Ibn Taymiyah on prayer in a church
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Question
I heard that Ibn Taymiyah said it was permissible for a Muslim to pray his prayers inside a church. Is this true?
Answer
the Fatwa Department Research Committee - chaired by Sheikh `Abd al-Wahhâb al-Turayrî
With respect to praying in a church, Ibn Taymiyah writes:
As for prayer in a church, there are three opinions held by the scholars. In the Hanbalî school of thought, it is prohibited categorically. This is also the opinion of Mâlik.
The second opinion is that praying in a church is permissible under all circumstances. This was the opinion of some of Ahmad’s students.
The third opinion – and the correct one that is backed up by an authentic narration from `Umar b. al-Khattâb and others and related from Ahmad and others - is that if the church contains images, then you should not pray therein since the angels do not enter a place containing images. Another proof for this is that the Prophet (peace be upon him) did not pray in the Ka`bah until after destroying the images that were contained therein. `Umar said: “We used to refrain from entering churches that had images in them.”
As for churches that have no images in them, Companions had prayed in such churches.
And Allah knows best.
[al-Fatâwâ al-Kubrâ (2/59)]
As for prayer in a church, there are three opinions held by the scholars. In the Hanbalî school of thought, it is prohibited categorically. This is also the opinion of Mâlik.
The second opinion is that praying in a church is permissible under all circumstances. This was the opinion of some of Ahmad’s students.
The third opinion – and the correct one that is backed up by an authentic narration from `Umar b. al-Khattâb and others and related from Ahmad and others - is that if the church contains images, then you should not pray therein since the angels do not enter a place containing images. Another proof for this is that the Prophet (peace be upon him) did not pray in the Ka`bah until after destroying the images that were contained therein. `Umar said: “We used to refrain from entering churches that had images in them.”
As for churches that have no images in them, Companions had prayed in such churches.
And Allah knows best.
[al-Fatâwâ al-Kubrâ (2/59)]
Source: en.islamtoday.net
