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Fatwa CenterA woman working as cleaner in Al-Masjid Al-Haraam
Question
Assalaamu alaykum wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuhu, Shaykh. If a person wishes to work as a cleaner at Al-Masjid Al-Haraam or Al-Masjid An-Nabawi but does not want others to help them with almsgiving, how can they avoid it? Or should they take it if it is given by someone and give it to others in almsgiving? People usually help cleaners there, and I wish to work there as a cleaner and so on (praise be to Allaah, for good reasons) if we move there. However, due to this, I am confused on whether to go for it or not. Please advice, Shaykh. Also, in Al-Masjid Al-Haraam, there are men that pass by, so would it be wrong to work there, even if fully covered? May Allaah reward you.
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
It is well-known that cleaning mosques is encouraged, as is evidenced by the relevant ahaadeeth. ‘Aa'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, said, “The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, commanded us to build mosques in neighborhoods (or in houses), and that they be kept cleaned and perfumed.” [At-Tirmithi and Abu Dawood]
An-Nawawi 
said, “It is affirmatively recommended to clean and sweep the mosque given the famous ahaadeeth in this regard.”
If someone works as a cleaner in a mosque while hoping for the rewards of Allah and someone offers him a gift or charity, it is recommended for him to accept it. He then may give it in charity or spend it on himself. ‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “I heard ‘Umar ibn Al-Khattaab say, 'The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, used to give me a gift of money, and I would say, ‘Give it to someone who is more in need of it than I am.’ Once, he gave me money, and I said, ‘Give it to someone who is more in need of it than I am,’ and he said, ‘Take it, and what you get of this money without asking for it or hoping for it, then take it. What is otherwise, do not look forward to it.’'” [Muslim]
Moreover, the Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said, “If a person receives an act of kindness from his brother without asking for it or aspiring to it, then he should accept it and not refuse it; it is a provision which Allah Almighty has sent him.” [Ahmad - Al-Albaani - graded it saheeh (sound)]
The Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said, “If I were invited to a meal of a sheep's arm or trotter, I would accept, and if I were given an arm or trotter as a gift, I would accept it.” [Al-Bukhari] For more benefit, please refer to fatwa 317566.
However, if the person refused to accept the gift for fear of being reminded of it in the future, then he may do so because he is not obliged to accept it to begin with.
Ibn Qudaamah wrote, "The bankrupt person should not be forced to accept a gift, charity, bequest, or a fixed share in inheritance if he does not want to accept it because this incurs harm on him as he may be reminded of the favor conferred on him later on in case of a gift, charity, or bequest...”
An-Nawawi wrote, “Scholars held different views on the ruling on accepting financial help as a gift from another person; is it obligatory on him to accept it, or is it merely recommended? There are three scholarly views in this regard; the famous view of the majority of the scholars is that it is merely recommended...” [Sharh Saheeh Muslim]
As for a woman wearing the hijab and working in a place where non-Mahram (marriageable) men can see her, it is permissible for her provided that she be extremely careful and abides by the rules of the Sharia regarding the woman going out of her home. She does not go out except wearing her full hijab, which must be loose-fitting and not see-through, not revealing any part of her beauty or attracting men's attention to her. She must also not wear perfume outdoors; the Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, warned the Muslim woman from wearing perfume while going to the mosque. He, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said, “Any woman who puts on perfume and then goes out to the mosque, no prayer will be accepted from her until she goes back and takes a bath like the Ghusl of Janaabah (major ritual impurity, i.e. a complete bath).” [Ahmad and others]
Allah knows best.
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