3a] Ruling on offering Jumu‘ah prayer in a church where there are images or statues

''Friday Prayers'' :-:->
3a]
The Standing Committee and Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy
on him) issued fatwas stating that it is makrooh to pray in a place in
which there are images, but the prayer is valid if that takes place.
In Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa'imah (5/377) [vol. 2] it says: What is the
ruling on praying in the house or room in which there are statues of
animals or humans for decoration?
Answer: It is haraam to keep images or statues and put them in houses,
because the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said
to'Ali (may Allah be pleased with him): "Do not leave any image
without erasing it or any built-up grave without levelling it." And
because he (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: "The
angels do not enter a house in which there is a dog or an image." It
is makrooh to pray in a room in which there are pictures hanging or
statues, especially if they are in front of the person when he faces
the qiblah. But the prayer is valid.
And Allah is the source of strength. May Allah send blessings and
peace upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and Companions.
Standing Committee for Academic Research and Issuing Fatwas.
Bakr Abu Zayd, 'Abd al-'Azeez Aal al-Shaykh, Saalih al-Fawzaan,
'Abd-Allah ibn Ghadyaan, 'Abd al-Razzaaq 'Afeefi, 'Abd al-'Azeez ibn
'Abd-Allah ibn Baaz. End quote.
Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy onhim) said:… As for the
prayer, it is valid, but it is makrooh to pray in a place in which
there are images except in the case of necessity; if nothing else is
available, then there is nothing wrong with it. End quote.
To sum up:
1. There is nothing wrong with praying inside the church if it is
free of images and statues, whether that is Jumu'ah prayer or any
other prayer.
2. It is makrooh to pray in a church if there are images or
statues in it. If the Muslims need to pray there because there is no
other place available, and they cover these statues with something
that will conceal them, there is nothing wrong with it and it is not
makrooh.
And Allah knows best.