Ruling on Abandoning the Imamate in a Deserted Mosque

Question:
I was appointed as the mu'adhdhin (caller to prayer) for a mosque in one of the remote villages. After a period of time, the residents moved away from the area around the mosque, and I remained alone praying in this mosque. I was then compelled to establish a new mosque in another location near the residents, and I established the five daily prayers there. Is it permissible for me in this situation to abandon the old mosque? And is it permissible to take the stipend for it, given that the Endowments Authority has prevented me from doing so and ordered me to pray in the deserted mosque?

Answer:
No, a deserted mosque is one in which no prayer is held. Prayer is held in the new mosque, as long as the residents have moved away and no one remains there to pray with in the new mosque. He prays in the new mosque and leads them in prayer there. The old mosque is sold to whoever wants it for other needs, and its price is spent on another mosque that Muslims need. It is sold to whoever wants it as a residence, and its value is spent on other mosques that people need to build in the new residential areas. The Ministry of Endowments should do this. As for ordering him to remain in a mosque where there is no one, that is a mistake. This is a mistake by the Endowments Authority, if what he said is true.