[Fatwa no. 21413 - dated (5/1/1421 A.H.)]

Concerning the ruling on building places of worship for non-Muslims in Arabia such as Christian churches, Jewish synagogues, etc. Is it permissible for a company owner to allocate a place for non-Muslim workers to practice their worship there? Studying these questions, the Committee answered as follows: Every religion other than Islām is mere disbelief and error. Every house of worship other than that of Islām is considered a place of disbelief and error, because worshipping Allāh is only permissible through what He has legislated. The Islamic Sharī‘ah (law) is the Last Divine Testament for both Jinn and man. Thus, it abrogates the past codes of law according to the consensus of scholars. (Part No. 1; Page No. 468) Anyone who claims that the religions of Jews and Christians are true whether from among themselves or not, denies the Book of Allāh (Qur'ān), the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ and the consensus of Muslims. Thus, he is an apostate even if he claims Islām. However, the proof must be established against him if it is thought that he is unaware of the truth. Allah (Exalted be He) states (translated meaning), “And We have not sent you (O Muḥammad ﷺ) except as a giver of glad tidings and a warner to all mankind.” Allāh also states (translated meaning), “Say (O Muḥammad ﷺ): "O mankind! Verily, I am sent to you all as the Messenger of Allāh.” Allāh (Glorified be He) states (translated meaning), “Truly, the religion with Allāh is Islām.” Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) states (translated meaning), “And whoever seeks a religion other than Islām, it will never be accepted of him.” Allāh (Glorified be He) states (translated meaning), “Verily, those who disbelieve (in the religion of Islām, the Qur'ān and Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ) from among the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) and Al-Mushrikūn will abide in the Fire of Hell. They are the worst of creatures.” It is authentically reported in “Sahih Al-Bukhari” and “Sahih Muslim” and others that the Prophet ﷺ stated, “In the past, every Prophet used to be sent to his people only but I have been sent to all people.” Therefore, it is an Islamic duty to forbid disbelief, because it entails the worship of other than Allāh and contradicts the Sharī‘ah. Consequently, it is forbidden to build houses of worship for religions other than Islām (Part No. 1; Page No. 469) such as Judaism, Christianity, etc. These temples, whether a church or otherwise, are considered places for worshipping other than Allāh, as they are not in conformance with the Islamic Sharī’ah that abrogates all the past codes of law. As for the good deeds of the disbelievers, Allah (Exalted be He) states (translated meaning), “And We shall turn to whatever deeds they (disbelievers, polytheists, sinners) did, and We shall make such deeds as scattered floating particles of dust.” Thus, scholars have unanimously agreed upon the prohibition of building temples such as churches in Muslim countries. Likewise, it is not permissible that two religions are recognized as formal religions in the Muslim lands, and there must be no rituals or temples for non-Muslims such as churches or any other building. Scholars unanimously agreed on the obligation of destroying churches and other places of worship if they were built recently in the Muslim lands. It is not permissible to oppose the Muslim ruler in destroying them, but you must obey him. Scholars (may Allāh be merciful to them) have unanimously agreed that building these places such as churches in the Arabian Peninsula is more sinful because of the clear and sound ḥadīth reported on the prohibition of combining two religions in the Arabian Peninsula. The Prophet ﷺ stated, “There should not be two religions together in the Arabian Peninsula.” (Related by Imām Mālik and others. Moreover, it finds further grounds in the reports of "Sahih Al-Bukhari" and "Sahih Muslim") (Part No. 1; Page No.