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Buying a church to make it into a masjid

Question: Is it permissible to buy a church and change it into a masjid, after removing the crucifixes and pictures, both hung and engraven?

Response: Yes, it is permissible to buy it and make it into a masjid, and it is obligatory to remove the crucifixes and pictures, both hung and engraven, as well as everything that would indicate that it is a church, and we do not know of anything preventing that from being don.

And with Allaah is the success, and may Allaah's Salaah and Salaam be upon our Prophet, and upon his family and Companions.

The Permanent Committee for Islaamic Research and Verdicts

Head: Shaykh 'Abdul 'Azeez ibn Abdullaah ibn Baaz;

Deputy Head: Shaykh 'Abdur-Razzaaq 'Afeefee

Member: Shaykh 'Abdullaah ibn Qu'ood

Fataawa al-Lajnah ad-Daa.imah lil-Buhooth al-'Ilmiyyah wal-Iftaa., - Volume 6, Page 267, Fatwa No.2393

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Published: 22 December 2003