Performing Salaah in a Musallah

Question:-

In our town, we have approximately 38 Masajid. Can the Fardh Salaah still be performed in a Jamaat khana or Musallah, even though the distance to the Masjid is the same.

Answer:-

The Salaah will be valid in the Musallah. However, if the Masjid is in close proximity, then Salaah should be performed in the Masjid. The virtues for performing Salaah in a Masjid are far greater than performing Salaah in a Musallah.

Since there are 38 Masaajid in your town, in our understanding, there doesn’t seem to be a need for a Musallah, particularly when the Masjid and Musallah are equidistant. The Fuqaha have written that,  if there is a Masjid in a town (which fulfils the needs of the community) and a second Masjid is established for show, then doing so is Makrooh. Yes, if it is erected due to a need and not for show, then it is in order.

اذا كان هذه مباهاة ورياء او سمعة فهو أيضا مكروه بل بناء المساجد بهذه النية الفاسدة يكون مكروها أيضا الخ (بذل المجهود ص259 ج1)

ALLAH TA’ALA KNOWS BEST!

ANSWERED BY:

Mufti Mohammed Desai

Date: 13 Dhul Qa’dah 1444 / 03 June 2023