Where Should Prayer Be Performed After a Mosque Is Built in the Neighbourhood?

Question

The Shaykh Ansaris started the undertaking of a mosque: the foundation was dug, then all the people gave donations, and all the Muslims strove at that time for the mosque to be completed. But, to our misfortune, we could not complete it, though we certainly managed to quarrel. The brethren of the Jhojha community (a Muslim farming community) are almost all farmers. If they come to this land to pray, people object. Near the mosque live mostly the Jhojha brethren, and the Ansari brethren are few.

Answer

Keeping the neighbourhood mosque populated with worshippers is obligatory, and leaving it deserted is a very grave offence. A mosque is not anyone’s personal property; every Muslim has the right to pray in it. But if they quarrel and do not let people pray, then go to another mosque and pray there, and do not quarrel.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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