Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Assalam wa alaykum

An old madrasa (Islamic & Modern study centre) was built many years ago. Now a Mosque built

in it`s upper portion. Is this permissible to pray prayer in this mosque, while We do not know

how kind (type) of money Madrasa was built as zakah money.

Jazakallah Khair.

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Madrasa mosque zakaah money

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Firstly brother, there is absolutely no restriction or condition in Islam that a prayer offered in a place which was built with zakah money is invalid.

Secondly, there is absolutely no harm if the believers wish to build and appoint a masjid in the upper portion of the school or study centre…the prayer offered therein will be valid and acceptable in the Sight of Allah Subhanah, Insha Allah.

It would be preferred that the money used to build the mosque in the upper tier of the school be from non-zakah funds, for most of the scholars and jurists in Islam do not consider the building of a masjid to be amongst the eligible recipients of zakah funds.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan