Permissibility of Expanding Mosques if They Become Crowded with Prayers

Question:
May Allah reward you with good and do you well. He says: We have a mosque in our area, but it has become too small for the worshippers. The person who donated to build the mosque initially is now offering to build a mosque that can accommodate a thousand worshippers. Should we renovate the old mosque and then build a new one that can accommodate that number, or what do you advise us to do? May Allah reward you with good.

Answer:
This depends on the need. If it is possible to expand the old mosque so that it can accommodate the worshippers, that is better. If it is not possible to expand it, then a wider mosque should be built that meets the needs of the people of the neighborhood. As for the old mosque, if it is needed for prayer, prayer is performed in it. If it is no longer needed, the competent authority, which is the department responsible for mosques, or the judge in the town, should be consulted regarding its status. Yes.