Decorating the Masjid for 'Eed

18-1-2005 | IslamWeb

Question:

What is the ruling on decorating the Masjid for 'Eed? We would like to show some excitement in our 'Eed, to show our children that we too (Muslims) celebrate great holidays. Since a lot of our activities and events are held in our Masjid, what is permitted to do in the Masjid to show our 'Eed is a celebration. Please respond quickly, because 'Eed Al-Adhaa is just around the corner.

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

 

First of all, the mosques are not built to be a field for playing games or for celebrating festivals; rather, they are built for the purpose of establishing the prayer and other general matters of the Muslims. Allaah Says (what means): {[Such niches are] in houses [i.e. mosques] which Allaah has ordered to be raised and that His name be mentioned [i.e. praised] therein; exalting Him within them in the morning and the evenings.}[Quran 24:36]

In Islamic Law decorating mosques is something forbidden. The Prophet said: “I was not ordered to decorate mosques.” [Abu-Daawood] Ibn 'Abbaas the narrator of this narration said: “It means to decorate it as the Jews and Christians decorated their churches.”

The least degree of this prohibition is that it is disliked. Therefore, it is better, if possible, to avoid celebrating 'Eed in the mosque. However, we hope there is no harm, if there is a need for this celebration to take place in the mosque and to decorate it, provided this decoration is removed after the celebration. Finally, we draw your attention to the fact that the honour of the mosque should be preserved, so prohibited acts should not take place in it like singing, using musical instruments and raising voices, and so forth.

Allaah Knows best.