Mosque Etiquette

Purpose and Scope

Mosques are sacred places where we worship Allah, find peace, and gather together in a spirit of brotherhood. In order to preserve the dignity of our mosques, to perform our acts of worship in tranquillity, and to safeguard the ethics of brotherhood, there are rules that each of us is obliged to observe. These rules are referred to in our Islamic tradition as “mosque etiquette”.

The primary responsibility for ensuring that our acts of worship, services and activities in the mosque are carried out properly, that the peace and security of the mosque are maintained, and that the services provided within the mosque premises are efficient, belongs to the religious official and the mosque management; it is fitting that our congregation abide by their guidance and direction.

Let us not forget that observing mosque etiquette and its rules is a requirement of our faith, an expression of our sense of responsibility towards one another, and important for the acceptance of our acts of worship.

GENERAL MATTERS TO BE OBSERVED IN THE MOSQUE

• Let us take care to perform our prayers in congregation at the mosque. Let us make a point of coming to the mosque in clean and appropriate clothing, of wearing pleasant fragrances where possible, and of avoiding disturbing others with unpleasant odours.

• Let us not leave our shoes at the entrance, but place them neatly on the shoe rack.

• Let us put our mobile phones on silent or switch them off.

• Let us refrain from speaking loudly or shouting inside the mosque. Let us keep away from any word, attitude or behaviour incompatible with the mosque’s spiritual atmosphere and liable to harm our brotherhood, unity and solidarity.

• In our mosques, where believers of different colours, languages and regions come together, love, respect and tolerance must prevail. In this respect, avoiding all manner of polemics, we must not engage in everyday arguments and disputes that give rise to resentment and estrangement, must not make political statements, and must not engage in factionalism or regionalism.

• We must be vigilant against any act, attempt or provocation aimed at our peace, unity and solidarity. In such situations, we must act with composure and restraint, without being provoked, and seek the guidance of the religious official and the mosque management.

• Should we notice any suspicious or adverse situation threatening the security of the mosque or the congregation, we must immediately inform the religious official, the mosque management or, where necessary, the relevant authorities.

• Mosques are a shared value that all of us, as believers, must cherish and keep alive. We must give priority to consulting the religious official and the mosque management first on matters relating to the mosque’s services, activities or administration. Let us not forget that a lack of transparency, avoiding the resolution of matters through dialogue, and acting individually on one’s own accord lead us into discord and division, and harm our brotherhood.

• Out of respect for their sanctity, we must place copies of the Holy Qur’an in elevated, clean places, and avoid leaving them on the floor or placing other objects on top of them.

• We must pay attention to cleanliness inside the mosque and its premises. We must take care to leave the ablution areas and toilets clean, and avoid littering.

• We must refrain from eating and drinking inside the mosque. Refreshments offered to the congregation, such as the iftar meal or bread rings for blessed nights, must be served in areas approved by the mosque management.

• We must avoid waste in the use of supplies and in the consumption of water and electricity.

• We must use the items found inside the mosque and its premises with care, taking care not to damage them. We must not take these items without the permission of the religious official and the mosque management.

• Our children are the guarantee of our future, and it is the responsibility of all of us, as parents, to teach them our values and to raise them as individuals of benefit to their family, their community and the whole of humanity. In order to instil in them an awareness of worship and to make them love the mosque, we must bring our children to the mosque from an early age and teach them mosque etiquette. As adults, we must strictly avoid any behaviour that would drive these young guests of ours away from the mosque and from religion.

• We must be respectful, understanding and helpful towards our guests of other faiths who come to visit our mosque.

• Should stray animals come onto the mosque premises, we must treat them with compassion and mercy and try to meet their need for water and food.

MATTERS TO BE OBSERVED DURING PRAYER, THE RELIGIOUS TALK AND THE SERMON

• We must strive to arrive for prayers on time and to listen to the call to prayer (adhan) while seated in the mosque.

• In congregational prayers, we must take care to keep our rows close together and straight, and not leave gaps in the front rows.

• When praying in congregation, we must not move before the imam.

• We must never disturb those who are praying by acts such as walking in front of them or reciting aloud during prayer.

• We must listen attentively to the religious talk (wa’z) and the sermon (khutbah). In particular, during the sermon, we must refrain from talking or occupying ourselves with our phones or anything else, and conduct ourselves in accordance with the etiquette of the sermon.

• Should we feel that some statement made by the preacher during the religious talk or the sermon is mistaken, we must avoid reacting with impulsive objection, anger or raised voices. In such cases, we may raise the matter later, in a suitable setting and in an appropriate manner.

We pray to our Almighty Lord that we may continue our acts of worship in our mosque with sincerity and tranquillity, strengthen our unity and solidarity, and carry out many more blessed activities. We thank our esteemed congregation and guests for their understanding.

Mosque Management Board

Text: Diyanet Foundation of Belgium — June 2026 revision.