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Fatwa CenterPraying in churches is permissible but working therein is forbidden
Question
Is it permissible to pray in a church? Is it permissible for a wage earning laborer to work therein; to decorate it or the like? Is the person who did this considered sinful? Please advise and provide evidence.
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His Slave and Messenger.
There is no harm in praying in a church. This was held permissible by Al-Hasan, ‘Umar ibn ‘Abdul-‘Azeez, Ash-Sha‘bi and others for the general indication of the Hadeeth in which the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: "Wherever (you may be, and) the prayer time becomes due, perform the prayer, for all the earth is a place of prayer for you." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] Some scholars considered it disliked to pray there due to the images therein. This is the opinion of Maalik and Ibn ‘Abbaas 
. It was also said that praying in churches is disliked because it is like honoring and reverence to them. Moreover, it was argued that it is disliked because the Christians may feel uncomfortable about such an action. The first opinion is preferable if one needs to do this and does not make it a habit.
Concerning working in a church; in building or decorating it for example, it is impermissible because this helps them in the falsehood they adopt. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression.} [Quran 5:2] Also, because it is impermissible to rebuild their ruined churches.
Since working there is forbidden, whoever does this is sinful for committing a forbidden act and the money earned from this is considered impermissible.
Allaah Knows best.
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