Entering a temple for a workplace event

Question

Corporate Airline company wants their employees to visit famous historical temple for the inauguration of New Flight in India.

is it permissible for a Muslim brother to go inside a temple? Muslim brother doesn't have any intention of doing their rituals. He also recites "La Hawl.."

If Muslim brother visits the temple, what is the Shara'ee ruling on him?

— Syed Qhizer Hussain, Hyderabad, India

Answer

Based on the situation described in the question, it is apparent that the company wishes to visit the temple to attain blessings, according to their religion, for the inauguration of the new flight. For a Muslim to visit the temple with such a group is ḥarām, and so a Muslim employee must avoid visiting the temple. He should request the company for his exemption by explaining that such a visit to the temple is prohibited in the religion of ‘Islām, or avoid it by any means. Muslims must abstain from any activity that is specific to the disbelievers. The Noble Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم has stated in a ḥadīth:

من تشبه بقوم فهو منهم

Whoever imitates a nation, then he is from them.

[Sunan ‘Abī Dāwūd, Kitāb al-Libās]

To partake in the rituals and acts of worship of the disbelievers is certainly an act of kufr (disbelief). ‘A`lā Ḥaḍrat ‘Imām ‘Aḥmad Riḍā Khān, Allāh is pleased with him, writes:

کفر کے اہتمام میں شریك ہونا اور اس پر راضی ہونا کفر ہے الرضا بالکفر کفر(کفر پر راضی ہونا کفر ہے۔) وہ لوگ اسلام سے نکل گئے اور ان کی عورتیں ان کے نکاح سے

“To participate in the arrangements of kufr and to be content with it is kufr. ‘Being content with kufr is kufr.’ Such people have exited the folds of ‘Islām and their women have exited their nikāḥ.”

[Fatāwā Riḍawīyah, Vol. 21, Pg. 328]

Even if a Muslim visits and does not participate in their rituals staying separate from the group, the mere presence in the temple, church etc. is makrūh taḥrīmī (prohibitively disliked). Such places where other religions worship other than Allāh, or worship according to their creed, are sites of sin and where the shayāṭīn gather. Hence, the pure Sharī`ah does not permit Muslims to enter such places. `Allāmah ‘ibn `Ābidīn al-Shāmī, Allāh is pleased with him, states:

وفي التاتارخانية يكره للمسلم الدخول في البيعة والكنيسة وإنما يكره من حيث إنه مجمع الشياطين لا من حيث إنه ليس له حق الدخول قال في البحر والظاهر أنها تحريمية لأنها المرادة عند إطلاقهم وقد أفتيت بتعزير مسلم لازم الكنيسة مع اليهود

“And it is in al-Tātārkhānīyah, ‘It is makrūh for the Muslim to enter the bī`ah and the kanīsah (church; synagogue). And verily it is makrūh because it is the gathering place of the shayāṭīn; not because he does not have the right to enter.’ He (‘Imām ‘Ibn Nujaym) stated in al-Baḥr, ‘And the apparent [position] is that the karāhah (dislikeness) is taḥrīmīyah (prohibitively), since that is intended when they (the fuqahā’) keep it muṭlaq (general). And the verdict of ta`zīr (punishment) is given for the Muslim who constantly attends the kanīsah with the Jews.’”

[Radd al-Muḥtār, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh]

Allāh, the Exalted, knows best.

Faqīr Salmān al-Nūrī · (May he be forgiven) · Ramaḍān 11, 1445 AH

Verified by Muftī Faizān al-Muṣṭafā al-Qādirī