SECTION ON PRAYER · 23 – THE ENTRY OF PAGANS INTO THE MOSQUE
Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: It is related that a man entered the mosque riding a camel. After he caused the camel to kneel and tied it, he said, "Where is Muhammad?" The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) was leaning against the pillars. We pointed to him saying, “He is the one with the white complexion leaning there.” The man addressed the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him), saying, “O son of ‘Abd al-Muttalib!” The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) said to him, "Listen you and speak." The man said, “O Muhammad (peace and blessings upon him), I am asking you a question.” Anas narrated the hadith. [328]
COMMENTARY:
This hadith contains a narration where the man caused his camel to kneel in the mosque, while another narration states he caused it to kneel at the door of the mosque. This honorable hadith indicates that a disbeliever can enter the mosque due to reasons such as seeking justice within the mosque or having a debtor present in the mosque to settle a debt, and so forth.
It is narrated from Ibn ‘Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, that he said:
The sons of Sa‘d bin Bakr sent Dimam bin Sa‘leba to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him. When Dimam arrived, he tethered his camel in front of the mosque and entered the mosque.
Ibn ‘Abbas recited a hadith similar to the one previously mentioned, and then said:
Dimam bin Sa’leba said: “Among you, who is the son of ‘Abd al-Muttalib?” The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, replied, “I am the son of ‘Abd al-Muttalib.” Dimam said, "O, son of Muttalib."
Then Ibn ‘Abbas transmitted the hadith.
Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated: The Jews came to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, while he was sitting amongst his companions in the mosque. They said, "O Abu al-Qasim!"