Decorating the mosques

In the name of Allah, the most Beneficent, the most Merciful.

Answer

Building and furnishing a mosque for people to worship Allah (SWA) is a good deed which Allah (SWA) will reward the person abundantly.

Saaiduna Jabir Ibn Abdullah Radiallahu Anhu narrates that the Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam said “Whoever builds a mosque for the sake of Allah, like a sparrows nest or even smaller, Allah will build for him a house in Paradise”.  (Sunan Ibn Majah p.53 v.1)

The jurists have said that besides the Mihraab it is permissible to furnish the other pats of the mosque as long as it is not done with the waqf (endowment) money of the mosque.  If it is done with the endowment money it will be unlawful. One should not furnish and design the Mihraab too much as this may cause distraction to the worshippers praying there.  (Fatawa Mahmoodiyah p.180 v.6 & Ahsanul Fatawa p.459 v.6). 

Care should be taken that one is not extravagant in the furnishing and decorating of the mosques.

Saaiduna Ibn Abbas Radiallahu Anhu narrates that the Prophet of Allah Sallalahu Alahi Wasalam said, “I have not been commanded to build lofty mosques”.   Saaiduna Radiallahu Anhu said “You are going to adorn (mosques) as the Jews and Christians adorn”.  (Sunan Abi Dawud p.71 v.1)

Only Allah Knows Best

Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham