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:

Dear Sir,

My question is i would like to construct a MASJID with my Mother's Name, Can we make MASJID with the person's name who is alive alhamdulillah.

According to me I know 3 to 4 persons who constructed masjids when their parents died, but my question is either i can construct a masjid with someones's name who is alived or i can not, please let me know in the light of islam.

(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:

Build masjid with alive name

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 none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said: “No sooner than a slave of Allah builds a House of Allah (masjid) on this earth, Allah builds for his slave a house in Paradise.”

It should indeed be an honor for any believer who sincerely believes in Allah and the Last Day that he/she spend as much as is possible or easy for them to build a House of Allah Subhanah (Masjid) on this earth…..and if one does not have the means to build a masjid, one can and should make intention that when Allah blesses them with abundance, they would strive to build a masjid for the Sake and Pleasure of Allah Subhanah.

What is of paramount importance and significance is that the intention behind building a Masjid should be for the Sake and Pleasure of their Lord Most Gracious Alone. The ‘name’ one assigns to the masjid for recognition is absolutely immaterial, and it does not matter in the least whether one builds it in the name of a deceased loved one or one who is living.

If one builds a masjid for the Sake and Pleasure of Allah Alone, indeed they would have a huge reward from their Lord for their intention and their service to the deen; but if one builds a masjid so that people may recognize and praise them as pious or charitable, such people will have no reward in the Presence of their Lord.

Respected brother, if you wish to build a masjid to earn the Pleasure and Good Will of your Lord Most Gracious Alone, and wish to assign the name of your mother (who is alive) merely as a recognition of the masjid, there is absolutely no harm.

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