Prohibition of Decorating Mosques with Ornaments and Designs
Excerpt taken from Sheikh Muhammad Munir Qamar’s book Ahkam al-Masajid
◈ Prohibition of Ornamentation and Decoration in Mosques
Islam is a religion of simplicity. Its teachings are simple, and it demands simplicity from its followers. Even regarding mosques, Islam commands simplicity—there is no need for adornments, ornaments, or decorative patterns. Such embellishments have no connection with the spirit of Islam.
This becomes evident from various reports. For instance, in Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, Musnad Ahmad, and other Hadith books, it is narrated from Umm al-Muʾminin ʿAʾishah (RA) that she once hung a curtain with images in her house:
فدخل رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فنزعه
When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ entered, he removed the curtain.
(Bukhari 5954, 5955; Muslim with Nawawi 14/7/86-89)
According to another narration in Bukhari and Musnad Ahmad, the Prophet ﷺ prayed in front of that curtain and said:
أزيلي عني قرامك هذا فإنه لا تزال تصاويره تعرض لي فى صلاتي
"Remove this curtain from before me, for its images keep appearing before me in my prayer."
(Riyadh al-Salihin 631-632; Mutafi with Nayl 2/1/163-1640)
These Ahadith show two important points:
① Hanging images is forbidden and condemned.
② Any decorative object—whether images or ornamental designs—that appears before a worshipper distracts and disturbs khushuʿ (humility) in Salah.
If such decoration is disliked in homes, then how much more unsuitable would it be in mosques built exclusively for worship?
✿ Prohibition of Excessive Construction and Decoration
The Prophet ﷺ prohibited unnecessary extravagance in mosque construction. Reported from Ibn ʿAbbas (RA):
ما أمرت بتشييد المساجد
"I have not been commanded to build lofty (excessively elevated) mosques."
(Sahih Abi Dawud 431, al-Mawarid 305, Muntakhab al-Akhbar 2/1/149-150, Sahih al-Jamiʿ 5/3/127, Mishkat 1/224)
The word تشييد here means building tall, lofty structures.
Thus, when the Qur’an in Surah al-Nur, verse 36 says:
﴿فِي بُيُوتٍ أَذِنَ اللَّهُ أَن تُرْفَعَ وَيُذْكَرَ فِيهَا اسْمُهُ﴾
It does not refer to physically elevating mosques with excessive structures. Rather, the intended meaning is honoring the mosques by keeping them pure, clean, and reserved for the remembrance of Allah.
Building lofty mosques with ornamental decoration paves the way for extravagance and ostentation, which Islam warns against.
✿ Resemblance to Jews and Christians
Reported from Ibn ʿAbbas (RA):
تزخرفوها كما زخرفت اليهود والنصارى
"Do not adorn the mosques as the Jews and Christians adorned theirs."
(Nayl al-Awtar 2/1/150, Fath al-Bari 1/540)
Thus, decorating mosques with ornaments and engravings is counted as an imitation of Jews and Christians—a practice strictly discouraged in Islam.
✿ Condemnation of Boasting About Mosques
Excessive construction and decoration naturally lead to boasting and rivalry, which the Prophet ﷺ condemned.
Narrated by Anas (RA), the Prophet ﷺ said:
يأتي على أمتي زمان يتباهون بالمساجد ولا يعمرونها إلا قليلا
"A time will come upon my Ummah when they will boast about their mosques, but few will actually maintain them (through worship)."
(Sahih Bukhari with Fath 1/539, Nayl al-Awtar 2/1/151)
Another narration states:
لا تقوم الساعة حتى يتباهى الناس فى المساجد
"The Hour will not be established until people begin boasting about their mosques."
(Sahih Abi Dawud 432, Sahih Nasaʾi 665, Ibn Majah 739, Mawarid al-Zamʿan 307-308, Sahih al-Jamiʿ 6/3/175, Fath al-Bari 1/539)
From these authentic Ahadith, it is clear that:- Mosques should remain simple.
- Ornamentation, engravings, and excessive decoration are forbidden.
- Such practices resemble Jews and Christians.
- Competing in mosque beautification leads to boasting and neglect of actual worship.
