Al-Sharḥ al-Mumtiʿ - Ibn al-'Uthaymin - (8/78)

Al-Sharḥ al-MumtiʿIbn al-'Uthaymin

churches in our lands, just as they allow us to build mosques in theirs?”

The answer is: We say that this is foolishness. The matter is not one of reciprocal treatment, for these are not worldly matters; rather, they are religious matters. Churches are houses of disbelief and polytheism, whereas mosques are houses of faith and sincere devotion; there is a difference between the two. The earth belongs to Allah, so whenever we build a mosque anywhere on earth, we build one of Allah’s houses upon Allah’s earth—unlike them.

Third: rebuilding what has collapsed of them. That is, if there were churches already in existence before we conquered and took possession of the land, and their people became protected non-Muslim subjects under our authority, but those churches then collapsed, we prevent them from rebuilding them, because rebuilding constitutes a new construction, and so they are prevented from it.

His statement, “even if it was wrongfully destroyed,” means: even if it was demolished unjustly. For example, if one of the Muslims assaulted it and demolished it, it is not to be rebuilt. This indicates a point of disagreement—namely, his words, “even if it was wrongfully destroyed.” Some scholars have said that if it was wrongfully demolished, they have the right to rebuild it. It would also be a valid view to say that the one who demolished it must rebuild it and compensate for it, since this is transgression and injustice, and we are obliged to protect the protected non-Muslim subjects from injustice and transgression.

The correct view is that if it was wrongfully demolished, it is to be rebuilt, because it did not collapse on its own. However, if they themselves demolish it and wish to renovate it, they are prevented from doing so.

“And from raising a building above that of a Muslim, but not from making it equal to his.”

Fourth: his statement, “and from raising a building above that of a Muslim,” means that if they live in a district and wish to construct tall buildings that rise above the buildings of the Muslims, we prevent them from doing so.

الكنائس في بلادنا كما يمكنوننا من بناء المساجد في بلادهم؟ الجواب: نقول: هذا من السفه، ليست المسألة من باب المكافأة، إذ ليست مسائل دنيوية، فهي مسائل دينية، فالكنائس بيوت الكفر والشرك، والمساجد بيوت الإيمان والإخلاص فبينهما فرق، والأرض لله، فنحن إذا بنينا مسجداً في أي مكان من الأرض فقد بنينا بيوت الله في أرض الله بخلافهم. ثالثاً: بناء ما انهدم منها، أي: لو كان هناك كنائس موجودة قبل فتحنا البلاد واستيلائنا عليها، وصار أهلها أهل ذمة بالنسبة لنا لكن انهدمت هذه الكنائس فإننا نمنعهم من بنائها؛ لأن البناء إحداث فنمنعهم منه. وقوله: «ولو ظلماً» أي: ولو هدمت ظلماً، كما لو سطا عليها أحد من المسلمين وهدمها فإنها لا تقام مرة أخرى، وهذه إشارة خلاف، أعني قوله: «ولو ظلماً»، فإن بعض أهل العلم قال: إذا هدمت ظلماً فلهم إعادة بنائها، ولو قيل: إنه يعيدها من هدمها ويضمن لكان له وجه؛ لأن هذا عدوان وظلم، وأهل الذمة يجب علينا منع الظلم والعدوان عنهم. فالصواب أنه إذا هدمت ظلماً فإنها تعاد؛ وذلك لأنها لم تنهدم بنفسها، فإن هدموها هم وأرادوا تجديدها فإنهم يمنعون منه. وَمِن تَعْلِيَةِ بُنْيَانٍ عَلَى مُسْلِمٍ لَا مِن مُسَاوَاتِهِ لَهُ .. رابعاً: قوله: «ومن تعلية بنيان على مسلم» أي: إذا كانوا في حي من الأحياء، وأرادوا أن يبنوا عمارات رفيعة تعلو بناء المسلمين فإننا نمنعهم.