Selling a mosque in order to buy a new mosque in a better location

Praise be to Allah.

We put this question to Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen, who replied as follows:

“Praise be to Allaah. Yes, this is permissible, but on the condition that the (Muslim) neighbours agree. If the Muslim neighbours of the mosque who pray there agree, then there is nothing wrong with it, because the other mosque may be far away from them, and this mosque is freehold.”

Question:

If the Muslims in that city are scattered and live far away from one another, whose opinion should count?

Answer:

“They should heed the opinion of those among them who live near the mosque, so that the mosque will not be so far away from them that it becomes difficult for them to attend.

Question:

If the other mosque or new mosque will benefit a greater number of Muslims, what should they do?

Answer:

“I think that they should leave the old mosque as it is and build another, new mosque in the other place. If they cannot build the other mosque because they have little money, I think they should leave the old mosque as it is so that its neighbours are not adversely affected by the new mosque being too far away.