Question
What is the difference between a Masjid and a Musallah?
Is there certain Amaal/Ibaadat that can only be done in a Masjid and not a Musallah?
What does Waqf mean and does it apply to both a Masjid and a Musallah?
Is there difference in reward when reading Salaah in a Masjid compared to a Musallah?
Answer
Difference between a Masjid and a Musalla:
A Masjid is a piece of land which a person makes Waqf/endowment by entrusting it into the sole ownership of Allah Ta’aala and stipulates it as a place of Salaah and worship by relinquishing his right of ownership hitherto and formally granting the Muslims the right to pray therein. This land is then declared as the House of Allah Ta’aala and will remain so until the last day, no matter what. Thus, upholding the sanctity thereof becomes binding upon every Muslim.
On the other hand, a Musalla is simply any place where Muslims come together to perform Salaah and execute other Deeni activities without the owner relinquishing his right of ownership hitherto nor declaring it as Waqf property explicitly. It is a temporary setup to perform the acts of worships therein.
Specific A’maal/ Ibaadat for Masjid and Musalla:
All forms of worship could be executed in both places except Sunnah I’tikaaf which is only performed in a
Shar’ie Masjid (when such a Masjid exists in an area).
Meaning of Waqf and its Implication:
Waqf/endowment simply means relinquishing one’s right of ownership and entrusting it into the sole ownership of Allah Ta’aala. Commonly, it applies to the Masjid, not Musalla since it is a temporary setup; however, if the conditions of a Masjid are found in a Musalla (if the land has been made Waqf and separated from one’s property, and prayer has been performed even once with congregation), then it will be classified as a Masjid in Shariah, even if people call or name it a Musalla.
Reward of performing Salaah in a Masjid or a Musalla:
If the town/area is such where there are both a Masjid and Musalla, then the reward for praying in a Masjid is far greater than praying in the Musalla, since the one performing Salaah in a Musalla solely receives the reward of praying with congregation and the other receives the reward of congregation as well as praying in the best of places; i.e. a properly-constituted Masjid. However, if there is no Masjid in the town/area and there is only a Musalla, then Insha’Allah one will receive reward similar to a Masjid when performing Salaah in the Musalla.
Checked and Approved By:
Mufti Muhammed Saeed Motara Saheb D.B.
References
Islaam Aur Jadeed Ma’aashi Masaa’il pg.83/84/85 vol.2
قاموس الفقه مادة مسجد و وقف
الاعتكاف مستحب، وهو اللبث في المسجد مع الصوم ونية الاعتكاف … والمراد بالمسجد مسجد الجماعة، وهو ما له إمام ومؤذن، أديت فيه الخمس أو لا، كما في العناية والفيض والنهر وخزانة الأكمل والخلاصة والزازية، وفي الهداية عن أبي حنيفة أنه لا يصح إلا في مسجد يصلى فيه الصلوات الخمس، لأنه عبادة انتظار الصلاة فيختص بمكان تؤدى فيه؛
وصححه الكمال وعن الإمامين يصح في كل مسجد وصححه السروجي، وهو اختيار الطحاوي، وقال الخير الرملي وهو أيسر، خصوصاً في زماننا، فينبغي أن يعول عليه. اهـ. اللباب
ص ۱۱۰ ط : بشري
دار العلوم زكريا ص ٥٥٩-٥٦١ ج ١ ط: زمزم
مارکیٹ میں جماعت خانہ :
مسئلہ : اگر کسی مارکیٹ کے قریب کوئی مسجد نہ ہو ، اور لوگ کسی مکان یادکان کی چھت کو متعین کر کے ، اس میں باجماعت نماز پڑھنا شروع کر دیں، تو مسجد قریب نہ ہونے کی وجہ سے اس میں جماعت کر لینے سے جماعت کا ثواب تو مل جائے گا، مگر اس جگہ کی حیثیت مسجد شرعی نہ ہونے کی وجہ سے مسجد کا ثواب نہیں ملے گا۔ المسائل المهمة فیما ابتلت به العامه
از مفتی محمد جعفر ملی رحمانی ص ۵۱ ج ۸ ط: مکتبہ السلام جامعہ اکل کوا