Relocating a mosque

Question

In a certain neighbourhood there has been a Jami‘ (congregational) mosque in one place since olden times; adjoining the said mosque is an elementary religious school. Recently, in this age of progress, a small daily bazaar was founded near the said neighbourhood, where people come and go every morning and evening. Now if the mosque is moved to adjoin the said bazaar, then for worshippers and strangers, besides worship, there will also be no shortcoming in the protection of the mosque.

Answer

A place that has once been made a mosque in the Shar‘i sense remains a mosque forever. Now moving it from there and assigning that place to the elementary school is not permissible at all; rather, this old mosque should be kept as a mosque as before, and the adhan and the congregational prayer should also be maintained in it.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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