BENEFIT 395: Ruling on decorating the exterior of the masājid

Sheikh Yahya hafidahullah said: Decorating masājid is not desirable...It is prohibited. [عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ ﷺ ((مَا أُمِرْتُ بِتَشْيِيدِ الْمَسَاجِدِ)).‏ قَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ] لَتُزَخْرِفُنَّهَا كَمَا زَخْرَفَتِ الْيَهُودُ وَالنَّصَارَى.‏ [Narrated ’Abdullāh ibn ’Abbās: I was not commanded to build extravagant masājid. Ibn ’Abbās said:] You will certainly adorn them as the Jews and Christians did. [Dawud, 448 Sahih (Al-Albani)] Whether internally or externally. However, the matter is less serious when it comes to the exterior. If the exterior of the masjid is adorned, it does not directly affect the worshippers. However, if the interior is decorated, it brings together several prohibitions: the distraction of worshippers, and the element of ostentation and imitation of Christian churches. When Umm Salamah (may Allāh be pleased with her) informed the Prophet ﷺ that churches were adorned with images, he said: "The worst of creation in the sight of Allāh are those who, when a righteous man among them dies, build a place of worship over his grave and decorate it with images." ➡️@almanhajussalafi