Answered by Imam Afroz Ali
Question: Asalamu Alaikum,
Is it allowed for a Christian, Jew or person of another faith to enter a Mosque and have their own religious prayer there? Can you invite them to do this as a sign of interfaith harmony? Or as a convenience for them (e.g. their Church was destroyed or they don’t have space)? Did the Prophet, peace be upon him, ever allow this?
Also, what are the limits when holding interfaith events? Can one pray together with people of other faiths while they are invoking God (or “gods”) in their own religious manner while a Muslim is doing so in his own manner? Can we invite Christians or people of other faiths to our Masjid and allow them to make a prayer?
Answer: Praise Be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds, The Compassionate, The Merciful. And, may the peace and blessings of Allah descend upon the Prophet Muhammad, his family, his companions, and their followers.
Assalām Alaikum,
Firstly, there is nothing wrong in permitting people of other faiths to enter a Mosque, including for the purposes of inter-religious relations (Fatawa al-Hindiyya).
Secondly, as long as there is no introducing of idols or related outward polytheistic activity and the like, a person of another faith may not be prohibited from praying inside a Mosque, and facilitated if such a need arises which is commendable, as long as the sanctity of the Mosque is maintained and not compromised.
Thirdly, it is not permissible for a Muslim to pray by joining in the prayers of other faiths. However, in most interfaith events, it is well respected that everyone prays according to their own faiths and this should be upheld. Moreover, if a person of another faith wants to join and experience the Muslim prayer out of their own accord, then this is permitted by facilitating space for the person at the rear without affecting the rows when praying a congregational prayer.
Of course, it would suffice to state that the general etiquette of entering the Mosque in terms of covering, removing of shoes, etc are to be adhered to, and in my experience are always kindly practised by people of other faiths when entering.
I pray to Allah that this brief explanation is of some benefit, and aids you to be in abundant remembrance of Allah, The Exalted, and there is no success other than from Allah alone.
Afroz Ali