Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

 

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Brother Burhan, As Sallam Alaikum Wara Mattulahe Wabaratohu.

 

I had sent this question ages ago. Can U pl provide me the right answer from the Holy Koran only.

Sallams & thanks

In the light of the crunch for land, I would like to know what the holy Quran Shariff and/or the hadiths say about the location of Masjids? Can a Masjid be located in the basement or on the top most floor of a multi use building? Considering that in most countries of the world, land is getting scarcer and scarcer. If this were the case, every high-rise building would have masjids in the buildings themselves and believers would have no excuse not to pray and the land use would be extremely efficient. If Musjids were allowed to be built in the basements, top floors or in between, the land would be used efficiently since most Musjids are used for only a fraction of the time and hence the land is not used efficiently. Land utilized solely for a Masjid in that case could be used to build a multi purpose building. I am intrigued by this question as almost everything in Islam is based on logic

 

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Answer:

 

Build mosques in high rise and basements

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person,  no grave, no prophet,  no imam,  no dai,  nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

 

Dear and beloved brother in Islam, there is absolutely no restriction or condition in the Glorious Quran and the Shariah that the Masjids have to be in low-rise or high-rise buildings…..it is upto the believers to choose where they wish to build or appoint the Masaajids.  If one feels it would be more beneficial to the believers to build a low-rise masjid in a community, it would be fine and acceptable to Allah Subhanah; and if one feels that a Masjid in a high-rise building would be more beneficial, it too would be acceptable to Allah Subhanah.

 

There is absolutely no harm if one builds a masjid in the basement or on any floor of a high rise building…just as there is absolutely no harm or restriction in building a low-rise masjid on land; whatever one believes would be more beneficial and serve the believing community.   What is of absolute paramount importance is that the ones who build the masjids, regardless of whether it is on land, on the ships in the sea, or in the planes in the air do so with piety seeking the Pleasure and Good Will of none save their Lord, Allah Subhanah, if indeed they wish to earn rewards in their life Hereafter.  

 

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 9 Surah Taubah verses 107-108:

107    And there are those who put up a mosque by way of mischief and infidelity to disunite the believers and in preparation for one who warred against Allah and His Messenger aforetime.  They will indeed swear that their intention is nothing but good; but Allah doth declare that they are certainly liars.

108    Never stand thou forth therein.  There is a mosque whose foundation was laid from the first day on piety; it is more worthy of thy standing forth (for prayer) therein.  In it are men who love to be purified; and Allah loves those who make themselves pure.

 

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone.  Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

 

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

 

 

Burhan