What is the ruling on performing Friday prayers in rented churches due to the unavailability of other suitable places, and is it valid to cite what was narrated from Ibn Umar regarding the prohibition of praying in churches?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
It is impermissible to pray in churches and similar places if another option is available, because they are houses of worship for disbelievers and contain statues and images. However, if no other option is available, then prayer in them is permissible out of necessity. Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) refrained from entering them due to the presence of statues and images, whereas Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with both of them) prayed in the synagogue as long as it contained no statues or images.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/12914
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 12914
- 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