Q: Is it permissable to pray in multi faith prayer rooms, such as the ones they usually have at airports? These rooms are mostly used by Muslims but also some non-Muslims use them for praying and apart from Islamic material they also contain bibles and books of other religions. The question came to my mind since, if I remember it correctly, we are not allowed to enter into buildings of worship of other religions?
A: Do not perform Salaah in that room, instead perform Salaah in one corner of the airport in a place where you will not inconvenience anybody.
And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
باب الصلاة في البيعة وقال عمر رضي الله عنه إنا لا ندخل كنائسكم من أجل التماثيل التي فيها الصور وكان ابن عباس يصلي في البيعة إلا بيعة فيها تماثيل
عن عائشة أن أم سلمة ذكرت لرسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم كنيسة رأتها بأرض الحبشة يقال لها مارية فذكرت له ما رأت فيها من الصور فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أولئك قوم إذا مات فيهم العبد الصالح أو الرجل الصالح بنوا على قبره مسجدا وصوروا فيه تلك الصور أولئك شرار الخلق عند الله (صحيح البخاري # 434)
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Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)
Q: I think the ruling on the multi faith rooms need to be looked at again. The Proof used doesn't suffice the conclusion. Secondly, the reason for prohibition understood in the above narrations seems to be the 'Timthaal' and 'Suwar'. Multi faith rooms do not fit this description. Thirdly these are not buildings of worship specifically for other religions. They are just rooms or safe places to do worship. Fourthly, in today's climate it wouldn't be advisable to pray elsewhere in an airport unless necessary.
A: Precaution demands that one refrain from performing Salaah in such a place as it is possible that while performing Salaah a non Muslim could enter with his idols and begin worshipping them beside the one performing Salaah. Similarly, it is possible that there could be pictures of animate objects or symbols of other religions (e.g. the cross, etc.) in the multi faith room just as books of other religions (e.g. the bible, etc.) are found there. In such an environment it does not behove a Mu'min to perform Salaah and worship Allah Ta'ala.
And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
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