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Musjid Open Days
Q: Is it permissible to have a musjid open day where non-Muslims are invited to the musjid with the intention of dawah and presenting Islam to them? In today’s times, we find that this practice is becoming common in various places. Is this practice in conformance with the sunnah?
Answer:
At the onset, it is important for one to understand that Islam is a complete, perfect and comprehensive religion. Islam has provided complete and perfect guidance to man in every department of his worldly and deeni life and showed him the way to fulfil the rights he owes to Allah Ta‘ala and the creation in every situation. Rasulullah’s (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) Mubaarak life is the best example for the ummah to follow and to take guidance.
In order for one to remain on the path of guidance, it is incumbent upon him to ensure that his actions conform to the Mubaarak Sunnah of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and the way of his Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum). Hence, the sunnah of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) is the criteria for acceptance in the sight of Allah Ta‘ala.
Many a time, an action is not found in the sunnah, yet it is not impermissible. However, due to it not conforming to the sunnah, it will not receive the guarantee of guidance and goodness from Allah Ta‘ala. In many cases, though at the beginning a certain action seemed to be beneficial, but after a period of time, the harms, problems and complications became manifest.
It cannot be denied that during the time of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), certain kuffaar entered the musjid. However, these were few incidents which cannot be used as a basis to prove the new trend of allowing musjid open days for the following reasons:
1) Despite Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) regularly extending the dawat of Islam to the non-Muslims, he never adopted this practice of inviting the kuffaar to the musjid and having a program or musjid open day program.
2) Towards the end of the blessed life of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), the following verses of the Qur’aan Majeed were revealed,
يأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنَّمَا الْمُشْرِكُونَ نَجَسٌ فَلَا يَقْرَبُوا الْمَسْجِدَ الْحَرَامَ بَعْدَ عَامِهِمْ هٰذَا
O you who believe, indeed the polytheists are unclean, so let them not come close to al-Masjid al-Haraam after this year. (Surah Towbah v. 28)
From this aayah, some of the great Imaams, the likes of Imaam Maalik (rahimahullah), are of the opinion that it is not permissible to allow the kuffaar to enter any musjid.
Sayyiduna Umar bin Abdul Aziz (rahimahullah) wrote (to his governors), “Do not allow the Jews and Christians to enter all the Musjids of the Muslims.” He then quoted the Aayat, “Indeed the Mushriks are impure”’. (Tafseer Tabari 14/192)
3) According to all the Imaams of fiqh (i.e. Imaam Abu Hanifah, Imaam Maalik, Imaam Shaafi’ee and Imaam Ahmad bin Hambal (rahimahumullah)), the kuffaar should not be allowed to enter the musjid if they have any impurity on them or they are in an impure state. Overall, all the imaams will discourage the kuffaar entering the musjid for the following reasons:
1) This trend is alien to Islam and it has its roots in the Kaafir culture. Hence, through Muslims adopting these new trends, they will be emulating the kuffaar.
2) One will not be able to control the dressing of the kuffaar and their behaviour. It should not happen that they begin to take photos and videos of themselves or others in the musjid, or they enter the musjid while part of the women’s body and hair are open, or men enter with short pants while part of their satr area (knees) are exposed.
3) Women are discouraged from coming to the musjid. In the time of the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum), women were stopped from coming to the musjid due to the fear of fitnah. By allowing these kuffaar women to enter the musjid, we will be opposing the way of Islam.
4) Women who are in the state of haidh cannot enter the musjid. It is possible that some of the women who enter may be in the state of haidh. Hence, if open permission is granted, then Muslims will be allowing the non-Muslim women to enter the musjid in the state of haidh.
Likewise, people in the state of janaabat (requiring fardh ghusl) should not enter the musjid. By allowing the disbelievers to enter the musjid, we will be allowing people in the state of janaabat to come into the musjid, leading to the sanctity and respect of the musjid being violated.
5) Islam commands segregation between the sexes, and the kuffaar will not uphold these values of the Muslims and respect the sanctity of the musjid. Hence, through allowing the kuffaar males and females to enter, a great amount of sin will be taking place in the musjid.
Overall, opening this new door will be satisfying the kuffaar, following their culture and opening our masaajid to them. This will have a negative impact on our deen and the kuffaar will thereafter expect the Muslims to reciprocate by gracing their occasions and attending their church and synagogue open days. The fear is that the kuffaar may then begin to have a hand in our places of worship, stop the azaan when they want, decide when our musjid must open and close, decide how we must perform our salaah, with masks and distancing, and a whole host of other vices that will impact on our deen.
And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
Answered by:
Mufti Zakaria Makada
Checked & Approved:
Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)
