Short answer
It is a mosque in English and a masjid in Arabic, which means place of prostration. A large mosque where the Friday prayer is held is often called a jami' or jama masjid. Muslims gather there for the five daily prayers, the Friday prayer, learning and community life.
Once land is given as a masjid it becomes a permanent endowment belonging to Allah and cannot be sold. Praying the daily prayers in congregation there is a stressed sunnah close to wajib for men, and the Friday prayer is fard on adult resident men. The Hanafi school allows non-Muslims to enter a mosque with respect.
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i
- Non-Muslims may enter mosques with a Muslim's permission, but not the Sacred Mosque of Makkah or its sanctuary.
- Hanbali
- Non-Muslims may not enter the sanctuary of Makkah; other mosques they may enter with a Muslim's permission in the relied-upon view.
- Maliki
- Non-Muslims should not enter mosques except for a need, such as work on the building.
Explanation
Masjid comes from sajada, to prostrate, because the heart of Muslim prayer is putting the forehead on the ground before Allah. The English word mosque comes from the same Arabic word through Spanish and French. Mosque and masjid mean exactly the same thing.
Inside you will not find pews, statues or pictures. There is an open, carpeted prayer hall facing the Kaaba in Makkah, a niche (mihrab) showing that direction, a pulpit (minbar) for the Friday sermon, a place to make wudu (ablution), and space for women. There is no priest. An imam leads the prayer, and any knowledgeable Muslim can do so.
A mosque is not quite the same as a church. Muslims can pray anywhere clean, since the Prophet ﷺ said the whole earth was made a place of prayer for him. Still, mosques are the most beloved places to Allah. The main weekly gathering is the Friday prayer at midday, not a Sunday service, and many Muslims also come every day for the five prayers.
Visitors are usually welcome. Dress modestly, take off your shoes before the prayer area, and women are often asked to cover their hair. The Prophet ﷺ received non-Muslim guests and delegations in his own mosque. Many mosques run open days. See the oldest mosques and the Friday prayer.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-Jinn 72:18
وَأَنَّ ٱلْمَسَٰجِدَ لِلَّهِ فَلَا تَدْعُوا۟ مَعَ ٱللَّهِ أَحَدًۭا ﴿١٨﴾
And [He revealed] that the masjids are for Allah, so do not invoke with Allah anyone.
Mosques are devoted to the worship of Allah alone.
Quran, Surah At-Tawba 9:18
إِنَّمَا يَعْمُرُ مَسَٰجِدَ ٱللَّهِ مَنْ ءَامَنَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْءَاخِرِ وَأَقَامَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتَى ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَلَمْ يَخْشَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهَ ۖ فَعَسَىٰٓ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ أَن يَكُونُوا۟ مِنَ ٱلْمُهْتَدِينَ ﴿١٨﴾
The mosques of Allah are only to be maintained by those who believe in Allah and the Last Day and establish prayer and give zakah and do not fear except Allah, for it is expected that those will be of the [rightly] guided.
Believers build and keep mosques alive with prayer.
Quran, Surah Al-Hajj 22:40
ٱلَّذِينَ أُخْرِجُوا۟ مِن دِيَٰرِهِم بِغَيْرِ حَقٍّ إِلَّآ أَن يَقُولُوا۟ رَبُّنَا ٱللَّهُ ۗ وَلَوْلَا دَفْعُ ٱللَّهِ ٱلنَّاسَ بَعْضَهُم بِبَعْضٍۢ لَّهُدِّمَتْ صَوَٰمِعُ وَبِيَعٌۭ وَصَلَوَٰتٌۭ وَمَسَٰجِدُ يُذْكَرُ فِيهَا ٱسْمُ ٱللَّهِ كَثِيرًۭا ۗ وَلَيَنصُرَنَّ ٱللَّهُ مَن يَنصُرُهُۥٓ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَقَوِىٌّ عَزِيزٌ ﴿٤٠﴾
[They are] those who have been evicted from their homes without right - only because they say, "Our Lord is Allah." And were it not that Allah checks the people, some by means of others, there would have been demolished monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques in which the name of Allah is much mentioned. And Allah will surely support those who support Him. Indeed, Allah is Powerful and Exalted in Might.
The Quran names mosques among the houses where Allah's name is remembered.
Sahih Muslim 671
Sahih... أحب البلاد إلى الله مساجدها ...
"The most beloved places to Allah are the mosques."
The special status of the mosque.
Sahih al-Bukhari 335
Sahih... جعلت لي الأرض مسجدا وطهورا ...
"The earth has been made for me a place of prayer and a means of purification."
Muslims may pray anywhere clean, not only in a mosque.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Waqf, the section on mosques. Once a masjid is established it leaves its owner's property permanently.
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Karahiya, the miscellaneous section. Permits non-Muslim citizens to enter the mosque.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.