Abandoning a Mosque Site to Build a Mosque Elsewhere

Question

About ten years ago the foundation of a mosque was laid here, over which a Hindu–Muslim dispute arose and the construction of the mosque stopped, but the adhan and the Friday prayer continue to be held in it regularly. Now, however, the Hindus say: “Leave this place and build a mosque somewhere else, and use this land for some other purpose — for example, build an Islamic madrasa.” This land was registered in the name of the mosque by a Muslim.

Answer

Since the adhan and the congregation have been held there for ten years, do not stop the adhan and the congregation; continue them as before: that place is a mosque according to the Shari‘a. Do not assign it to any other purpose, and do not build a mosque elsewhere in exchange for it.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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