Endowment: Unauthorised Expansion of a Masjid and Its Ruling

Practical Laws of Islam as per the teachings of Imam Khamenei

Endowment: Unauthorised Expansion of a Masjid and Its Ruling

English:

Question #2017:

A group of people pulled down the library building to annex it to the masjid. The library is situated between the school of the masjid and the kitchen of the ḥusayniyyah that is adjacent to the masjid. The result is that the newly created space has become part of the masjid. They did this without obtaining the approval of the appointed trustee. Can their action be sanctioned as valid? And is it permissible to hold prayer in the newly created space?

Answer #2017:

If it is proved that the land, where the library used to be, was dedicated to the library, no one should have the right to change its use or annex it to the masjid. Nor is it valid to hold prayer in that place. Whoever was involved in tearing down the library building has to restore it to its original state. Conversely, there is no objection to holding prayer in the place.

-Imam Khamenei, Practical Laws of Islam, Importance and Conditions of Endowments