precaution dictates that one should make it ÔÁhir even if he was not the one to render it najis. However, if the najÁsah is a cause of its desecration, it must be made ÔÁhir.
915. It is forbidden to take an item that is essentially najis or mutanajjis to the mosque, if it will cause its desecration. In fact, the recommended precaution is that one should not take an item that is essentially najis to a mosque even if it will not cause its desecration.
916. If the mosque is utilized for lamentation ceremonies, and tents are erected, carpets are laid, black clothes are draped over the walls, or equipment for making tea is placed in it for the ceremonies, there is no problem in it as long as it does not obstruct people from praying and does not damage the mosque.
917. To decorate the mosque with gold or with the depictions of living things, such as humans and animals, is not permissible based on obligatory precaution. As for the depictions of inanimate objects, such as a flower or a plant, it is makrÙh.
918. It is not permissible to sell a mosque, make it a part of one’s property, or a part of the highway, even if it is demolished.
919. It is forbidden to sell the door, window or other items of a mosque. In the case of a demolished mosque, such items should be utilized to repair the same mosque. However if the items are not useful for that mosque, they should be utilized for another mosque. If they are not useful for any mosque, and are not considered a part of the mosque but have been dedicated to that mosque, they can be sold with the permission of a shar‘Ð guardian. The money obtained from the sale of the item(s) should be used for repairing the same mosque if possible. If not, it should be used for repairing another mosque. If even that it not possible, it should be used for any good cause.
920. To build or to repair a mosque is recommended. If a mosque is ruined in such a manner that its repair is not possible, it is permissible to demolish it and rebuild it. In fact, it is permissible to demolish a mosque that is not ruined, and increase its size to meet the needs of those who pray there.
921. To clean and illuminate a mosque is recommended. It is also recommended for one who wishes to visit a mosque to apply perfume, wear clean and valuable clothing, check the sole of his shoes for najÁsah, enter the mosque with his right foot, exit the mosque with his left foot, be the first to enter the mosque and the last to leave it.
922. It is recommended for one who enters a mosque to offer a two rak‘ah prayer with the intention of venerating and respecting the mosque. In fact, it is sufficient to offer any other obligatory or recommended prayer.
923. It is makrÙh to sleep in a mosque unless one is compelled to do so. It is also makrÙh for one to speak of worldly matters, to occupy himself with handicraft, or recite a poem that does not contain admonishment or similar content in a mosque. It is similarly makrÙh to spit out one’s saliva, mucus or phlegm in a mosque, seek out one’s lost property, or raise one’s voice. However there is no harm in raising one’s
924. It is makrÙh to allow a child or an insane person to enter a mosque. It is also makrÙh for one to enter a mosque with malodorous breath, caused by consuming onion, garlic or their like, that would annoy people.
