What is the Islamic view on protecting churches?

Islam mandates the protection of churches. Quran 22:40 is a foundational verse indicating that had it not been for God's defense of people, churches and other places of worship would be destroyed. This principle was historically applied in covenants like the Pact of Umar.

Are Muslims allowed to build or repair churches?

There are differing opinions among Islamic jurists. Some classical scholars restricted the building of new churches in certain contexts, while many contemporary scholars, including those from Al-Azhar, permit the building and repair of churches, especially where there is a need and it serves the public good.

Churches in Islam: A Quranic Perspective on Places of Worship

Q: Does the Quran mention churches?

Yes, the Quran mentions churches (biyaʿun) in Surah Al-Hajj (22:40) in the context of divine protection for all monotheistic places of worship, including monasteries, synagogues, and mosques, where the name of God is commemorated.

Churches

Explore Verses Related to Churches

🕌Al-Hajj22:40

At a Glance

In the Quran, churches, referred to by the Arabic term 'biyaʿun' (بِيَعٌ), are mentioned in the context of divine protection for all monotheistic places of worship. The sole reference in Surah Al-Hajj (22:40) establishes a profound principle of religious tolerance, indicating that had it not been for God repelling some people by means of others, monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques where His name is frequently mentioned would have been demolished. This verse is a cornerstone for the Islamic legal and historical tradition of safeguarding the religious freedom of 'People of the Book'. Historical precedents, such as the Pact of Umar with the Christians of Jerusalem, institutionalized this protection, guaranteeing the security of their churches. Contemporary Islamic scholarship continues to build on this foundation, with prominent institutions like Al-Azhar affirming the permissibility of building and maintaining churches in Muslim societies.

📖 Quranic Context

The mention of churches is highly significant as it occurs in the context of divine protection of all monotheistic places of worship, highlighting the principle of religious freedom in Islam.

Churches are presented as places where the name of God is commemorated, and their protection is linked to God's defense of believers and the natural order of society.

References: The specific term for churches, 'biyaʿun', is mentioned once in the Quran in Surah Al-Hajj, verse 40 (22:40).

💭 Theological Perspective

The existence of diverse places of worship is acknowledged as a reality of human societies.

The protection of churches is part of the divine order, preventing widespread corruption and allowing for the remembrance of God.

📜 Hadith Perspective

The Prophet Muhammad's covenants with Christian communities, such as the (debated) letter to the monks of St. Catherine's Monastery, emphasize the protection of their churches and freedom of worship.

Protection of the lives, property, and places of worship of non-Muslims.
Freedom from religious compulsion for 'People of the Book'.

There is a scholarly consensus on the necessity of protecting the places of worship of non-Muslims under Islamic rule, based on the Quran, the Sunnah, and historical precedents like the Pact of Umar.

💎 Deeper Insights

The mention of churches in Quran 22:40 is not merely a statement of tolerance, but an articulation of the divine wisdom in allowing the 'pushing back' of some people by others to preserve all places where God is worshipped. This suggests that a diversity of monotheistic faiths is part of the divine plan to prevent absolute corruption.

— Ibn Kathir, Al-Qurtubi