Q 1: Many Masjids (mosques) in non-Muslim countries are considered Islamic (Part No. 5; Page No. 166) centers for the Call to Allah which convey the Message of Islam. They are not only places of Prayer or Islamic instruction and lectures; rather, the Masjid facility in non-Muslim countries is usually divided into different sections or departments:1. A Masjid and a place of Salah (Prayer).2. A center for calling to Islam, which includes:(i) a telecommunication center offering services to Muslims and non-Muslims;(ii) an Islamic library for reading and borrowing books,(iii) an audio and visual library.3. A school for children on weekends or during the week.4. Accommodations for workers in the Masjid, or the center or for students.5. A kitchen and a dining hall.These sections are near each other with the same outside entrance to the building.Some sections may be used to serve the purposes of other sections. The Masjid may need to accommodate additional worshippers, and accordingly they offer the Salah in the corridors, (Part No. 5; Page No. 167) adjacent rooms, the library, or the Islamic centre. Furthermore, the Prayer halls may be used for school activities.In addition to this, many Islamic ceremonies such as wedding dinners, `Aqiqah (sacrifice for a newborn), and feasts are held in these Masjids because they are the only places which Muslims own and where they can congregate.Masjid Al-Sunnah Al-Nabawiyah has been established to include all such activities - as mentioned in the first letter - and enclosed is a layout and photos of the building.It is well known in Islam that sales transactions in the Masjid are not permissible, however, what is the ruling on such Masjids or centers in non-Muslim countries? Our question is:Is it permissible to sell Islamic cassettes and books and rent video tapes, etc., in the places allocated for that purpose in the centre or the corridors around the Prayer halls, given that any kind of selling is forbidden inside such halls?Is it permissible for non-Muslim men or women to be admitted to the Islamic centre or the Masjid?Is it permissible for the menstruating woman to enter the Islamic centre?As such Masjids and Islamic centers are totally established by (Part No. 5; Page No. 168) donations and the Muslims there utilize varied methods in their donation campaigns and fund raisers to avoid becoming monotonous.Some Muslim families prepare different food dishes or donate clothes and appliances to sell at gatherings. The money collected is used for the benefit of the Masjid and maintaining its facilities, or is given in support of Muslims all over the world, such as Muslims in
Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Somalia,
etc.What is your opinion regarding holding such
exhibitions in prayer halls,
as other areas cannot accommodate them, not to mention that in these non-Muslim countries selling outside the building of the Islamic centre is illegal in addition to the impossibility of selling in the freezing weather in winter.
A:
The name of the Masjid and the rulings related to it apply only to the place in which Prayers are permanently and regularly offered and which is solely allocated for that purpose. As for places other than that which are inside the general building of the Islamic centre, it is permissible to use them in all kinds of selling, buying, and other permissible activities such as cooking, serving meals, and the like.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.