Title: Mosque locked after zuhr jamaat

Question: The main mosque in our area in Mumbai, India is generally locked 1 hour after Zuhr (Noon) salah. No one is permitted to enter the mosque after 2.30 pm except khadims (Caretakers, Muezzin etc.) who live in the mosque. Is this permissible in Islam as this rule in a way denies the rights to some locals, travelers and visitors in our area?

Answer ID: 183182Posted on: Nov 2, 2021

Bismillah hir-Rahman nir-Rahim !

(Fatwa: 332/264/B=3/1443)

The jurists have written that it is makrooh to lock the mosque i.e. it should be kept open. But if there is a fear of theft with regards to the goods of the mosque by keeping it open all the times or if there is a fear of polluting the mosque due to the food and sleep of the visitors in the bazaar or people will defecate in the bathroom or toilet of the mosque, then for these reasons the mosque can be closed in times other than salah. A mosque is built for salah not for travelers and visitors.