She says that once the Prophet was engaged in teaching with certain visitors who were non-Muslims. In fact, they were Christians from Najran and they were about to take leave of him when Hazrat Suraqib asked them why they want to go because he wanted them to be longer in his company so that perhaps they could begin to see light. So they said, we can’t stay anymore because it’s time for our prayer. And the answer was that this is also a house of worship of Allah. Why don’t you say your prayer here?
So they were invited and permitted to say their prayer there. She says, can we also say our prayer in the churches or other places of worship? In principle, the answer is yes, we can say our prayer anywhere provided that our prayers are not confused with idolatry. For instance, if you begin to say your prayers in Hindu temples, you are permitted to say your prayer if you are praying to God. But you would be very ill-advised to say your prayer in a temple where there are so many idols placed in front and back of you, right and left of you. So your prayer will be confused and your mind will also be diverted. So that would be the most ill-suited place for you to pray. Similarly, in the churches where there are so many crosses, it is in your own interest not to pray there.
But if there are churches which are clean or the front wall is just without any such idolatry symbols, then you can say your prayer. I remember in America, in Canada in fact, there was a church which was full of idolatry because there the Roman Catholicism in Canada is much more idol worshipper than anywhere else in the world perhaps. Only I think Austria, parts of Austria can compete with Canada in that. But anyway, while I was showing that great cathedral to my wife and my daughters in 1978, the time for prayer came. So we said our prayer in the compound of that church with the purpose of telling them that this is how prayer should be made to Allah.
So we said it in congregation that all of the visitors, not all but a large number of visitors gathered around us to watch what was happening. And then we told them that we were praying, this is the correct way of praying. So prayers as such are not forbidden in churches. Only your prayer should not be confused with idol worshipping.
