Building annexed rooms from the remaining money dedicated to build a Masjid

Q: A part of the Masjid (mosque) Ibn Rudayyan was taken to expand Al Firian Street in Riyadh. Compensation was allocated for this in the Monetary Association by the municipality, but it has not yet been received by the ministry. In addition to this, His Eminence Shaykh ‘Abdul-Rahman ibn Faris has donated a sum of money to build another Masjid in place of the one on the main street, just ten meters from the previous location. The ministry built, furnished, and air-conditioned the Masjid from its special provisions budget, as the compensation is still with the City of Riyadh Municipality. The Masjid had two Waqf (endowment) houses that were dedicated for the Imam (leader of the congregational Prayer) and the Mu’adhin (caller to Prayer), which were built of adobe and mud. His Eminence Shaykh ‘Abdul-Rahman ibn Faris sent me a letter, dated 10/11/1405 A.H., recommending that they should be demolished and rebuilt in concrete. (Part No. 16; Page No. 46) He suggested that the expenditure could be disbursed from the compensation allocated in the Monetary Association. His Eminence - may Allah reward him with the best - said that if the amount was insufficient, Allah would help to make up for the deficit.Therefore, I hope that Your Eminence will examine the matter and explain your opinion from the Shar‘y (Islamic legal) perspective as to whether it is permissible to build accommodation for the Imam and the Mu'adhin from the money that was allocated to build the Masjid. Please bear in mind that the benefactor has undertaken the building of the replacement Masjid on land that was donated by the state, and all that is left is just the compensation value of the building.


A: If the situation is as you mentioned, it is permissible to rebuild the two houses for the Imam and Mu’adhin of Masjid Ibn Rudayyan in Riyadh from the compensation value allocated for the land and building of the original Masjid, because the state gave a land to build on it a new Masjid instead of the land of the old Masjid, and a benefactor donated the funds to build the new Masjid. The amount of money that will be needed to build the two houses is the value of the ruins of the old Masjid and building the two houses ancillary to the Masjid essentially serves its interest. May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.


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