Ruling On Non-Muslims Entering Mosques (Masajid)
Ruling On Non-Muslims Entering Mosques (Masajid)
Is it permissible to allow Christians, Jews or other Non-Muslims to enter mosques (Masajid) to visit them? Some Muslim countries organize such visits for some of the people who visit them.
Praise be to Allah.
There is nothing wrong with non-Muslims entering the mosque (Masjid) if it is for a legitimate shar’i purpose or for a permissible reason, such as listening to lessons or drinking water, etc. because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) let some of the non-Muslim delegations stay in his mosque (Masjid), so that they could see the people praying and listen to his recitation of Quran and his sermons, and so that they could call them to Allah from close at hand. And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) tied up Thumamah ibn Athal al-Hanafi in the mosque (Masjid) when he was brought to him as a prisoner of war, and Allah guided him and he became a Muslim. And Allah is the Source of strength.
From Majmoo’ Fatawa wa Maqalaat Mutanawwi’ah li Samahat as-Shaykh al-Allamah ‘Abdul-Aziz ibn Abdullah ibn Baz (may Allah have mercy on him), vol. 8, p.356
But with regard to groups of tourists entering mosques just to look around, accompanied by woman who are improperly dressed and carrying cameras, who enter mosques without respect, this is a great wrong which should not be allowed. And Allaah is the One Whose help we seek.
Islam Q&A
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid
Is it permissible to allow Christians, Jews or other Non-Muslims to enter mosques (Masajid) to visit them? Some Muslim countries organize such visits for some of the people who visit them.
Praise be to Allah.
There is nothing wrong with non-Muslims entering the mosque (Masjid) if it is for a legitimate shar’i purpose or for a permissible reason, such as listening to lessons or drinking water, etc. because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) let some of the non-Muslim delegations stay in his mosque (Masjid), so that they could see the people praying and listen to his recitation of Quran and his sermons, and so that they could call them to Allah from close at hand. And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) tied up Thumamah ibn Athal al-Hanafi in the mosque (Masjid) when he was brought to him as a prisoner of war, and Allah guided him and he became a Muslim. And Allah is the Source of strength.
From Majmoo’ Fatawa wa Maqalaat Mutanawwi’ah li Samahat as-Shaykh al-Allamah ‘Abdul-Aziz ibn Abdullah ibn Baz (may Allah have mercy on him), vol. 8, p.356
But with regard to groups of tourists entering mosques just to look around, accompanied by woman who are improperly dressed and carrying cameras, who enter mosques without respect, this is a great wrong which should not be allowed. And Allaah is the One Whose help we seek.
Islam Q&A
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid
