Serving as religious as well as social hubs, community mosques in Indonesia have been known for their openness and inclusivity. However, contemporary socio-political dynamics between religious groups have made these mosques vulnerable to appropriation or expropriation. Instances have been observed where mosques, initially established and nurtured by local communities, have undergone gradual or abrupt takeovers by other groups, transforming their inclusive nature into exclusive ideological enclaves. This grounded theory study examined local communities’ dynamic responses toward potential conflicts emerging within their mosques. Findings showed various forms of conflict escalation, including the misuse of mosque spaces for political activities, power struggles for administrative authority, and efforts to seize control under the pretext of purifying religious spaces. In response, community mosques adopted conflict prevention strategies focused on averting confrontations until such conflicts became inevitable. This paper primarily delves into the strategies employed by local communities to preempt conflicts before expropriation attempts occur and, in select instances, after such occurrences. The dominant conflict prevention strategies typically involve place-attachment reinforcements among local communities regarding their mosques’ historical and cultural context. On the other hand, place-detachment emerges as a last resort strategy, seldom opted for, whereby individuals ‘let go’ and detach themselves from their mosques, then relocate their activities to another mosque more aligned with their religious views. This research revealed that in the context of mosques’ conflict prevention, the concepts of place attachment and place detachment are profoundly significant, as places of worship also maintain society’s cultural identity and social cohesion. Keywords: place attachment, place detachment, conflict, mosque, community