Guidance Concerning Worship and Da‘wah in Hizbi Masājid

Question: In our country, all the mosques are controlled by Hizbis. When our brothers come and wish to speak, they are prevented from doing so. The question is: should we pray in their masjids, knowing that the Salafi masjids are far away? Sheikh Abu Bilal ḥafidhahullāh: Pray in their masjids if you have no other masjids in your town — those towns now dominated by the Hizbis. Pray with them, then leave. Do not listen to their lessons or sermons; perform your prayer and depart. Likewise, if the Salafi masjids are far and difficult for you to reach, then pray in the local masjids, even if they are controlled by those Hizbis. (Prayer behind an innovator is valid, though prayer behind a Sunni is better and more complete.) These people are innovators, having innovations that do not amount to disbelief. If you are able to teach in their masjids — and you have no masjids of your own — then take a corner and sit there to teach the Muslim children, if they allow you. If they permit it, then all praise is due to Allāh. Sit and hold lessons in those masjids until Allāh grants ease. But do not come under the authority of the Hizbis; let your lessons be independent and not organised by them. Whoever comes to you, teach him. For Allāh says: ﴿وَأَنَّ الْمَسَاجِدَ للهِ﴾ “And the masjids are for Allah” [Surah al-Jinn, 18]. The masjids belong to Allāh, and no one has the right to control them. People should be allowed to teach and educate Muslim children. Let a teacher sit in a corner and teach them as long as he teaches the Sunnah. However, if someone comes to our masjids teaching innovation or spreading hatred toward the scholars, then he should be expelled and not permitted to teach. Let him come only to pray and leave. But as for someone taking a place in our masjids to teach hatred against us and confuse the people — no! We have more right to the masjids than they do. So let a person sit and teach the people; there is no blame upon him until Allāh brings relief and grants him a masjid of his own. And if they prevent you from using the masjid, then praise be to Allāh — teach in your home. Teach whoever comes to you until Allāh grants you a masjid. Never flatter the people of desires. Remain firm upon the truth and be patient, for relief will surely come. Questioner: Do you advise our brothers to speak in the Hizbi masjids, and what are the guidelines for that? The Sheikh replied: Yes, if there are no masjids except those of the Hizbis, then speak in them. Deliver what will bring you closer to Allāh and advise the common people — for after Allāh, the common people have none but the people of the Sunnah. Stand and speak about what draws you near to Allāh, and then leave — if they permit you. This applies when you have no masjids of your own. But if you do have masjids and the people come to you, then you do not need to go to their masjids. In that case, suffice yourselves with your own masjids — they are enough for you to deliver lessons and lectures. Do not hold activities in the Hizbi masjids that would revive them. Leave them inactive, so they die out — and let the Salafi masjids be revived with knowledge, remembrance, preaching, and guidance. However, if you do not have masjids, there is no harm in giving lectures in the masjids of those Hizbis to advise the Muslims, for the people are in need of the counsel of Ahlus-Sunnah. This is the principle: If you do not have your own masjids, then it is permissible. But if you have masjids that suffice you, do not go to theirs. Some brothers are overly strict in this matter and forbid it entirely. But where then should the people spread their Da’wah? The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ used to go to the markets — and who were in those markets? The rough ones among Quraysh. Yet he would say to them: “Say: There is no diety worth of worship except Allāh, and you will succeed.”