Question:
Assalamualaikum SS Mufti. Is the ruling of entering shopping mall the same as entering the market which is said as the worst place of all?
Answer:
Waalaikumussalam w.b.t,
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, his wives, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings to the day of judgement.
The issue of markets which are classified as the worst and hated place to Allah SWT is stated in some sahih evidences. Among them is a hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah RA where the Prophet PBUH said:
أَحَبُّ الْبِلاَدِ إِلَى اللَّهِ مَسَاجِدُهَا وَأَبْغَضُ الْبِلاَدِ إِلَى اللَّهِ أَسْوَاقُهَا
“The parts of land dearest to Allah are its mosques, and the parts most hateful to Allah are markets.”
Sahih Muslim (671)
Based on the above hadith, we may understand that mosques are the dearest place to Allah due to its attribute which is the place of worship and obedience. It is inside it where congregational prayers, Sunnah prayers, I’tikaf, sadaqah, recitation of al-Quran, remembrance of Allah (zikrullah), supplication and any other worships are performed. Therefore, Imam al-Nawawi said:
وَالمَسَاجِدُ مَحَل نُزُول الرَّحْمَة
“And the mosques are the place where rahmah (blessing) is bestowed”
Refer: Syarah Al-Nawawi ‘ala Muslim (5/300)
While markets are synonymous with acts which are prohibited by Shara’ like deceptions in trades, riba, lagha, negligence in remembrance and etcetera.
However, this is merely a statement to illustrate the normal daily situation of the said place, not an indication of a total prohibition to enter markets or buying goods. In fact, if the sellers make markets a place of goodness like being honest in selling and weighing, not being negligent towards zikrullah, getting involved in trades to improve Muslims’ economic growth, then all of these is a major contribution and rewarding as a Muslim.
For that, Imam Ibn Bathhal Rahimaullah said:
وَأمَّا إِذَا ذُكِرَ اللهُ فِى السُّوقِ فَهُو مِنْ أَفْضَلِ الأعْمَال
“Whereas, if the remembrance of Allah (zikrullah) is done at the markets, then it is the most prioritized act.” Refer: Syarah Sahih al-Bukhari, Ibn Bathhal (6/249).
His statement is supported by a hadith narrated by Abdullah ibn ‘Umar where the Prophet PBUH said:
مَنْ دَخَلَ السُّوقَ فَقَالَ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيكُ لَهُ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ يُحْيِي وَيُمِيتُ وَهُوَ حَىٌّ لاَ يَمُوتُ بِيَدِهِ الْخَيْرُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَهُ أَلْفَ أَلْفِ حَسَنَةٍ وَمَحَا عَنْهُ أَلْفَ أَلْفِ سَيِّئَةٍ وَرَفَعَ لَهُ أَلْفَ أَلْفِ دَرَجَةٍ
“Whoever enters the marketplace and says:
لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيكُ لَهُ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ يُحْيِي وَيُمِيتُ وَهُوَ حَىٌّ لاَ يَمُوتُ بِيَدِهِ الْخَيْرُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
‘There is none worthy of worship except Allah, Alone, without partner, to Him belongs the dominion, and to Him is all the praise, He gives life and causes death, He is Living and does not die, in His Hand is the good, and He has power over all things, (Lā ilāha illallāh, waḥdahu lā sharīka lahu, lahul-mulku wa lahul-ḥamdu, yuḥyī wa yumītu, wa huwa ḥayyun lā yamūtu, biyadihil-khairu, wa huwa `alā kulli shay’in qadīr)’ Allah shall record a million good deeds for him, wipe a million evil deeds away from him, and raise a million ranks for him.”
Jami` at-Tirmidhi (3428)
Hence, if we carefully observe this, it is the same as those who make masjid a place of misremembrance of Allah in terms of being lagha (distracted), uttering words of lies and indecency as well as committing sins. All of these will never degrade the virtues of masjid.
Going back to the question asked; whether it is the same between entering shopping mall and markets, hereby we include the definition of markets in Arabic language. Ibn Manzhur said: Markets are places where selling and buying take place. Refer: Lisan Al-Arab, Ibn Manzhur (10/167). While in al-Mu’jam al-Wasith, it is stated: “Markets are the place where goods are presented for trades.” Refer: Al-Mu’jam al-Wasith (1/464).
Hence, according to the above definitions, a shopping mall is included in the meaning of markets because they are a place of selling and buying goods like clothing, foods, home appliances, furniture and etcetera. Hence, it is permissible for us to recite the stated du’a that we shared above when entering shopping malls.
Closing
As a conclusion, we state here that a shopping mall is a place where selling and buying take place and the trade may be categorized the same as markets. The ruling of entering it is the same as entering markets which is permissible. Still, whoever enters it is encouraged to avoid any form of misremembrance of Allah. Instead, he should try to minimize the time spent by not spending more time there than needed. Wallahua’lam.
Lastly, may Allah SWT give us the true understanding in religion. Ameen.