[Q 387] Non-Muslims & Reverts entering the Masjid

QUESTION:

Q1. Assalam What’s the ruling on non-Muslims entering the masjid, I thought it was haram
Q2. If someone is trying to revert is it allowed for them also

Q1. ANSWER:

It is not permissible for disbelievers (Kuffar) to enter the mosque; therefore, bringing them into the mosque is not a correct act. As Allah Almighty states in the Holy Qur’an:

يٰۤاَیُّهَا الَّذِیْنَ اٰمَنُوْۤا اِنَّمَا الْمُشْرِكُوْنَ نَجَسٌ فَلَا یَقْرَبُوا الْمَسْجِدَ الْحَرَامَ بَعْدَ عَامِهِمْ هٰذَاۚ-وَ اِنْ خِفْتُمْ عَیْلَةً فَسَوْفَ یُغْنِیْكُمُ اللّٰهُ مِنْ فَضْلِهٖۤ اِنْ شَآءَؕ-اِنَّ اللّٰهَ عَلِیْمٌ حَكِیْمٌ(28)
(Surah At-Tawbah, Ayah 28)

Translation:
“O you who believe! Polytheists are absolutely impure, so they should not come near Al-Masjid Al-Harām after this year of theirs; and if your fear destitution, then soon Allah will endow you with affluence from His Grace if He wills; indeed Allah is All-Knowing, Most-Wise.”

Under this verse, it is mentioned in Tafsir Sirat al-Jinan:
“The prohibition on polytheists here means that Muslims should prevent them from entering Masjid al-Haram. The primary ruling applies to Masjid al-Haram, but the same applies to all mosques worldwide—that disbelievers should not enter them. Especially, bringing disbelievers into the mosque with honor, respect, and a welcoming attitude is severely unlawful (haram).”

Imam Ahmad Raza Khan (رحمۃُ اللہِ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ) states:
“Saying that the prohibition of disbelievers from Masjid al-Haram was only for a specific time, and that it is no longer applicable, is a blatant lie against Allah. The Qur’anic command still applies:

“اِنَّمَا الْمُشْرِكُوْنَ نَجَسٌ فَلَا یَقْرَبُوا الْمَسْجِدَ الْحَرَامَ بَعْدَ عَامِهِمْ هٰذَاۚ”
Translation:
’Polytheists are absolutely impure, so they should not come near Al-Masjid Al-Harām after this year of theirs;’

Similarly, claiming that delegations of disbelievers used to worship in their way inside Masjid Nabawi is entirely false. The Noble Messenger (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) had no other sitting place except in the mosque, so whoever came to meet him did so there. No disbeliever ever entered in a manner of dominance or superiority; rather, they came humiliated, subdued, or to embrace Islam or to hear the message of Islam.”
(Fatawa Ridawiyyah, Kitab al-Siyar, Vol. 14, pp. 390-391)

Q2. ANSWER:

Yes, it is permissible for a non-Muslim to enter the mosque with the intention of accepting Islam. In this case, it is recommended that they perform a ritual bath (Ghusl) before entering the mosque. Additionally, a non-Muslim can also be brought into the mosque for the purpose of guiding them towards Islam and bringing them closer to the Deen.

Answered by: Usman Madani (Ask Mufti Scholar)
Translated by: Shaheer Attari