Demolishing an old mosque and building a new one

Question

(1) In a certain quarter there is a mosque whose walls and mihrab are of solid brick masonry, and its roof is of “isplṭu” (a roofing material; name not identified). But because of the large number of worshippers the people of the quarter added another part adjoining it, whose supports are of iron. Because of an earthquake the walls of the old mosque have cracked. Now the people of this quarter want to demolish both and build one solid, strong, large mosque. Is it right to do so or not?

Answer

(1) [ar]فِي الْكُبْرَى: مَسْجِدٌ مَبْنِيٌّ أَرَادَ رَجُلٌ أَنْ يَنْقُضَهُ وَيَبْنِيَهُ ثَانِيًا أَحْكَمَ مِنَ الْبِنَاءِ الْأَوَّلِ، لَيْسَ لَهُ ذَلِكَ؛ لِأَنَّهُ لَا وِلَايَةَ لَهُ، كَذَا فِي الْمُضْمَرَاتِ. وَفِي النَّوَازِلِ: إِلَّا أَنْ يَخَافَ أَنْ يَنْهَدِمَ إِنْ لَمْ يُهْدَمْ، كَذَا فِي التَّتَارْخَانِيَّةِ.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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