4/2. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 741 — Mosque Adornment and Deeds
Construction Of Lofty Mosque
Hadith About Mosque Adornment and Deeds
Sunan Ibn Majah : 741
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 741
حَدَّثَنَا جُبَارَةُ بْنُ الْمُغَلِّسِ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْكَرِيمِ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ مَيْمُونٍ، عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ " مَا سَاءَ عَمَلُ قَوْمٍ قَطُّ إِلاَّ زَخْرَفُوا مَسَاجِدَهُمْ " .
'Umar bin Al-Khattab Narrated from:
The Messenger of Allah said: "No people's deeds ever became evil deeds but they started to adorn their places of worship."
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 741In-book reference : Book 4, Hadith 7English translation : Vol. 1, Book 4, Hadith 741
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 741
This hadith about mosque adornment gives a strong warning about priorities in worship. The Messenger of Allah said that when people’s deeds became evil, they started to decorate their places of worship. The wording does not condemn caring for a mosque, but it points to a deeper problem: outward beauty can become a cover when inner obedience is weak. A mosque is not meant to be only a decorated building. It is a place for prayer, humility, remembrance, and sincere worship. The main lesson is simple: Muslims should not let appearance replace real faith and good action. The hadith calls attention to the heart before the walls.
What we learn from this hadith
- A place of worship should not become a display that distracts from obedience.
- Good deeds and sincere worship matter more than outward decoration.
- A beautiful mosque should still remain a place of humility and prayer.
