Prayer: Is It Ḥarām to Make a Ruined Masjid Najis, and Must It Be Purified?

Practical Laws of Islam as per the teachings of Imam Khamenei

Prayer: Is It Ḥarām to Make a Ruined Masjid Najis, and Must It Be Purified?

English:

Question #414:

There was a masjid that had been destroyed and its traces are completely effaced or another building has been built in its place and there is no hope that the building of the masjid will be restored, for example, all surrounding buildings are ruined and the people have moved to another area. Is the act of making this place najis ḥarām and is purifying it obligatory?

Answer #414:

In the given question, it is not ḥarām to make this place najis, although it is a caution not to make it najis.

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