Do's and Don'ts of the Masjid

I go to the Masjid almost every Friday and every time I am met with various challenges that deter me from my concentration during prayer. The following is a list of things that people (more centered to women) should and should not do at the masjid.

DO come into the prayer room silently and give salaam to everyone. 

DO NOT come in with your group of friends, laughing, and giggling. Many people are praying their 2 rakah masjid prayer. Some even do more for sunnah. When you come in loudly you are disturbing everyone. Please be respectful of everyone and their prayer. 

DO turn of your cell phones.

DO NOT keep it on or leave it on silent. This is one of my biggest pet peeves because during the khutbah, tons of cell phones go off. Some even go off during prayer and the ring tone tends to be the new hit song which is totally out of line for the masjid. Even if you silence it, somehow the phone may go off. So please be considerate and just turn it off. Also, please do not give your children your cell phone to play with. This actually leads me to the next thing.

DO stay with your young children at home if your masjid does not have a separate women with children area.

DO NOT bring your young children and expect them to be silent during the entirety of the prayer. They will not. They will cry, run around, scream, and cause all sorts of distractions. If you are bringing your child, make sure they are old enough to understand that they must be silent the entire time. I've had it with constantly crying babies and children who are always running around everywhere. And if you do bring your child, please please please do not allow them to bring in food. They are children and they will make a mess. 

DO come to prayer early. You get more sunnah for being the first in the masjid. 

DO NOT come to prayer during the khutbah. The khutbah is part of your prayer. If you are not there for the entirety of the khutbah then your Friday prayer is not complete. 

DO sit quietly during the khutbah and listen to what the imam is saying. 

DO NOT assume that it is social hour and begin gossiping with your friends. Treat the khutbah like it is your prayer. You wouldn't speak to others while praying would you?

DO come to the masjid properly dressed.

DO NOT begin putting on your abaya and hijab when you walk into the prayer room. 

DO (if you are selling things) sell outside of the actual masjid.

DO NOT sell inside the masjid. It not only causes congestion, but is also not allowed.

DO pray to yourself.

DO NOT pray so loudly that the entire room can hear you. I've experienced this many times where someone sits next to me and begins praying their two rakats and they pray so loudly that I can hear every word. 

In no way am I trying to offend anyone or be the "haram police" but I've been mentally compiling this list for a while and I feel like I'm not the only one who notices these actions being done at the masjid. Maybe this will help some of you out with masjid etiquette! 

Jummah Mubarak! 

~Misbah