Demolishing an Old Mosque

Question

In our neighbourhood an old mosque was demolished and another mosque was built next to it, which has been in use for twenty years, while the first site lies desolate and unused. What is the ruling on building shops on this old mosque, renting them out and spending this on the needs of the new mosque?

Answer

Since there are Muslims there, they should keep it alive as well. It was not permissible to demolish it and then build a mosque in another place; those who did so became sinners. Now do not build shops on the site of the old mosque; rather, start the adhan and the congregational prayer (jama‘a) there as well.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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