Can Mosques Be Demolished?

Author: Al-Sheikh Mubashir Ahmad Rabbani (Hafizahullah)

Question:

Can a mosque be relocated to another place due to certain considerations or urgent needs? Please clarify this issue with evidence from the Quran and Sunnah.

Answer:
Once something is endowed as a waqf (endowment), it is not permissible to gift, sell, or use it for personal needs. As mentioned in a hadith from Sahih Bukhari:

فَتَصَدَّقَ عُمَرُ اَنَّهُ لَا يُبَاعُ اَصْلُهَا وَلَا يُوْرَثُ وَلَا يُوْهَبُ

[Bukhari, Book of Wills: Chapter on How to Write a Waqf 2772]

Translation:
“Sayyiduna Umar (رضی اللہ عنہ) endowed the land of Khaybar (with the condition) that it cannot be sold, inherited, or given as a gift.”

This hadith establishes that the original endowment cannot be sold, no one can inherit it, and it cannot be gifted. Similarly, a mosque is also endowed for Allah's sake, as mentioned in the Quran:

وَأَنَّ الْمَسَاجِدَ لِلهِ فَلَا تَدْعُوْا مَعَ اللهِ أَحَدًا

[Al-Jinn: 18]

Translation:
“And the mosques belong to Allah, so do not invoke anyone alongside Allah.”

Moreover, the Prophet Muhammad (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) commanded the construction of mosques. Hazrat Aisha (رضی اللہ عنہا) narrates:

اَمَرَ رَسُوْلُ اللهِ صَلَّي اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِبِنَاءِ الْمَسَاجِدِ فِي الدُّوْرِ وَاَنْ تُنَظَّفَ وَتُطَيَّبَ

[Abu Dawood, Book of Prayer: Chapter on Building Mosques in Localities 455]

Translation:
“The Messenger of Allah (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) ordered the construction of mosques in neighborhoods and that they be kept clean and fragrant.”

Demolishing a mosque goes against the command of the Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم). Therefore, it is not permissible to demolish a mosque without reason, nor is it allowed for anyone to take control of it for personal use or to sell it. However, if a mosque is in a location where people cannot benefit from it, or it is obstructing a pathway causing inconvenience to Muslims, or there is another compelling reason, then it is permissible to dismantle a mosque in one place and rebuild it in another. Evidence for this can be found in the incident when the Muslim treasury (Bayt al-Mal) in Kufa was broken into and robbed. The thief was caught, and at that time, Hazrat Abdullah bin Masud (رضی اللہ عنہ) was in charge of the treasury. He wrote to the Leader of the Faithful, Hazrat Umar bin Khattab (رضی اللہ عنہ), who responded:

أَنِ انْقُلِ الْمَسْجِدَ وَصَيِّرْ بَيْتَ الْمَالِ فِيْ قِبْلَتِهِ

Translation:

“Relocate the mosque such that the Bayt al-Mal is in its Qibla (front side).”

Since there is usually someone praying in the mosque, this would help secure the Bayt al-Mal. Thus, Hazrat Saad bin Malik (رضی اللہ عنہ) dismantled the mosque from its original location, rebuilt it in the date market, and moved the market to the previous location of the mosque, placing the Bayt al-Mal in the front of the mosque. [Fatawa Ibn Taymiyyah]

This event took place in the presence of many companions (Sahabah) (رضی اللہ عنہم), and none of them objected. Had this action been impermissible, the companions would have definitely opposed it.

Another evidence cited by scholars is a hadith from Sahihain (Bukhari and Muslim). The Prophet Muhammad (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) said to Hazrat Aisha (رضی اللہ عنہا):

لَوْ لَا اَنَّ قَوْمَكِ حَدِيْثُ عَهْدٍ بِجَاهِلِيَّةٍ لَأَمَرْتُ بِالْبَيْتِ فَهُدِمَ فَأَدْخَلْتُ فِيْهِ مَا أُخْرِجَ مِنْهُ وَاَلْزَقْتُهُ بِالأَرْضِ وَجَعَلْتُ لَهُ بَابَيْنِ

[Bukhari, Book of Hajj: Chapter on the Virtue of Makkah and Its Construction 1586; Muslim, Book of Hajj: Chapter on Demolishing and Reconstructing the Kaaba 1333]

Translation:
“If your people were not recently new to Islam, I would have ordered the demolition of the Kaaba and included in it what was left out, lowering it to the ground level and making two doors for it (one for entering and one for exiting).”

This hadith indicates that it is permissible to alter an endowed building. Otherwise, the Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) would not have expressed this desire. Moving a mosque from one location to another is a form of alteration, so it is permissible. However, this should only be done when there is a necessity, and there is no fear of causing discord, just as the Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) refrained from rebuilding the Kaaba due to the concern of causing discord among the people.

A third evidence is that anything vowed (nazar) also becomes a waqf. Its alteration is also proven by the sayings of the Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم). For example, if a person vows to make his house into a mosque, but later builds a better mosque elsewhere, this is permissible. The evidence for this comes from an authentic hadith:

Hazrat Jabir (رضی اللہ عنہ) narrates that during the conquest of Makkah, a man stood up and said: “O Messenger of Allah! I vowed that if Allah granted us victory over Makkah, I would go and pray in Bayt al-Maqdis.” The Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) replied:

صَلِّ هٰهُنَا

Translation:

“Pray here (in Masjid al-Nabawi).”

The man repeated his request, and the Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) gave the same reply. When the man insisted a third time, the Prophet (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) said:

فَشَأْنُكَ اِذًا

Translation:

“Then do as you wish.”

And in another narration, these words are added:

وَالْذِيْ بَعَثَ مُحَمَّدًا بِالْحَقِّ لَوْ صَلَّيْتَ هٰهُنَا لَاَجْزَأَ عَنْكَ صَلَاةً فِيْ بَيْتِ الْمُقَدَّسِ

[Abu Dawood, Book of Vows: Chapter on Vowing to Pray in Bayt al-Maqdis 3305, 3306]

Translation:
“By Him who sent Muhammad (صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم) with the truth, if you pray here, it would suffice in place of your prayer in Bayt al-Maqdis.”
 
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