Gatherings for Idle Talk at the Mosque Door

Question

At the door within the precincts of the mosque, at prayer time or outside prayer time, a few people gather, among whom are both kinds of individuals: those with an understanding of religion and some with little understanding. Sitting there, they keep up idle talk; sometimes film stories are recounted while sitting there, sometimes someone even sings a song, sometimes in their talk they even swear at one another, and other impermissible talk and backbiting (ghiba) and the like also occur.

Answer

Holding such gatherings, especially within the precincts of the mosque, is ugly and blameworthy according to the Shariʿa. The mutawalli and other influential people should admonish these people that, according to the Shariʿa, backbiting, swearing and the like are impermissible — it is a sin; refraining from such things and repenting is necessary.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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