Source: “Ahkam wa Masail in the Light of the Qur’an and Hadith”, Volume 02
Assalamu ʿAlaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh
What is the Shar‘i ruling in the following matter:
A mosque has been used for Salah for a long time, but now its roof and structure have deteriorated and require reconstruction.
Would it be permissible according to Islamic law to reconstruct the existing mosque area as a Madrasah—dedicated to the teaching of the Qur’an and Hadith—and build the new mosque above it?
Is such an arrangement Islamically valid or not?
Yes, such an arrangement is Islamically permissible.
Anyone well-versed in the Qur’an and Sunnah would understand that this kind of restructuring is not objectionable in Sharī‘ah.
This is supported by the example from the era of Sayyiduna ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab (رضي الله عنه) when the old mosque became surrounded by a marketplace, and practical adaptations were made accordingly.
So, building a madrasah for heavenly knowledge (i.e., Qur’an and Hadith) beneath the mosque and constructing the mosque above it is completely legitimate and valid.
This principle is also in harmony with the following Qur’anic verses:
﴿وَمَا جَعَلَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ مِنْ حَرَجٍ﴾
“He has not placed upon you in the religion any hardship.”
﴿يُرِيدُ اللّٰهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ﴾
“Allah intends for you ease and does not intend hardship for you.”
﴿إِنْ أُرِيدُ إِلَّا الْإِصْلَاحَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُ﴾
“I only intend reform as much as I am able.”
﴿فَمَنِ اتَّقَىٰ وَأَصْلَحَ فَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ﴾
“So whoever fears Allah and reforms – there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve.”
Thus, if the intention is correct, and the purpose is religious service and reform, then constructing a madrasah underneath and a mosque above is permissible and commendable in Islam.
والله تعالى أعلم بالصواب
And Allah knows best what is correct.
❖ Question:
Assalamu ʿAlaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh
What is the Shar‘i ruling in the following matter:
A mosque has been used for Salah for a long time, but now its roof and structure have deteriorated and require reconstruction.
Would it be permissible according to Islamic law to reconstruct the existing mosque area as a Madrasah—dedicated to the teaching of the Qur’an and Hadith—and build the new mosque above it?
Is such an arrangement Islamically valid or not?
❖ Answer:
Yes, such an arrangement is Islamically permissible.
Anyone well-versed in the Qur’an and Sunnah would understand that this kind of restructuring is not objectionable in Sharī‘ah.
This is supported by the example from the era of Sayyiduna ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab (رضي الله عنه) when the old mosque became surrounded by a marketplace, and practical adaptations were made accordingly.
So, building a madrasah for heavenly knowledge (i.e., Qur’an and Hadith) beneath the mosque and constructing the mosque above it is completely legitimate and valid.
This principle is also in harmony with the following Qur’anic verses:
﴿وَمَا جَعَلَ عَلَيْكُمْ فِي الدِّينِ مِنْ حَرَجٍ﴾
“He has not placed upon you in the religion any hardship.”
﴿يُرِيدُ اللّٰهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ﴾
“Allah intends for you ease and does not intend hardship for you.”
﴿إِنْ أُرِيدُ إِلَّا الْإِصْلَاحَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُ﴾
“I only intend reform as much as I am able.”
﴿فَمَنِ اتَّقَىٰ وَأَصْلَحَ فَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ﴾
“So whoever fears Allah and reforms – there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve.”
Thus, if the intention is correct, and the purpose is religious service and reform, then constructing a madrasah underneath and a mosque above is permissible and commendable in Islam.
والله تعالى أعلم بالصواب
And Allah knows best what is correct.
