Usurpation: Building a Masjid on Confiscated Land and Validity of Worship Therein

Practical Laws of Islam as per the teachings of Imam Khamenei

Usurpation: Building a Masjid on Confiscated Land and Validity of Worship Therein

English:

Question #1868:

Is it permissible to build a masjid on a piece of land that had been confiscated by a court injunction without the consent of its previous owner? And is it permissible to hold prayers and other acts of religious worship in such a masjid?

Answer #1868:

If the land had been taken away from its previous owner by the order of a shar‘ī court, or in accordance with law that is being enforced by the Islamic state, or the shar‘ī ownership of the claimant is not proven, using the land is not contingent upon the permission of the person who is claiming ownership or the previous owner. Accordingly, there is no objection to building the masjid on the land. Nor is there an objection to holding prayer and other religious rituals there.

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