The Ruling on Praying in Churches and the Like

Question:
May Allah reward you, Honorable Shaykh. This questioner says: What is the ruling on praying in churches and the like?

Answer:
If the churches are pure and contain no images or idols, and the time for prayer arrives, then pray in them; there is no deficiency in doing so. The Christians also pray in mosques, just as they prayed in the mosque of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) in his presence, and in Najran. When the Christians from Najran came to negotiate with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) while he was in the mosque, and the time for their prayer arrived, they prayed, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) left them to pray. Prayer is not invalidated by this, provided that the place is pure and contains no crosses or manifestations of shirk (associating partners with Allah). Yes. His saying (peace and blessings be upon him): “The earth has been made for me a place of prostration and a source of purity.” Yes.