QUESTION:

What do the scholars and muftis of the noble Shari’ah say regarding the following matter; can a pub be converted into a masjid? Is it permissible to pray in a masjid that was previously a pub? Please explain along with proofs. 

Questioner: Adeel from England, UK

ANSWER:

بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم
الجواب بعون الملک الوھاب اللھم ھدایۃ الحق والصواب

Yes, a pub building can be purchased and converted into a masjid. It is completely permissible to pray in a pub that has been converted into a masjid. It is now a masjid and all the rulings of a masjid will be applicable to it. Since it is permissible to offer salah in a place that is not a masjid, it is permissible in a preferred way to offer salah in a masjid.

The place where the Prophet’s Mosque exists today was previously a garden and it consisted of graves of polytheists. The Holy Prophet ﷺ removed them and turned that place into a masjid.

It is recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari:

فَقَالَ أَنَسٌ:‏‏‏‏ فَكَانَ فِيهِ مَا أَقُولُ لَكُمْ قُبُورُ الْمُشْرِكِينَ وَفِيهِ خَرِبٌ وَفِيهِ نَخْلٌ، فَأَمَرَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِقُبُورِ الْمُشْرِكِينَ فَنُبِشَتْ

Translation: Anas said: “There were graves of pagans in it and some of it was unleveled and there were some date-palm trees in it. The Prophet ﷺ ordered that the graves of the pagans be dug out.” [Sahih al-Bukhari, hadith no. 428]

If a graveyard of polytheists can be turned into a masjid, then why can’t a pub be converted into one? Thus, it is completely permissible to purchase a pub building and convert it into a masjid. It is necessary to populate it like other masjids. Therefore, Muslims must offer prayers in it and populate it.

واللہ تعالی اعلم ورسولہ اعلم صلی اللہ علیہ وآلہ وسلم
کتبہ ابو الحسن محمد قاسم ضیاء قادری

Answered by Mufti Qasim Zia al-Qadri 
Translated by the SeekersPath team

Read the original answer in Urdu here – [Q-ID0416] Can a Pub be converted into a Mosque?

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