{"_id":"668da0300b76658b4c233072","title":"Is it permissible for Muslims to enter a non-Muslim religious space?","question":"Is it permissible for us as Muslims to enter a non-Muslim religious space (such as a Baha’i temple, Catholic cathedral, Jewish synagogue) for the purpose of viewing it in the lens of a “living museum?” (This question mostly applies to historically/architecturally significant buildings whose history/significance comes from their function as a religious space, think tourist-friendly cathedrals in NYC & the likes.) Does the ruling of this change if you know they will try to proselytize to you in said space while you're visiting it for the purposes of seeing it as a living museum?","answer":"Most scholars prohibited entering places of worship when there are images (statues & paintings) and said it was disliked to enter when no images are present because they considered any place where polytheism is practiced a gathering place for devils. There are some who said it’s merely disliked, even with the presence of images. However, when there is a valid need to enter, it would be permissible. If the reason for entering is sightseeing, then it would not qualify as a valid need. We should keep in mind that the greatest sin is kufr and that’s what’s being practiced at these places, and for us as believers, it’s not safe for our spiritual well-being to be in such places. While most of us are easily alerted to physical dangers and keep our distance from them, we are often not as sensitive to spiritual dangers.","tags":[{"_id":"668d9fe30b76658b4c23280f","tag":"Relationships: Non-Muslims","count":95},{"_id":"668d9fe50b76658b4c232867","tag":"Aqeedah: Sects and Religions","count":68}],"createdOn":"2024-07-09T20:40:16.017Z"}