prayed in them. As for using them as living quarters, sleeping there, and storing clothing and other possessions in them, I know of no Muslim who has allowed this. It turns the mosque into something like an inn with separately enclosed lodgings. The mosque must remain shared by all Muslims; no one may claim exclusive use of any part of it beyond the time he spends there engaged in a prescribed activity. Whoever first occupies a spot in the mosque for prayer, recitation, remembrance of Allah, learning, a devotional retreat or the like has the greater right to it until he finishes that activity. No one may make him leave, for the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, forbade making a man leave his seat; rather, people should make room and allow space.

If his ablution is invalidated and he then returns, he has the greater right to his place, for the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, established this practice, saying:

“When a man leaves his seat and then returns to it, he has the greater right to it.”

As for claiming exclusive use of a place in the mosque to stay and live there, as people have exclusive use of their homes, this is among the gravest wrongs, by agreement of the Muslims.

The most extensive stay in a mosque is that of someone observing a devotional retreat. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, used to observe such retreats in the mosque. He would have a mat set up as an enclosure for him and observe his retreat within it. He also used to observe his retreat in a tent. Likewise, people used to observe devotional retreats in mosques and pitch tents there for themselves. This, however, was only for the duration of the retreat. A devotional retreat is a prescribed act of worship, and the person observing it may leave the mosque only for an unavoidable necessity. What is prescribed for him is