❖ Question:
What does Islamic Sharīʿah say about writing Qur’anic verses and drawing images of sacred sites on the walls of mosques?❖ Answer by: Fadīlat al-Shaykh ʿAbd al-Wakīl Nāṣir ḥafiẓahullāh
❖ ① Prohibition of Excessive Decoration in Mosques
Islam encourages keeping mosques simple and free from unnecessary decoration. Excessive embellishment is considered contrary to the humility and focus required in worship.
ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما warned:
"لَتُزَخْرِفُنَّهَا كَمَا زَخْرَفَتِ الْيَهُودُ وَالنَّصَارَى"
“You will surely decorate your mosques just as the Jews and Christians did.”
✔ This highlights that imitating non-Muslim practices in mosque decoration is discouraged.
❖ ② Prophetic Practice: Avoiding Distracting Designs
The Prophet ﷺ once changed his prayer location when the mat had patterns that distracted him.
✔ This indicates the Sunnah is to avoid any visual elements in the mosque that may divert a worshiper’s concentration during prayer.
❖ ③ Ruling on Writing Qur’anic Verses on Mosque Walls
✔ If a verse or two is written for educational or reminder purposes, it is permissible with conditions, such as:
- It must not distract worshippers
- It should not be used for ornamental display
✘ Using Qur’anic verses as decoration is not allowed, as it leads to disrespect of the sacred text and shifts the purpose from remembrance to embellishment.
❖ ④ Drawing or Displaying Images of Sacred Sites
✘ Making drawings or images of sacred places (like the Kaʿbah or Masjid al-Nabawī) in mosques is disliked (makrūh) and should be avoided because:
- It may distract worshippers
- It resembles the practices of Jews and Christians, who beautified their places of worship with images
- It goes against the spirit of simplicity encouraged in Islam
❖ Summary:
✔ Simplicity in mosques is a Sunnah and the best practice.
✔ Writing a verse or two for instructional purposes may be allowed, but not for aesthetic decoration.
✘ Using Qur’anic text or calligraphy as decoration is inappropriate and can lead to disrespect.
✘ Drawing or installing pictures of sacred sites in mosques is sharʿīly discouraged and resembles the actions of non-Muslim religious communities.
Conclusion:
A mosque should reflect humility, simplicity, and devotion.
Introducing decorative elements, calligraphy as ornamentation, or imagery undermines the spiritual atmosphere of the mosque.
Muslims are advised to preserve the sanctity of mosques and avoid innovations that contradict the Prophetic model.
وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
And Allah knows best and is most correct in judgment.
