Source: “Ahkam wa Masail in the Light of the Qur’an and Hadith”, Volume 02
Referenced from: Muhaddith Dehlavi, Volume 10, Issue 1
Answered by: Mawlānā ʿUbaydullah Raḥmānī, Shaykh al-Ḥadīth & Mufti, Madrasah
As-Salāmu ʿAlaikum wa Rahmatullāhi wa Barakātuh
In our locality, people from two neighborhoods, all of whom are Ahl-e-Hadith, used to perform Jumu‘ah and the five daily prayers in a single mosque.
However, due to the distance from that mosque, the residents of one neighborhood, which previously had no mosque, were becoming negligent in attending congregational prayers.
After mutual consultation, it was decided to build a mosque in that neighborhood so that the residents could more easily offer prayers in congregation. The new mosque was constructed and has now been in use for ten years.
Due to some differences in religious and worldly matters, Jumu‘ah prayers were also started in the new mosque one year ago.
During Ramadan this year, someone from the new mosque invited people from both neighborhoods to a communal gathering, but a certain scholar issued a fatwa stating that:
① It is impermissible to accept this invitation, and
② It is not permissible to pray in the new mosque because they started a separate Jumu‘ah.
Is this fatwa correct?
The fatwa issued by the aforementioned scholar is incorrect.
It is absolutely permissible to offer prayers in the new mosque, because this mosque does not fall under the ruling of “Masjid Dhirār” (a mosque built to cause harm and division).
During the lifetime of the Prophet ﷺ, the Masjid Dhirār was constructed by hypocrites in Qubā’ not for the sake of worship or nearness to Allah, but rather to undermine the unity of Muslims, and to aid those hostile to Islam. The Qur’an condemned this act.
In contrast, the intention behind constructing this new mosque was to gain nearness to Allah, and to make it easy for residents to perform their obligatory prayers in congregation. The builders of this mosque hoped for reward from Allah. Therefore, applying the label of Masjid Dhirār here is a completely invalid and flawed analogy (qiyās ma‘ al-fāriq).
Hence, issuing a fatwa declaring prayer in this mosque to be impermissible is absolutely incorrect.
While the construction and use of the mosque is valid, the initiation of a separate Jumu‘ah prayer in the same locality due solely to differences in worldly matters or minor religious disagreements, particularly where such differences are not endorsed by Sharī‘ah, is discouraged and blameworthy.
Doing so creates division among believers (tafrīq bayn al-mu’minīn), which is strongly condemned in Islam.
Therefore, although prayer in the mosque remains valid and rewardable, the Jumu‘ah should ideally not be separated unless there is a legitimate Shar‘i reason (such as space constraints or fitnah).
As for the invitation extended by members of the new mosque, there is no prohibition in accepting it. However, if the separation of Jumu‘ah was done without a legitimate reason, then not accepting the invitation as a form of discouragement may be justified. In such a case, declining the invitation is not sinful, and may be preferable to preserve communal harmony and discourage division.
والله تعالى أعلم بالصواب
And Allah, the Exalted, knows best what is correct.
Referenced from: Muhaddith Dehlavi, Volume 10, Issue 1Answered by: Mawlānā ʿUbaydullah Raḥmānī, Shaykh al-Ḥadīth & Mufti, Madrasah
❖ Question:
As-Salāmu ʿAlaikum wa Rahmatullāhi wa Barakātuh
In our locality, people from two neighborhoods, all of whom are Ahl-e-Hadith, used to perform Jumu‘ah and the five daily prayers in a single mosque.
However, due to the distance from that mosque, the residents of one neighborhood, which previously had no mosque, were becoming negligent in attending congregational prayers.
After mutual consultation, it was decided to build a mosque in that neighborhood so that the residents could more easily offer prayers in congregation. The new mosque was constructed and has now been in use for ten years.
Due to some differences in religious and worldly matters, Jumu‘ah prayers were also started in the new mosque one year ago.
During Ramadan this year, someone from the new mosque invited people from both neighborhoods to a communal gathering, but a certain scholar issued a fatwa stating that:
① It is impermissible to accept this invitation, and
② It is not permissible to pray in the new mosque because they started a separate Jumu‘ah.
Is this fatwa correct?
❖ Answer:
The fatwa issued by the aforementioned scholar is incorrect.
It is absolutely permissible to offer prayers in the new mosque, because this mosque does not fall under the ruling of “Masjid Dhirār” (a mosque built to cause harm and division).
During the lifetime of the Prophet ﷺ, the Masjid Dhirār was constructed by hypocrites in Qubā’ not for the sake of worship or nearness to Allah, but rather to undermine the unity of Muslims, and to aid those hostile to Islam. The Qur’an condemned this act.
In contrast, the intention behind constructing this new mosque was to gain nearness to Allah, and to make it easy for residents to perform their obligatory prayers in congregation. The builders of this mosque hoped for reward from Allah. Therefore, applying the label of Masjid Dhirār here is a completely invalid and flawed analogy (qiyās ma‘ al-fāriq).
Hence, issuing a fatwa declaring prayer in this mosque to be impermissible is absolutely incorrect.
❖ On the Issue of Holding Separate Jumu‘ah:
While the construction and use of the mosque is valid, the initiation of a separate Jumu‘ah prayer in the same locality due solely to differences in worldly matters or minor religious disagreements, particularly where such differences are not endorsed by Sharī‘ah, is discouraged and blameworthy.
Doing so creates division among believers (tafrīq bayn al-mu’minīn), which is strongly condemned in Islam.
Therefore, although prayer in the mosque remains valid and rewardable, the Jumu‘ah should ideally not be separated unless there is a legitimate Shar‘i reason (such as space constraints or fitnah).
As for the invitation extended by members of the new mosque, there is no prohibition in accepting it. However, if the separation of Jumu‘ah was done without a legitimate reason, then not accepting the invitation as a form of discouragement may be justified. In such a case, declining the invitation is not sinful, and may be preferable to preserve communal harmony and discourage division.
والله تعالى أعلم بالصواب
And Allah, the Exalted, knows best what is correct.
