Ruling on Purchasing a Temple and Converting It into a Mosque
Source: Fatāwā Rashidiyyah, p. 481
❖ Question:
A non-Muslim owns a piece of land on which there is also a temple. He sells this land to a Muslim for a price. Can the Muslim demolish the temple and construct a mosque on its place?
❖ Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ‘alā Rasūlillāh, ammā ba‘d!
Once the non-Muslim sells the land, it becomes the property of the Muslim buyer. The non-Muslim has no remaining connection with the temple. Hence, the Muslim may use his property in any Shar‘i lawful manner.
◈ He may demolish the temple completely and build a mosque in its place.
◈ Or, if he prefers, he may renovate and alter the temple slightly, converting it into a mosque.
◈ In both cases, there is no Shar‘i objection.
✿ Supporting Reasoning
- If idols are present in the temple, then praying there is not permissible.
- If no idols remain, then it is like any ordinary place.
- The Qur’an and Sunnah have prohibited prayer in specific locations (such as graveyards, bathhouses, etc.), but temples are not listed among those prohibited places.
- Therefore, praying in such a place—or converting it into a mosque—is permissible.
Conclusion:It is Shar‘i permissible for a Muslim who buys land containing a temple to demolish or modify the structure and establish a mosque on it.
