Is it permissible to rent a house to use as a mosque for prayer?

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It is permissible to rent a dwelling to use it as a mosque in which to pray. This view is held by Malik and Al-Shafi'i. The basis for this ruling is that this involves a permissible benefit that can be extracted from the property while the property itself remains intact. Therefore, renting the property for this purpose is valid, similar to renting for habitation (residence). This is distinguished from prayer insofar as prayer cannot be delegated to another party, unlike the construction of mosques.