A non-Muslim co-worker of mine has asked me to attend a church service with him, would it be permissible to do so?

[FR:]

Walaikum assalam,

In the Hanafi school, it is prohibitively disliked and sinful to enter the worship places of disbelievers without a strong, overwhelming interest. This does not appear to be the case in your situation. Hadiths tell us that such places are the gathering places of devils. Another reason for impermissibility is because of the impermissible, shirk-based imagery that they contain. [Ibn Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar; Shafii school: Ramli, Nihayat al-Muhtaj Sharh al-Minhaj]

If we are commanded to stay away from places of sin and vice (such as bars and night clubs), then what about places where the ultimate sin takes place: associating partners with Allah?

Wisdom would entail simply making an excuse to get out of the situation.

When there is an overwhelming benefit in going (such as giving a talk on Islam, etc), and no fear of personal harm in doing so, one may go. It should be kept in mind that avoiding harm is given precedence in Islam to attaining unto benefits, especially when the harm is likely and the benefits uncertain.

The way of traditional Islam is that a committed Muslim would be to have scholars one consults regarding such matters. Even scholars consult other scholars before serious decisions. It is from the sunna to seek advice and to consult others. The young seek the advice of elders (in knowledge, experience, or age). The elders seek advice of peers or the young. Even the Beloved of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) was commanded, “And seek their counsel regarding your affairs.”

And Allah alone gives success.

Walaikum assalam,
Faraz Rabbani.

قال  سيِّدي ابن عابدين (رحمه الله تعالى) في ردّ المحتار: (ك: الصلاة) مَطْلَبُ تُكْرَهُ الصَّلَاةُ فِي الْكَنِيسَةِ [ تَنْبِيهٌ ] يُؤْخَذُ مِنْ التَّعْلِيلِ بِأَنَّهُ مَحَلُّ الشَّيَاطِينِ كَرَاهَةُ الصَّلَاةِ فِي مَعَابِدِ الْكُفَّارِ ; لِأَنَّهَا مَأْوَى الشَّيَاطِينِ كَمَا صَرَّحَ بِهِ الشَّافِعِيَّةُ . وَيُؤْخَذُ مِمَّا ذَكَرُوهُ عِنْدَنَا , فَفِي الْبَحْرِ مِنْ كِتَابِ الدَّعْوَى عِنْدَ قَوْلِ الْكَنْزِ : وَلَا يَحْلِفُونَ فِي بَيْتِ عِبَادَاتِهِمْ . وَفِي التَّتَارْخَانِيَّة يُكْرَهُ لِلْمُسْلِمِ الدُّخُولُ فِي الْبِيعَةِ وَالْكَنِيسَةِ , وَإِنَّمَا يُكْرَهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ إنَّهُ مَجْمَعُ الشَّيَاطِينِ لَا مِنْ حَيْثُ إنَّهُ لَيْسَ لَهُ حَقُّ الدُّخُولِ ا هـ قَالَ فِي الْبَحْرِ : وَالظَّاهِرُ أَنَّهَا تَحْرِيمِيَّةٌ ; لِأَنَّهَا الْمُرَادَةُ عِنْدَ إطْلَاقِهِمْ , وَقَدْ أَفْتَيْت بِتَعْزِيرِ مُسْلِمٍ لَازَمَ الْكَنِيسَةَ مَعَ الْيَهُودِ ا هـ فَإِذَا حَرُمَ الدُّخُولُ فَالصَّلَاةُ أَوْلَى , وَبِهِ ظَهَرَ جَهْلُ مَنْ يَدْخُلُهَا لِأَجْلِ الصَّلَاةِ فِيهَا