Non-Muslims Entering Mosques
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Fatwa No. ( 16005 )
Q: I am the director of the Muslim Association of British Columbia, engaged in da'wah (calling) to non-Muslims, and I have been working in this field for three years. Sometimes non-Muslim delegations come to the Grand Mosque, and I take them on a tour of the mosque, then I deliver a lecture to them about the teachings of Islam. These lectures are held in the mosque, where the non-Muslims sit on the carpets with their consent. Some of my Muslim brothers have criticized me, saying: It is not permissible for me to allow non-Muslims to enter the mosque, or to allow them to sit in the mosque, for reasons they have: First: that non-Muslims are ritually impure. Second: that non-Muslim women do not cover themselves appropriately. I know that you are a very busy man, but I hope you will find an opportunity to answer my question, and your answer is of great importance to me.
A: The original ruling is that it is permissible for non-Muslims to enter mosques other than the Sacred Mosque, especially if there is a Sharia benefit in their entry, such as: their hearing religious lectures, and their seeing the unity, brotherhood, and mutual compassion of Muslims among themselves, and the like. And Abu Sufyan (may Allah be pleased with him) visited the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in the mosque before he embraced Islam, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) detained Thumamah ibn Uthal in the mosque, and he housed the delegation of Thaqif in the mosque when they came to him before they embraced Islam, and likewise the delegation of Najran from the Christians .
And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and his Companions.
Q: I am the director of the Muslim Association of British Columbia, engaged in da'wah (calling) to non-Muslims, and I have been working in this field for three years. Sometimes non-Muslim delegations come to the Grand Mosque, and I take them on a tour of the mosque, then I deliver a lecture to them about the teachings of Islam. These lectures are held in the mosque, where the non-Muslims sit on the carpets with their consent. Some of my Muslim brothers have criticized me, saying: It is not permissible for me to allow non-Muslims to enter the mosque, or to allow them to sit in the mosque, for reasons they have: First: that non-Muslims are ritually impure. Second: that non-Muslim women do not cover themselves appropriately. I know that you are a very busy man, but I hope you will find an opportunity to answer my question, and your answer is of great importance to me.
A: The original ruling is that it is permissible for non-Muslims to enter mosques other than the Sacred Mosque, especially if there is a Sharia benefit in their entry, such as: their hearing religious lectures, and their seeing the unity, brotherhood, and mutual compassion of Muslims among themselves, and the like. And Abu Sufyan (may Allah be pleased with him) visited the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in the mosque before he embraced Islam, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) detained Thumamah ibn Uthal in the mosque, and he housed the delegation of Thaqif in the mosque when they came to him before they embraced Islam, and likewise the delegation of Najran from the Christians .
And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.