#1164: Ruling on Adorning the Masjid with Gold

QUESTION:

“Assalam Alaykum,
Is there any Hadith prohibiting adornment of mosque with gold?”

ANSWER:

Wa Alaykum Salam Warahmatullah Wabarakaatuh.

Alhamdulillah.

The position of the Majority of the Fuqahaa is that Decorations of Mosque is Makruh generally, and Haraam when it is done with gold. The proof of this is the Hadith that was recorded by Imam Abu Daawud As-Sijistaani rahimahullah from Abdullah bn Abbas radiyallahu anhuma that the Rasul salallahu alayhi wasallam said:

ما أمرت بتشييد المساجد

“I was not commanded to build high the Masaajid”

Ibn Abbas continued by saying:

لتزخرفنها كما زخرفت اليهود والنصارى

“You will indeed ornament them just as the Jews and the Christians did”

Shamsu Al-Haqq Al-Azim Abaadi rahimahullah mentioned in ‘Awnu Al-Ma’abud that ornamenting here refers primarily to gold and Silver.

Mullah Ali Al-Qaari regarded beautification of Masaajid with ornaments as a Bida’ah based on this Hadith.

And in the Hadith of Abu Ad-Dardaa that was recorded by Imaam Abu Isa At-Tirmidhi rahimahullah, he said:

إذا زخرفتم مساجدكم وحليتم مصاحفكم فالدمار عليكم)

“When you ornament your Masaajid and beautify your Masaahif, then doom is nearby you.”

This Hadith was considered Hasan by Shaykh Muhammad Nasiruddin Al-Albaani rahimahullah in his Sahih At-Tirmidhi.

And in the Hadith of Anas that was recorded by Imam Abu Daawud As-Sijistaani rahimahullah and graded Sahih by Muhammad Nasiruddin Al-Albaani rahimahullah, the Rasul salallahu alayhi wasallam said:

لَا تَقُومُ السَّاعَةُ حَتَّى يَتَبَاهَى النَّاسُ فِي الْمَسَاجِدِ

“The Hour will not come until people compete in (the ornamenting and the building of) Masaajid.”

This is because the Sunnah is to have a simple Masjid, though comfortable for the Servants of Allah, spacious if needed, but simple and not distracting the Worshippers of Allah from their Worship.

And Allah knows best.

Barakallahu fikum.
Jazakumullahu Khayran.

Abū Asim

7th Jumadal Ūla, 1443AH.

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