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Fatwa CenterPraying in place used by all religions
Question
We have here in the university a silence room (all persons Muslims and non-Muslims, Christians or even Hindus) go there to pray. It has a lot of symbols and pictures in it. Most of Muslims didn't like to use it at all. Turkish Muslims accepted that in the past . Now, the university has a larger numbers of Muslims. The international office suggested to give all the religons a bigger room with the same system. As we are now going to make a request for separate place for Muslims for pray. Is it possible in Islam that the place for pray can be used by others even unbelivers. Is this allowed? Is it allowed to be used by others in other times or even in the same time for pray? . Please send us the Fatwa to have a decision. The university here need to hear from responsible or scientific Islamic scholars or center. If it is possible to explain why is it not allowed in our religon . Please send to me if you have questions to know more details.
Answer
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.
The university is supposed to set up a separate room where Muslims can perform their prayers, as it is compulsory for them to pray in congregation. This room should be clean and exempt from any symbols or pictures because it is established in Islam that Angels do not enter a room where there are pictures. It is not reasonable for Muslims to pray in a place which Angels can not enter. So, we believe that you should apply for a separate room for Muslims.
If the university refuses to give Muslims a separate room and holds its position to give a big room for all religions - all the symbols and pictures should be removed from this room; only then can Muslims use it for their prayers.
On the other hand, if the pictures can not be removed, we believe that Muslims should pray in congregation outside the campus in any pure place, because Allah has made the earth a mosque for Muslims as narrated from the Prophet in a sound Hadith (Reported in Sahai Al-Bukhari).
Allah knows best.
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