Raising the Mosque's Plinth to Build Shops Beneath It for Rent

Question

There is a mosque in a non-Muslim neighbourhood; the Muslims now have four or five houses, which cannot support the mosque's expenses. The mosque is dilapidated and close to collapsing. Some people think the mosque should be rebuilt anew: the mosque's plinth is very high; by raising its floor about 3 feet more, shops would be made underneath and the mosque rebuilt anew above them, so that the mosque itself can cover its expenses. Note: all the debris of the mosque will be used in the mosque itself.

Answer

If there is fear of the mosque collapsing, let it be rebuilt anew. The place designated for prayer is a mosque in the Shari‘i sense; now raising the plinth and building a shop beneath it in order to rent it out is not correct — it is contrary to the reverence due to the mosque.

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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