Ruling on a Muslim Entering a Church

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- Bas ic Tenets of Faith Schools of Thought and Religions Religions .

Ruling on a Muslim e nte ring a churchar es

What is t he ruling on a Muslim entering a church to listen t o a lecture thatis being given there?.

Praise be t o Allaah.

Entering churches for meetings and to listen to lectures is not free of a

number of haraam things, some of which have been discussed in the

answer to question no. 82836.

The scholars differed concerning the ruling on a Muslim entering a church

in the first place. There are a number of opinions:

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That it is haraam. This is the view of the Hanafis and Shaafais, but the

Shaafais limit the prohibition to churches in which there are images, as it

says in Tuhfat al-Muhtaaj (2/424), Nihaayat al-Muhtaaj (2/63) and

Haashiyata Qalyoobi wa Umayrah ala Sharh al-Muhalla (4/236).

The Hanafis regard it as haraam in all cases, and they gave as theirreason the f act t hat t hey are abodes of the devils, as the Hanafi Ibn

Nujaym said in al-Bahr al-Raaiq (7/364) and in Haashiyat Ibn Aabideen

(2/43).

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That it is makrooh. This is the view of the Hanbalis, but some of them

limited this to churches in which there are images. Shaykh al-Islam Ibn

Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in al-Fataawa al-Kubra

(5/327): The view which most of our companions hold is that it is

makrooh to enter churches in which there are images, and this is the

correct view concerning which there can be no doubt. End quot e.

See: al-Furoo (5/308), al-Adaab al-Shariyyah (3/415) and al-Insaaf

(1/496).

They quot ed the f ollowing as evidence:

(i)

It was narrated from Ibn Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) that

the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) saw images in

the Kabah and he did not enter until he had ordered that they be erased.

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Narrated by al-Bukhaari (3352).

(ii)

It was narrated t hat Ibn Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) said:

Jibreel promised to come to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah

be upon him) but he was late and the Prophet (peace and blessings of

Allaah be upo n him) grew concerned. The Prophet (peace and blessings

of Allaah be upon him) went out and saw him, and he told him of his

concern and he said to him: We [angels] do not enter a house in which

there is an image or a dog. Narrated by al-Bukhaari (5960).

(iii)

It was narrated that Aslam the freed slave of Umar said: When Umar

went to Syria, one of the leaders of the Christians made food for him

and called him. Umar said: We will not enter your churches because of

the images that are in them meaning the stat ues. Narrated by Abd al-

Razzaaq in al-Musannaf (1/411 and 10/398).

3 The third view is that it is permissible to enter churches in general.

This is the view of the Hanbalis, as it says in al-Mughni (8/113) and al-

Insaaf (1/496).

It is also the view of Ibn Hazm al-Zaahiri as it says in al-Muhalla (1/400).

They quot ed the f ollowing as evidence:

(i)

What was narrated about the conditions stipulated by Umar to the

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people of the Book to expand their churches and monasteries so that

the Muslims could enter them to spend the night or pass through t hem.

Al-Mughni (8/113).

(ii)

Ibn Aaidh narrated in Futooh al-Shaam that when Umar came to Syria,

the Christians made food for him and called him, and he said: Where is it?

They said: In the church, and he refused to go. He said to Ali: Take the

people to eat lunch. So Ali took the people and entered the church, and

he and the people ate lunch, and Ali looked at the images and said: What

would be wrong if the Ameer al-Mumineen entered this place?

Al-Mughni (8/113).

By studying the evidence quoted above, it does not seem that there is

any clear evidence that it is haraam to enter churches. The fact that

there are images and statues in them or any ot her place does not mean

that it is haraam to enter it. The sin is on the makers of the images and

those who make the statues; the one who enters a place where those

statues are should advise and explain, but he does not have to leave

that place.

Ibn Qudaamah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:

With regard to ent ering a house in which there is an image, it is not

haraam. Rather it is permissible to refuse an invitation because of it as a

rebuke to the host and to show that he has lost respect because of his

introducing something evil into his house. The one who sees it in the

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host s house does not have to leave, according to the apparent meaning

of Ahmads words. He said, according to the report of al-Fadl: If he sees

an image on the curtain that he did not see when he entered, that is less

serious t han if it was on t he wall. It was said: If he did not see it unt il the

food was placed before them, should he leave? He said: Do not make

things too diff icult f or us; but if he sees it he should rebuke them and tell

them not t o do that. End quote.

Al-Mughni (8/113)

But at least it is makrooh to enter churches unnecessarily, because the

fact that the angels and the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be

upon him) did not enter the house in which there were images indicates

that it is makrooh.

Moreover t his being makrooh may reach the level of being haraam if

entering the church will lead to any bad consequences such as if it means

approving of the Christians shirk and their claim that Allaah has a wife

and son, exalted be Allaah far above that. Or if entering the church is a

sign of taking the Christians as friends and loving them, and so on.

It says in Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daaimah (2/115):

If your going to the church is just to show t olerance and lenience, then itis not permissible, but if it is done to call them to Islam and create

opportunities for you to do so, and you will not be taking part in their

worship and you are not afraid that you may be influenced by their

beliefs or customs, then it is permissible. End quote.

See also t he answer to question no. 11232.

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