Question
We have converted a house into a place to pray. There are no other rooms. I want to know if it is forbidden to use this room for teaching martial arts (self-defense) to children or adults. If you believe that it can be then please support your answer with proper references from the basic sources of religious knowledge in Islam, the Qur’an and the Sunnah.
Answer
I believe that it is not proper to use the mosque for such purposes as the love and veneration we have for the mosques does not allow it. It is against mannerism Muslims have adopted for the house of God. However, to say that it prohibited to use the mosque for such activities calls for sound evidence from the Qur’an and the Sunnah. We do not find such prohibition in these sources. It is not right to demand arguments from the one who says it is not haram. Rather it is upon the one who claims it is haram to bring the proofs. For example we use cars. We consider it to be allowable to use them for different personal and public purposes. If someone claims that it is forbidden to use cars altogether or in some specific ways then he may bring proofs from the basic sources of religious knowledge. The burden of proof cannot put on those who do not make such claims.
Answered by: Tariq Mahmood Hashmi
Date: 2015-03-02
