❖ Ruling on Naming a Mosque After an Individual
Derived from: “Ahkam wa Masail in the Light of Qur’an and Hadith”, Volume 02❖ Question
A person named Jamal constructed a mosque and named it after himself, such as Masjid Jamalia. Zaid objects, claiming that prayer in such a mosque is invalid because a mosque should be built purely for reward (thawāb), not for showing off. Is Zaid’s objection correct?❖ Answer
In Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, there is a chapter titled:باب مَا يُقَالُ مَسْجِدُ بَنِي فُلَانٍ
“Chapter: Referring to a mosque as the mosque of such-and-such people”
This indicates the permissibility of naming a mosque after a person or group, such as saying “the mosque of Banu Fulān”. Hence, naming a mosque after the builder or a benefactor is not impermissible in itself.
✿ Concerning the Issue of Showing Off (Riyā’):
Riyā’ (ostentation or showing off) is a separate matter altogether.It is blameworthy in every circumstance, whether a mosque is:
- Built with a name attached or not
- Known or unknown to the public
- Publicized or kept hidden
If the intention behind the construction is sincere, then naming it Masjid Jamalia or similar does not invalidate the mosque or the prayers therein.
The issue is not the name, but the intention behind the action. As long as the mosque is built sincerely for the sake of Allah, and the name is used merely for identification, there is no prohibition in naming it after an individual.
(Referenced from: Fatāwā Thanā’iyyah, Volume 1, Page 266)