4/11. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 765 — Mosques Were Built for Worship
Prohibition Of Making Lost-and-Found Announcements In The Mosque
Mosques Were Built for Worship, Not Lost-Item Calls
Sunan Ibn Majah : 765
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 765
حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، عَنْ أَبِي سِنَانٍ، سَعِيدِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنْ عَلْقَمَةَ بْنِ مَرْثَدٍ، عَنْ سُلَيْمَانَ بْنِ بُرَيْدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ صَلَّى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ مَنْ دَعَا إِلَى الْجَمَلِ الأَحْمَرِ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " لاَ وَجَدْتَهُ إِنَّمَا بُنِيَتِ الْمَسَاجِدُ لِمَا بُنِيَتْ لَهُ " .
Sulaiman bin Buraidah Narrated from:
It was narrated from Sulaiman bin Burdah that his father said: "The Messenger of Allah performed prayer, then a man said: 'Who was looking for the red camel?' The Prophet said: 'May you not find it! The mosques were built for that for which they were built.'"
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 765In-book reference : Book 4, Hadith 31English translation : Vol. 1, Book 4, Hadith 765
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 765
This Hadith teaches mosque etiquette through a direct incident. After the Messenger of Allah performed prayer, a man called out asking about a red camel. The Prophet replied, "May you not find it!" Then he gave the reason: mosques were built for what they were built for. The text does not list every purpose, but the setting shows that the mosque is connected to prayer and worship, not public lost-and-found announcements. The lesson is about keeping the mosque focused. A masjid should not become a place for loud personal business that distracts worshippers. This Hadith also reminds us to watch our words in sacred spaces. Even a real personal need should be handled in a way that protects the dignity of the mosque.
What we learn from this hadith
- Do not turn the mosque into a place for personal lost-item announcements.
- The mosque has a special purpose tied to worship and prayer.
- Loud personal calls can disturb the calm of the prayer space.
- A person should think before speaking in the masjid.
