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﴿ فَاسْأَلُوا أَهْلَ الذِّكْرِ إِن كُنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ ﴾

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Ruling on a disbeliever entering the mosque

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It also says: Is it permissible for non-Muslims, namely polytheists and communists, to enter mosques? Some say it is permissible for them to enter mosques. We ask for guidance, perhaps Allah will guide them. And some say it is not permissible for them?
Answer: As for al-Masjid al-Haram, it is not permissible for all disbelievers to enter al-Masjid al-Haram, including the Jews, the Christians, the worshippers of idols, and the communists. It is not permissible for any disbeliever to enter al-Masjid al-Haram; because Allah the Exalted says:
O you who have believed, indeed the polytheists are unclean, so let them not approach al-Masjid al-Haram after this, their [final] yearيَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنَّمَا الْمُشْرِكُونَ نَجَسٌ فَلا يَقْرَبُوا الْمَسْجِدَ الْحَرَامَ بَعْدَ عَامِهِمْ هَذَا
[Surah al-Tawbah: 28], the verse. Thus, He the Exalted prohibited their entry into al-Masjid al-Haram. And "polytheists" includes the Jews and the Christians when used in a general sense. Therefore, it is not permissible for any polytheist to enter al-Masjid al-Haram, neither a Jew nor a Christian nor anyone else. Rather, this is exclusive to Muslims. As for the other mosques, there is no harm in entering a mosque for a need or benefit. This includes al-Madinah, and although al-Madinah has a special status, in this specific issue it is like the other mosques; because the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) tied Thumamah ibn Uthal, who was a disbeliever, in the Prophet’s (peace and blessings be upon him) mosque. And he accepted the delegation of Thaqif when they entered the mosque before they embraced Islam. Likewise, the delegation of Christians entered his mosque (peace and blessings be upon him). This indicates that it is permissible for a polytheist to enter al-Masjid al-Nabawi. And so it is with the other mosques, if there is a need, whether to ask a question, for another need, to listen to a lesson from which one benefits, or to embrace Islam to declare his faith, or something similar.
So the conclusion is that it is permissible to enter if there is a benefit. But if there is no benefit, there is no need to enter the mosque. Or, if there is a fear that his entry will lead to mischief in the mosque, or corruption in the mosque, or ritual impurity, then he is prevented. Yes.
Source binbaz.org.sa

The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.

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