Q: A group of Muslims raised money to establish a religious school. Their wish came true, and the school was established. The Jumu`ah (Friday) Prayer began to be held there, in addition to the Islamic teachings. Holding Jumu`ah Prayer was not their original intention. What is the ruling on the following:1- Is it permissible to consider this school a Masjid (mosque)? (Part No. 8; Page No. 269) 2- Is Tahiyyat-ul-Masjid (two-unit Prayer to salute the mosque) to be offered there?3- Is there a difference between the reward of offering Salah (Prayer) in that school and offering Salah in the original Masjid?4- what is the ruling on the gathering of the Muslims to offer the Jumu`ah Prayer somewhere other than a Masjid? Is it permissible to offer Tahiyyat-ul-Masjid there? Is it permissible to consider this place a Masjid? 5-If the people desert the place in which the Jumu`ah Prayer used to be held, what is the ruling on this? Are they considered sinful?

A: First, the entire earth is considered a purified place for Salah except that which is excluded by evidence, i.e. the places where it is prohibited to offer Salah. The evidence is that the entire earth is a purified place for Salah, except that which is proven by evidence, is what was narrated by Jabir ibn `Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him), that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) stated, The earth has been made pure and a place of Salah for me; whenever the time of the Salah comes for anyone of you, they should offer Salah wherever they are. Agreed upon by Al-Bukhari and Muslim. Ibn Al-Mundhir said it is authentically reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) stated, The earth has been made pure and a place of Salah for me. Narrated by (Part No. 8; Page No. 270)  Al-Khattaby with the same Isnad (chain of narrators). As for the evidence on the places where it is prohibited to offer Salah, it is what was narrated by Abu Sa`id Al-Khudry (may Allah be pleased with him), that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, The whole earth is a place of Salah except public bathrooms and graveyards. Narrated by Ahmad, Al-Tirmidhy, Al-Nasa'y, Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah. It was also reported from Abu Marthad Al-Ghanawy (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) stated, Do not offer Salah facing towards the graves, and do not sit on them. Narrated by Ahmad, Muslim, Al-Tirmidhy, Abu Dawud and Al-Nasa'y. It is also reported from Jundub ibn `Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) that he heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) saying five days before his death, Those who preceded you used to take the graves of their prophets and righteous men as places of worship, but you must not take graves as places of worship; I forbid you to do that. Narrated by Muslim . It is also reported from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) stated, You can offer Salah in the sheepfolds, but not in the camel yards. (Part No. 8; Page No. 271)  Narrated by Ahmad and ranked by Al-Tirmidhy as Sahih (authentic). Second, this school is considered a Masjid if its owners make it so by announcing the Adhan (call to Prayer) throughout day. If they do not turn it into a Masjid, it is not considered one, and the teachers and students there should offer the Jumu`ah and the congregational Salah at nearby Masjids.Third, if it is settled that it is a Masjid, it takes on all the rulings on Masjids, such as Tahiyyat-ul-Masjid and so on. Otherwise, it does not.Fourth, the difference between offering Salah in the school and offering it in the Masjid is great, as the Prophet (peace be upon him) ordered us to offer Salah in the Masjid, and told us that it is twenty five times more superior in reward than Salah at home or in the market. In another Hadith, it is stated, (Part No. 8; Page No. 272)  twenty seven times more superior. He ordered the Muslims to offer Salah in the Masjid, and admonished those who missed it.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.