5/18. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 568a — Lost Property Announcements in the Masjid
The prohibition of making lost property announcements in the masjid, and what should be said by one who hears a person making such an announcement
Lost Property in Mosque Hadith: Mosques Were Not Built for This
Sahih Muslim : 568a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 568a
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الطَّاهِرِ، أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَمْرٍو حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، عَنْ حَيْوَةَ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، مَوْلَى شَدَّادِ بْنِ الْهَادِ أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ، يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " مَنْ سَمِعَ رَجُلاً يَنْشُدُ ضَالَّةً فِي الْمَسْجِدِ فَلْيَقُلْ لاَ رَدَّهَا اللَّهُ عَلَيْكَ فَإِنَّ الْمَسَاجِدَ لَمْ تُبْنَ لِهَذَا " .
Abu Hurairah Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: If anyone hears a man crying out in the mosque about something he has lost, he should say: May Allah not restore it to you, for the mosques were not built for this.
Reference : Sahih Muslim 568aIn-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 98USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 4, Hadith 1153
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 568a
This hadith about lost property in the mosque teaches respect for the purpose of the masjid. Abu Huraira reported that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said if someone hears a man crying out in the mosque about something he lost, he should say, “May Allah not restore it to you,” because mosques were not built for this. The wording is firm, and the reason is stated inside the hadith itself. The mosque has a purpose, and public lost-item calls do not fit that purpose in this report. The lesson is not about being rude for no reason. It is about protecting the space of worship from loud personal announcements that distract people and change the mood of the mosque.
What we learn from this hadith
- Lost-item announcements should not be made loudly inside the mosque.
- The hadith gives the reason: mosques were not built for this.
- The worship space should be protected from distracting personal calls.
