A Prophetic Warning Against Beautifying Mosques and Competing in Building Them Higher and Higher.
Over the centuries, we have seen how Muslims have built taller and taller masājid, adorning them lavishly, and competing with one another in minarets, domes, marble, rugs, carpets and wudoo facilities. We should pay attention and not fall into exaggeration and excess in spending the wealth of donors and adornments – and thus fall into what the Messenger of Allah (salallāhu ʿalaihi wasallam) and his Companions warned against. ʿAbdullāh Ibn ʿAbbās narrated that the Prophet (salallāhu ʿalaihi wasallam) said:
مَا أُمِرْتُ بِتَشْيِيدِ الْمَسَاجِدِ
“I was not commanded to construct high mosques.” Ibn ʿAbbās (Allah be pleased with him) added:
لَتُزَخْرِفُنَّهَا كَمَا زَخْرَفَتِ الْيَهُودُ وَالنَّصَارَى
“You will surely adorn them as the Jews and Christians adorned them (i.e., their places of worship).” (Abu Dawood, no 448, and graded saheeh by Al-Albāni) And the Messenger of Allah in many places warned us from imitating the People of the Book in their ways.
Anas Ibn Mālik narrated that the Prophet (salallāhu ʿalaihi wasallam) said:
لاَ تَقُومُ السَّاعَةُ حَتَّى يَتَبَاهَى النَّاسُ فِي الْمَسَاجِدِ
“The Final Hour will not be established until the people compete with each other in the building of [elaborate] Mosques.” (Abu Dawood, no 449, and graded saheeh by Al-Albāni)
The Masjid of our noble Prophet (salallāhu ʿalaihi wasallam) was a simple structure, and the early expansions were useful, needed and not elaborate or grand. ʿAbdullah Ibn ʿUmar (Allah be pleased with him) said:
أَنَّ الْمَسْجِدَ كَانَ عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مَبْنِيًّا بِاللَّبِنِ وَالْجَرِيدِ – قَالَ مُجَاهِدٌ وَعَمَدُهُ مِنْ خَشَبِ النَّخْلِ – فَلَمْ يَزِدْ فِيهِ أَبُو بَكْرٍ شَيْئًا وَزَادَ فِيهِ عُمَرُ وَبَنَاهُ عَلَى بِنَائِهِ فِي عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِاللَّبِنِ وَالْجَرِيدِ وَأَعَادَ عَمَدَهُ – قَالَ مُجَاهِدٌ عُمُدَهُ خَشَبًا – وَغَيَّرَهُ عُثْمَانُ فَزَادَ فِيهِ زِيَادَةً كَثِيرَةً وَبَنَى جِدَارَهُ بِالْحِجَارَةِ الْمَنْقُوشَةِ وَالْقَصَّةِ وَجَعَلَ عَمَدَهُ مِنْ حِجَارَةٍ مَنْقُوشَةٍ وَسَقَّفَهُ بِالسَّاجِ . قَالَ مُجَاهِدٌ وَسَقْفُهُ السَّاجُ . قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ الْقَصَّةُ الْجِصُّ .
“The Masjid of the Prophet during his lifetime was built with bricks its roof with branches of the date-palm tree.” Mujāhid stated: “Its pillars were of wood (date-palm tree).” [Ibn ʿUmar said]: “Abu Bakr did not increase anything to it. However, ʿUmar did add to it. He built upon what was built during the time of Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) with further bricks and branches, and he changed its pillars.” Mujāhid stated: “Its pillars were made of wood.” Ibn ʿUmar said: “ʿUthman changed it considerably with major additions. He built its walls with chiselled/carved stone and lime. He also built the pillars with chiselled and carved stone and its roof with teak.” Mujahid said: “Its roof was made of teak.” Abu Dawood said: “Al-Qassah is to use lime as mortar.” (Abu Dawood, no 451, and graded saheeh by Al-Albāni)
Compare that to many of the mosques of later times up until today, which are extravagant and excessive with very high minarets, vaulted ceilings, calligraphy of gold and silver, and huge domes.
The people of Sunnah, Hadeeth and Salafiyyah should establish simple masājid for the worship of Allah and to teach the people the Religion – and we should keep them clean and perfumed. ʿA’ishah (Allah be pleased with her) narrated:
أَمَرَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِبِنَاءِ الْمَسَاجِدِ فِي الدُّورِ وَأَنْ تُنَظَّفَ وَتُطَيَّبَ
“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) commanded us to build mosques in different localities (of the city) and that they should be kept clean and perfumed.” (Abu Dawood, no 455, and graded saheeh by Al-Albāni)
Samurah (Allah be pleased with him) wrote to his sons and said:
كَانَ يَأْمُرُنَا بِالْمَسَاجِدِ أَنْ نَصْنَعَهَا فِي دِيَارِنَا وَنُصْلِحَ صَنْعَتَهَا وَنُطَهِّرَهَا
“Allah’s Messenger (salallāhu ʿalaihi wasallam) commanded us to build mosques in our localities – and to take care of them and to keep them clean.” (Abu Dawood, no 456, and graded saheeh by Al-Albāni)
Let us, therefore, not forget the purpose of the masjid – it is not for competition, to show off, or to spend extravagantly upon them using the wealth of the people needlessly. The masjid should be welcoming (cosy even), well-lit, comfortable, clean and smelling nice. The wudoo areas should be accessible, spacious, well-maintained and clean (hygienic). People should not leave litter and food in the masjid – they should treat the Houses of Allah better than their homes in which they sleep and rest. Sisters’ areas also should be given similar attention to the areas of the men. Bārakallāhu feekum.
Abu Khadeejah.
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