I live in Mississauga Canada near by to Isna Mosque not more than three Kms from my Appartment building.Where I live in an appartment some peoples open a Mussallah and perform five prayers but not Juma.
My Question is that If Mosque is available near to our homes as i mention above did we really need to open Mussallah in an residential building whatever you are paying a monthly rent. Before open Mussallah all these peoples use to go to Isna Mosque for performing prayers but now most of them avoid Isna Mosque and perform prayer at Mussallah. In the light of above mention situation tomorrow most probably we can say for our convenience we can perform prayer at our home with four or five peoples together from the same floor of the building and make jamat instead of Mussallah. Second thing is that Canada is a multicultural country people from different relegions living together here and tomorrow those people's can say we want to open our church,mandir,gurdwara etc in a building as well.In this situation you can understand the tense atmosphere may be created because of this issue. I never see in my life to see any religious place in an appartment buildings from any religion except Muslims. Now you can say we perform five prayers in a day so we need mussallah.,But if a very great Mosque just located very near to you less than three Kms than still you need a Mussallah? Mashallh in Toronto so many great Mosques are around in GTA Toronto area .If we open Mussallah's in every building so what the use left for Masjid only to perform Juma and celebrate Eid Milan parties that's it. I am not against Mussallah but if really need it and no any Mosque available near by.
In the name of Allah, the most Beneficent, the most Merciful.
Answer
There are many virtues and rewards in building a mosque.
The Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam has said that a person who builds a mosque for the sake of Allah, Allah (SWA) will in return build a house for him in Paradise. (Sahih Bukhari)
In another hadith the Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam has said, “Whoever shares in building a mosque for Allah, even if it is small as a birds nest, Allah (SWA) will build for him a house in Paradise.” (Sunan Ibn Majah p.53 v.1)
Before we answer your question we need to establish the definition of a musallah and a masjid. Musallah literally means a place, where prayer is performed or where congregation are held. Generally, a Musallah is a temporary place where worshippers congregate to perform their prayers. A Masjid on the other hand is a sancitified area. A place which has been permanently dedicated to Allah for the sake of prayer, recitation of the Holy Quran and his remembrance. Once a Masjid is erected, it will always be a masjid. It cannot return to the property of the community. (Raddul Muhtar p.371 v.3 & Tahtawi p.172 v.4)
A Musallah does not have the same rulings and injunctions of a Masid. Therefore, the impermissibility of buying and selling and talking in a mosque would not apply in a musallah. However, if a group or people get together and pray salah in congregation they will receive 27 times more reward as promised in various ahadith of the Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam . (Aapke Masaail p.108 v.3)
With regards to your question, it is permissible to open a place for group prayer as it gives access to more people without any due hardship to attend prayers. In countries such as Canada where during the winter there are large amounts of snow it may be difficult for a person to go to the local mosque and perform his salah with congregation. If there is a Musallah near by it will encourage many people to read salah with the congregation.
Only Allah Knows Best
Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
