Fatwa Panel of the Week – Volume02 Issue33 – International Friday Bulletin

Fatwa Panel of the Week – Volume02 Issue33

Last Updated: August 12, 2025By editorCategories: Latest Religious inquiries (Istiftah’at)0 Comments5.3 min readViews: 17

Rulings Related to the Mosque (Masjid)

Here are the continuing rules related to the Masjid, according to the fatwas of the Grand Religious Authorities: Grand Ayatollah Khamenei, Grand Ayatollah Sistani, and Grand Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi (may their eminence be preserved)

Rulings on Making a Mosque Impure

Ayatollah Khamenei	Ayatollah Sistani	Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi
1. Making the floor, ceiling, walls, and roof of a mosque impure is forbidden, and if it becomes impure, it must be purified immediately. 2. Purifying a mosque is a communal obligation (wājib kifāʾī) and is not limited to the one who made it impure or caused it to become impure; rather, it is obligatory upon all those who are able to purify it. 3. A mosque that has been seized or demolished and replaced with another building, or whose signs of being a mosque have been erased due to abandonment, and there is no hope of rebuilding it, it is not clear that making it impure is forbidden, although it is recommended as a precaution not to make it impure.	1. Same as Ayatollah Khamenei’s Fatwa. 2. Same as Ayatollah Khamenei’s Fatwa. 3. If a mosque is seized and a house or similar building is constructed in its place, or it is demolished to such an extent that it is no longer called a mosque, making it impure is not forbidden, nor is its purification obligatory.	1. Making a mosque impure in any part — floor, ceiling, walls — is forbidden, and as an obligatory precaution, even the outer side of the walls should not be made impure. Same as Ayatollah Sistani’s Fatwa. 2. Same as Ayatollah Khamenei’s Fatwa. 3. If a mosque is seized and completely removed from the state of being a mosque so that it is no longer called a mosque, then as a precaution it is still forbidden to make it impure, and purification is necessary.

Ayatollah Khamenei

Ayatollah Sistani

Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi

1. Making the floor, ceiling, walls, and roof of a mosque impure is forbidden, and if it becomes impure, it must be purified immediately.

2. Purifying a mosque is a communal obligation (wājib kifāʾī) and is not limited to the one who made it impure or caused it to become impure; rather, it is obligatory upon all those who are able to purify it.

3. A mosque that has been seized or demolished and replaced with another building, or whose signs of being a mosque have been erased due to abandonment, and there is no hope of rebuilding it, it is not clear that making it impure is forbidden, although it is recommended as a precaution not to make it impure.

1. Same as Ayatollah Khamenei’s Fatwa.

2. Same as Ayatollah Khamenei’s Fatwa.

3. If a mosque is seized and a house or similar building is constructed in its place, or it is demolished to such an extent that it is no longer called a mosque, making it impure is not forbidden, nor is its purification obligatory.

1. Making a mosque impure in any part — floor, ceiling, walls — is forbidden, and as an obligatory precaution, even the outer side of the walls should not be made impure. Same as Ayatollah Sistani’s Fatwa.

2. Same as Ayatollah Khamenei’s Fatwa.

3. If a mosque is seized and completely removed from the state of being a mosque so that it is no longer called a mosque, then as a precaution it is still forbidden to make it impure, and purification is necessary.

Ruling on Making the Shrines of the Infallible Imams (AS) Impure

Ayatollah Khamenei	Ayatollah Sistani	Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi
1. Making the shrines of the Imams (peace be upon them) impure is forbidden, and if they become impure and remaining impure is considered disrespectful, purification is obligatory; if it is not considered disrespectful, purification is still a good deed.	1. Making the shrines of the Imams (peace be upon them) impure is forbidden. If they become impure and remaining impure is considered disrespectful, purification is obligatory; as a recommended precaution, even if it is not considered disrespectful, they should still be purified.	1. Making the shrines of the Prophet (pbuh) and the Imams (peace be upon them) impure, if it leads to disrespect, is forbidden, and in such a case purification is obligatory; even if there is no disrespect, it is precautionary to purify them.

Observing the Sanctity of the Mosque

Ayatollah Khamenei	Ayatollah Sistani	Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi
1. It is obligatory to observe the dignity and sanctity of the mosque and to avoid actions that conflict with its status. 2. Decorating the mosque with gold, if considered extravagance, is forbidden; otherwise, it is disliked (makruh). 3. Holding classes, provided they do not conflict with the mosque’s sanctity or disturb congregational prayers and worshippers, is permissible. 4. Sleeping in the mosque is disliked (Makruh),	1. Same as Ayatollah Khamenei’s Fatwa. 2. As an obligatory precaution, the mosque should not be decorated with gold, and as a recommended precaution, it should not be decorated with images of beings with souls, such as humans or animals. 3. Apparently, the same ruling, as nothing contrary is mentioned. 4. Sleeping in the mosque without necessity, talking about worldly matters, engaging in crafts, and reciting poetry that is not advice or similar is disliked. Spitting, blowing one’s nose and throwing phlegm in the mosque are also disliked, and in some cases forbidden. It is also disliked asking for a lost item or to raise one’s voice, except for the call to prayer.	1. Same as Ayatollah Khamenei’s Fatwa. 2. Decorating the mosque with gold is problematic, and as a precaution, images of beings with souls, such as humans and animals, should not be depicted in the mosque. 3. Apparently, the same ruling, as nothing contrary is mentioned. 4. Sleeping in the mosque, speaking of worldly matters, reciting poetry without moral advice, spitting, blowing one’s nose, phlegmy in the mosque, shouting, and any act conflicting with the sanctity of the mosque are disliked (Makruh).

Ayatollah Khamenei

Ayatollah Sistani

Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi

1. It is obligatory to observe the dignity and sanctity of the mosque and to avoid actions that conflict with its status.

2. Decorating the mosque with gold, if considered extravagance, is forbidden; otherwise, it is disliked (makruh).

3. Holding classes, provided they do not conflict with the mosque’s sanctity or disturb congregational prayers and worshippers, is permissible.

4. Sleeping in the mosque is disliked (Makruh),

1. Same as Ayatollah Khamenei’s Fatwa.

2. As an obligatory precaution, the mosque should not be decorated with gold, and as a recommended precaution, it should not be decorated with images of beings with souls, such as humans or animals.

3. Apparently, the same ruling, as nothing contrary is mentioned.

4. Sleeping in the mosque without necessity, talking about worldly matters, engaging in crafts, and reciting poetry that is not advice or similar is disliked. Spitting, blowing one’s nose and throwing phlegm in the mosque are also disliked, and in some cases forbidden. It is also disliked asking for a lost item or to raise one’s voice, except for the call to prayer.

1. Same as Ayatollah Khamenei’s Fatwa.

2. Decorating the mosque with gold is problematic, and as a precaution, images of beings with souls, such as humans and animals, should not be depicted in the mosque.

3. Apparently, the same ruling, as nothing contrary is mentioned.

4. Sleeping in the mosque, speaking of worldly matters, reciting poetry without moral advice, spitting, blowing one’s nose, phlegmy in the mosque, shouting, and any act conflicting with the sanctity of the mosque are disliked (Makruh).

Rulings on Reconstruction of a Mosque

Ayatollah Khamenei	Ayatollah Sistani	Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi
1.It is not permissible to demolish all or part of a mosque unless there is an overriding benefit that cannot be ignored. 2. Building a museum or library in a corner of the mosque’s prayer hall, if contrary to the waqf terms or alters the mosque’s structure, is not permissible.	1. Building a mosque and repairing a mosque near collapse is recommended; if it is damaged beyond repair, it can be demolished and rebuilt. Even a mosque that is not damaged may be demolished to expand it if needed. 2. Apparently, no specific ruling was found on this matter.	1. If a mosque is damaged beyond repair, it may be demolished and rebuilt. 2. Apparently, no specific ruling was found on this matter.

Ayatollah Khamenei

Ayatollah Sistani

Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi

1.It is not permissible to demolish all or part of a mosque unless there is an overriding benefit that cannot be ignored.

2. Building a museum or library in a corner of the mosque’s prayer hall, if contrary to the waqf terms or alters the mosque’s structure, is not permissible.

1. Building a mosque and repairing a mosque near collapse is recommended; if it is damaged beyond repair, it can be demolished and rebuilt. Even a mosque that is not damaged may be demolished to expand it if needed.

2. Apparently, no specific ruling was found on this matter.

1. If a mosque is damaged beyond repair, it may be demolished and rebuilt.

2. Apparently, no specific ruling was found on this matter.

Places with Mosque Ruling and Vice Versa

Ayatollah Khamenei	Ayatollah Sistani	Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi
1. If a movable or non-fixed location, such as a vehicle, is endowed as a mosque, as an obligatory precaution, it is considered a mosque in the legal sense and mosque rulings apply. 2. If a mosque falls within a city development plan and part of it is demolished out of necessity with no hope of restoration, it does not retain mosque rulings. 3. Tekyehs, Husayniyyahs, (where the mourning for imam Hussain (AS) are held and Islamic Centres do not have mosque rulings.	1. No ruling found in the available sources. 2. If a mosque is destroyed, its land never loses its mosque status. It cannot be sold, incorporated into private property, a road, or have houses or shops built on it even if it cannot be repaired or the area becomes uninhabited. 3. Same as Ayatollah Khamenei’s Fatwa.	1. No ruling found in the available sources. 2. If a mosque is included in a street construction plan and cannot be restored, both its mosque status and waqf status are removed. The person or authority responsible for the demolition must use the equivalent value to build another mosque or repair existing mosques. 3. Same as Ayatollah Khamenei’s Fatwa.

Ayatollah Khamenei

Ayatollah Sistani

Ayatollah Makarem Shirazi

1. If a movable or non-fixed location, such as a vehicle, is endowed as a mosque, as an obligatory precaution, it is considered a mosque in the legal sense and mosque rulings apply.

2. If a mosque falls within a city development plan and part of it is demolished out of necessity with no hope of restoration, it does not retain mosque rulings.

3. Tekyehs, Husayniyyahs, (where the mourning for imam Hussain (AS) are held and Islamic Centres do not have mosque rulings.

1. No ruling found in the available sources.

2. If a mosque is destroyed, its land never loses its mosque status. It cannot be sold, incorporated into private property, a road, or have houses or shops built on it even if it cannot be repaired or the area becomes uninhabited.

3. Same as Ayatollah Khamenei’s Fatwa.

1. No ruling found in the available sources.

2. If a mosque is included in a street construction plan and cannot be restored, both its mosque status and waqf status are removed. The person or authority responsible for the demolition must use the equivalent value to build another mosque or repair existing mosques.

3. Same as Ayatollah Khamenei’s Fatwa.

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