Short answer
It depends whose money pays for it. In the Hanafi school decorating a masjid with calligraphy, patterns or fine materials is permissible from a donor's own wealth given for that purpose, but masjid funds should go to its needs, not to ornament. Decoration on the qibla wall that distracts people praying is disliked. Competing over grand mosques is blameworthy.
Decorating a masjid from the founder's or donor's own money is permissible and not sinful, though spending it on the poor is better. Using waqf or general masjid funds for decoration beyond strengthening and maintaining the building is not permissible. Ornament in front of the worshippers, on the qibla wall, is makruh because it distracts.
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i
- Decorating mosques is disliked, and paying for it from the mosque's endowment is not permissible.
- Hanbali
- Decorating mosques is disliked, and gilding them with gold or silver is forbidden.
Explanation
The Prophet ﷺ said the Hour will not come until people boast to one another about their mosques. His own masjid was built of mud brick and palm trunks. Scholars therefore warn against turning masjids into showpieces, while recognising that a well-built, dignified masjid honours Allah's house.
The Hanafi details:
- Donor's own money: if someone pays for calligraphy, tiles or a fine dome from his own wealth with that intention, it is permissible. Many Hanafi scholars add that giving the same money to the poor or to the masjid's real needs would be better.
- Masjid funds: the trustees may not spend donations given for the masjid in general on ornament. They go to building, repairs, utilities, the imam and the needs of worship.
- The qibla wall: busy patterns, bright colours or writing directly in front of the people praying are disliked, because they pull attention away from the prayer.
- Quran on the walls: some Hanafi scholars dislike writing Quranic verses on walls where they may fade, fall or be disrespected. If it is done, keep it high and well kept.
Calligraphy of Allah's names and Quranic verses has a long history in Muslim architecture, and many famous masjids are decorated. The scholars' concern is not beauty itself but waste, showing off and distraction in prayer. If your masjid committee is weighing a design project, ask whether the money is clearly given for it and whether the prayer hall stays calm.
See also can zakat be given to a mosque and the oldest mosques in the world.
The evidence
Quran, Surah At-Tawba 9:18
إِنَّمَا يَعْمُرُ مَسَٰجِدَ ٱللَّهِ مَنْ ءَامَنَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلْيَوْمِ ٱلْءَاخِرِ وَأَقَامَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَءَاتَى ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَلَمْ يَخْشَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهَ ۖ فَعَسَىٰٓ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ أَن يَكُونُوا۟ مِنَ ٱلْمُهْتَدِينَ ﴿١٨﴾
The mosques of Allah are only to be maintained by those who believe in Allah and the Last Day and establish prayer and give zakah and do not fear except Allah, for it is expected that those will be of the [rightly] guided.
Maintaining masjids is a deed of believers; the focus is worship, not display.
Sunan Abi Dawud 449
Grading to be checked... لا تقوم الساعة حتى يتباهى الناس في المساجد ...
"The Hour will not come until people boast to one another about mosques."
Competing over grand mosques is a sign of the end times and is blameworthy.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Salah, chapter on what is disliked in the prayer. There is no harm in decorating the masjid with plaster, teak and gold from one's own wealth; from waqf funds it is not allowed beyond what is needed.
- Radd al-Muhtar (Ibn Abidin), Kitab al-Salah, chapter on what is disliked in the prayer. Decoration on the qibla wall is disliked because it distracts the worshipper.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.