Fatwa ID: 02118

Answered by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Question:

Are we allowed to take money from non-Muslims for the building of a new masjid
Likewise, can we sell the old building of our masjid to generate funds for building our new masjid. We bought an old petrol station and took it as a masjid. Then we bought a house next to it and joined it to the masjid. My question is, can we sell it to generate funds to make a new masjid building as the current one is too small?

Answer:

It will be permissible to take donations from non-Muslims for the building of a Masjid as long as there is no detrimental effect on the Masjid or on the people who are running the Masjid. (Fatawa Mahmoodiyah p.356 v.17)

Secondly, it is not permissible to sell a Masjid. After a building becomes a Sharee Masjid (The definition of a Sharee Masjid can be found on the Darul Ifta Birmingham website) it remains a Masjid forever and one would not be allowed to sell it or even transfer it to another building. However, if the building was intended as a Musallah, one would be allowed to sell it afterwards. (Fatawa Mahmoodiyah p.226 v.15 & Ahsanul Fatawa p.451 v.6)

Only Allah Knows Best

Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham