Is it permissible to demolish an old mosque built on the roof of a house in order to construct commercial shops in its place, after a neighboring plot of land became available to build a larger mosque upon it?
Whoever builds a mosque and calls the for prayer in it, that mosque leaves his ownership and becomes an endowment for Allah Almighty. It is not permissible for him to go back on that, or to demolish it, sell it, or move it, unless there is a benefit that accrues to the endowment, such as if the mosque is abandoned and its benefits are disrupted, or if it becomes too small for its congregants. In such cases, it is permissible to move it to another place that is wider and more accessible.
However, if the first mosque is spacious and suitable for those around it, it is not permissible to remove it from the endowment by demolition or sale. Nor is it permissible to build another mosque close to it, so as not to divide the Muslim community.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 33072
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy