Once the adhan and congregation began with the owner’s permission, it became a mosque

Question

(1) On land owned by Zayd, with Zayd’s permission, the common people of the community built a mosque from their own donations, and for several years congregational prayer and the Friday prayer were held in it. After that Zayd says: I did not make it a waqf — I may let someone pray or not let them pray, and I may close the mosque. Does he have the right to prevent worshippers from praying inside the mosque or not?

Answer

If the mosque was built with Zayd’s permission, congregational prayer was held in it, and even then Zayd did not forbid it, then according to the Shariʿa it has become a mosque, and Zayd now has no right to prevent anyone from praying or to close it.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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