If a person builds a building containing shops and constructs a mosque beneath the building, and there are other mosques around it, is the prayer in it valid?

The questioner : If a person builds a two-story building for himself with shops on it and constructs a mosque underground, is the prayer in such a place valid, given that there are various mosques and congregational mosques next to this building? I have read in *Al-Muhalla* by Ibn Hazm (may Allah have mercy on him) that the prayer in such a mosque is not valid. Is this correct?

The Shaykh : The principle is that prayer is valid in every place except where evidence indicates its prohibition, due to the generality of the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): . This mosque, which was built with other mosques around it, resembles a mosque of harm, because the earlier mosques have a stronger right to the congregation than it does. The scholars have mentioned that if a mosque of harm is built that harms those around it, it must be demolished, and prayer in it is not permissible, based on the saying of Allah the Exalted: . By His saying: , He means what He mentioned before this verse: . Accordingly, it is obligatory for anyone who wants to build a mosque to contact the authorities responsible for the city to ask if he can establish this mosque or not. This is because the government, may Allah guide it, has appointed responsible parties for every aspect of life to whom one should refer. It is not appropriate for a person to act independently in such matters. Rather, if the one in authority has prohibited establishing anything without consulting him, it is obligatory for the person to consult the rulers before causing what happens.

The questioner : May Allah reward you.