Source: Ahkam wa Masā’il – The Chapter of Mosques, Vol. 1, p. 106
A few individuals jointly built a mosque and, through mutual consultation, appointed an imam who was a relative of some of them. Later, certain people objected to the imam’s character. However, some influential individuals prevented 16 of those objectors from praying in the mosque.
Eventually, these same influential people removed the imam from his position and expelled him from the village. The 16 objectors then attempted reconciliation before Ramadan, requesting permission to pray again in the mosque since the imam was no longer present. Yet, the influential group still barred them from entering the mosque.
Out of necessity, the 16 individuals built a new mosque.
Now the questions are:
✿ Is prayer valid in the first mosque?
✿ Is prayer permissible in the newly built mosque?
✿ Is the establishment of the new mosque justified?
Alhamdulillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh. Ammā baʿd!
✿ Prayer in the first mosque is valid.
✿ Prayer in the newly built mosque is also valid.
✿ Contributing to the construction and development of both mosques is a source of reward.
However, it is better for those 16 individuals to reconcile with the members of the first mosque so that:
❀ Both groups may freely pray in both mosques.
❀ No one prevents another Muslim from praying in any mosque.
Allah Almighty commands clearly:
﴿وَإِن طَآئِفَتَانِ مِنَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ ٱقۡتَتَلُواْ فَأَصۡلِحُواْ بَيۡنَهُمَاۖ﴾
(al-Ḥujurāt: 9)
“And if two groups of believers fight against each other, then make reconciliation between them.”
Both the first mosque and the newly built mosque are valid places of worship, but reconciliation and unity among the Muslims of the community is far superior and closer to the command of Allah.
ھذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
❖ The Question
A few individuals jointly built a mosque and, through mutual consultation, appointed an imam who was a relative of some of them. Later, certain people objected to the imam’s character. However, some influential individuals prevented 16 of those objectors from praying in the mosque.
Eventually, these same influential people removed the imam from his position and expelled him from the village. The 16 objectors then attempted reconciliation before Ramadan, requesting permission to pray again in the mosque since the imam was no longer present. Yet, the influential group still barred them from entering the mosque.
Out of necessity, the 16 individuals built a new mosque.
Now the questions are:
✿ Is prayer valid in the first mosque?
✿ Is prayer permissible in the newly built mosque?
✿ Is the establishment of the new mosque justified?
❖ The Answer
Alhamdulillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh. Ammā baʿd!
✿ Prayer in the first mosque is valid.
✿ Prayer in the newly built mosque is also valid.
✿ Contributing to the construction and development of both mosques is a source of reward.
However, it is better for those 16 individuals to reconcile with the members of the first mosque so that:
❀ Both groups may freely pray in both mosques.
❀ No one prevents another Muslim from praying in any mosque.
Allah Almighty commands clearly:
﴿وَإِن طَآئِفَتَانِ مِنَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ ٱقۡتَتَلُواْ فَأَصۡلِحُواْ بَيۡنَهُمَاۖ﴾
(al-Ḥujurāt: 9)
“And if two groups of believers fight against each other, then make reconciliation between them.”
❖ Conclusion
Both the first mosque and the newly built mosque are valid places of worship, but reconciliation and unity among the Muslims of the community is far superior and closer to the command of Allah.
ھذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
