Establishing Restrooms for the Mosque
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Fatwa No. ( 20600 )
Q: I am the imam of one of the mosques in Buraydah , which is crowded with worshippers due to its location on a main street, with markets nearby. When this mosque was built thirty years ago, before the urban development,
It was suitable for the residents of the neighborhood, and it had three restrooms for ablution in the southeastern corner of the mosque. However, due to the urban development that has occurred over time, the mosque has become too small for its users, and the three restrooms are no longer sufficient for the visitors of this mosque. This has led some worshippers to be forced to go to one of the neighboring mosques, fearing that the time for prayer would pass while they had not performed ablution. Likewise, the shortage of restrooms has caused some worshippers to miss some or all of the units of prayer, as well as the opening takbir. This situation has also led passersby on this road to not stop to pray in this mosque, knowing about the scarcity, age, and poor condition of the restrooms. All these matters, among others, have caused discomfort for the residents of the neighborhood and others, including shop owners who cannot find a suitable place for ablution, and has led to a lack of increase in the number of worshippers in this mosque. The question is: Is it permissible for me, in my capacity as the imam of the mosque, to add restrooms to this mosque on its eastern side? It is known that the eastern side is an open area that is currently not utilized, because the prayer is held in the indoor hall and the congregation does not wish to pray outside, whether in summer or winter. And that restrooms would be placed in a part of it measuring (4x15m) on its eastern side in a way that does not lead
to a narrowing of the eastern side (the open area), which would be beneficial for the mosque and for the endower. It is known that the cost of building these restrooms will be borne by one of the benefactors, who has undertaken to build them in a suitable and good manner. The matter was referred to the Honorable Head of the Buraidah Courts by letter number (1525M1) on 24/4/1419 AH to form a committee to inspect the aforementioned mosque and write a detailed report on the justifications for allocating restrooms from the mosque land. The response came by letter number (2545/1) dated 21/6/1419 AH, attached with the report of the committee formed to look into the aforementioned mosque. This is its text: "Referring to your explanation number (2491/1) dated 27/4/1419 AH, regarding the letter of His Eminence the Grand Mufti of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia number (1525/1) dated 24/4/1419 AH, which contained the inquiry of the citizen: (A. S. M.), imam of Al-Usabah Mosque in Buraidah , and His Eminence's request to assign the inspection committee with two experts of experience and integrity, along with a representative from the Endowments, to inspect the aforementioned mosque and write a report on what they see in that... etc. Based on this, the inspection committee went out with the court engineer, a representative from the Endowments, and two people of expertise, namely Abdul Aziz ibn Abdul Rahman al-Khudair , and Ibrahim ibn Abdul Aziz al-Khudair , and they inspected the aforementioned mosque
and it became clear that the mosque is indeed in need of restrooms. Since the area of the open space on the eastern side is large, approximately (16 x 16 meters), everyone agreed that placing restrooms on the eastern side of the open space, limited by the Industry Street, and such that their number is ten restrooms with external dimensions of (4.30 x 11.65 meters), and according to the dimensions and drawing attached, is beneficial for the mosque and beneficial for the endower.
After the committee's study of the inquiry, they issued a ruling on the permissibility of allocating restrooms from the eastern side of Al-Usabah Mosque in Buraidah , based on the availability of justifications for the allocation. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and companions.
Q: I am the imam of one of the mosques in Buraydah , which is crowded with worshippers due to its location on a main street, with markets nearby. When this mosque was built thirty years ago, before the urban development,
It was suitable for the residents of the neighborhood, and it had three restrooms for ablution in the southeastern corner of the mosque. However, due to the urban development that has occurred over time, the mosque has become too small for its users, and the three restrooms are no longer sufficient for the visitors of this mosque. This has led some worshippers to be forced to go to one of the neighboring mosques, fearing that the time for prayer would pass while they had not performed ablution. Likewise, the shortage of restrooms has caused some worshippers to miss some or all of the units of prayer, as well as the opening takbir. This situation has also led passersby on this road to not stop to pray in this mosque, knowing about the scarcity, age, and poor condition of the restrooms. All these matters, among others, have caused discomfort for the residents of the neighborhood and others, including shop owners who cannot find a suitable place for ablution, and has led to a lack of increase in the number of worshippers in this mosque. The question is: Is it permissible for me, in my capacity as the imam of the mosque, to add restrooms to this mosque on its eastern side? It is known that the eastern side is an open area that is currently not utilized, because the prayer is held in the indoor hall and the congregation does not wish to pray outside, whether in summer or winter. And that restrooms would be placed in a part of it measuring (4x15m) on its eastern side in a way that does not lead
to a narrowing of the eastern side (the open area), which would be beneficial for the mosque and for the endower. It is known that the cost of building these restrooms will be borne by one of the benefactors, who has undertaken to build them in a suitable and good manner. The matter was referred to the Honorable Head of the Buraidah Courts by letter number (1525M1) on 24/4/1419 AH to form a committee to inspect the aforementioned mosque and write a detailed report on the justifications for allocating restrooms from the mosque land. The response came by letter number (2545/1) dated 21/6/1419 AH, attached with the report of the committee formed to look into the aforementioned mosque. This is its text: "Referring to your explanation number (2491/1) dated 27/4/1419 AH, regarding the letter of His Eminence the Grand Mufti of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia number (1525/1) dated 24/4/1419 AH, which contained the inquiry of the citizen: (A. S. M.), imam of Al-Usabah Mosque in Buraidah , and His Eminence's request to assign the inspection committee with two experts of experience and integrity, along with a representative from the Endowments, to inspect the aforementioned mosque and write a report on what they see in that... etc. Based on this, the inspection committee went out with the court engineer, a representative from the Endowments, and two people of expertise, namely Abdul Aziz ibn Abdul Rahman al-Khudair , and Ibrahim ibn Abdul Aziz al-Khudair , and they inspected the aforementioned mosque
and it became clear that the mosque is indeed in need of restrooms. Since the area of the open space on the eastern side is large, approximately (16 x 16 meters), everyone agreed that placing restrooms on the eastern side of the open space, limited by the Industry Street, and such that their number is ten restrooms with external dimensions of (4.30 x 11.65 meters), and according to the dimensions and drawing attached, is beneficial for the mosque and beneficial for the endower.
After the committee's study of the inquiry, they issued a ruling on the permissibility of allocating restrooms from the eastern side of Al-Usabah Mosque in Buraidah , based on the availability of justifications for the allocation. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.