Hiring non-Muslims to build a Masjid

Hiring non-Muslims to build a Masjid Fatwa no. 5361 All praise be to Allah alone and peace and blessings be upon the seal of the prophets.Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta' have read the question No. 55 sent by the manager of the civil aviation project to his Eminence the Chairman of the committee in 1/7/1403 A.H.The question reads: "We would like to inform your Eminence that we are one of the great national companies specialized in maintenance and management. Most of our work centers around maintaining most airports in the Kingdom. We signed a contract with the administration of the civil aviation to do this job. You know that there are many Masjids and places of worship in these airports. This means that we are asked also to maintain them clean along with doing other necessary acts. (Part No. 6; Page No. 264) In performing many of these acts we depend upon non-Muslim workers. Many times we encounter problems inside some of the Masjids that need quick maintenance. We know that it is prohibited for disbelievers to enter the Sacred Masjid. Allah says in Surah Al-Tawbah: O you who believe (in Allâh’s Oneness and in His Messenger Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم)! Verily, the Mushrikûn (polytheists, pagans, idolaters, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allâh, and in the Message of Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) are Najasun (impure). So let them not come near Al-Masjidal-Harâm (at Makkah) after this year; and if you fear poverty, Allâh will enrich you if He wills, out of His Bounty. Surely, Allâh is All-Knowing, All-Wise. We try to do our best to have a complete Muslim crew to work in maintaining the Masjids, but it is difficult to do this all the time. Is it permissible for non-Muslims to enter Masjids to carry out the necessary maintenance work? We are waiting to receive your Fatwa in this regard in order to be guided to the truth and not fall short in contractual obligations."

After studying the question, the Committee responded with the following: Masjids are the houses of Allah that were established for remembrance, worship, establishment of His rites and holding his word high. Disbelievers are the enemies of Allah, His religion, and Shari`ah. They are also the enemies of Muslims. Therefore, the enemies of Allah should not be employed to design architectural designs for building Masjids or to be used in building, setting electricity, fixing doors, maintaining what is corrupted in them and the like. (Part No. 6; Page No. 265) The Council of Senior Scholars have issued a decision in this regard. It says:All praise be to Allah and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger and upon his family, Companions and those who followed him. In the sixteenth round of The Council of Senior Scholars held in Al-Ta'if in Shawwal in 12-21 Shawwal, 1400 A.H. According to the calendar of Um Al-Qura, the council studied the question related to the ruling on entering Masjids for disbelievers and seeking their help in maintaining them. This answer was in response to the telegraph sent to his Eminence Chairman of the Departments of Scholarly Research, Ifta', Da`wah, and Guidance by the undersecretary of the ministry of public works and housing for the affairs of public works. The telegraph no. 2/5334 that was sent in 6/29/1400 A.H.The text of the telegraph is:"One of the contractors presented us an application to certify the executive architect from his part for building a Masjid. But this architect is a Christian. We would like to know, if it is permissible for non-Muslims to participate in building (Part No. 6; Page No. 266) Masjids and supervising doing so."The Council have read the research prepared in this subject and listened to scholars in this regard. Therefore, it has been unanimously agreed upon that permitting disbelievers to work in building or maintaining Masjids as long as there are Muslims who can do this job should not happen. Muslims should not bring non-Muslims to do these jobs or any other jobs in order to carry out the order of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) who forbade having two religions in the Arabian Peninsula. You should also do what keeps the religion and stability of this country and to avoid the danger of non-believers' staying and executing many of the affairs as is the case with some of the neighboring countries. Disbelievers cannot be trusted against corruption when designing or building Masjids. They may erect Masjids according to the patterns of churches as it was done by some of them. They may also cheat in designing or building as they are enemies of this religion and its followers.The Council recommends that governmental bodies in the Ministry of Public Works, Ministry of Endowments, Hajj, and the like who are responsible for building, maintaining, and supervising Masjids should pay great attention to this matter. They have to stipulate in every contract they sign with contractors to build Masjids not to seek the help of non-Muslims in designing or carrying out what they have designed. (Part No. 6; Page No. 267) May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.