# Is it right to build very elaborate mosques? *Which mosque does Mufti Abu Layth attend, and are elaborate mosques needed?* - URL: https://muftiabulayth.org/r/jtyem-eee78/s/13/ - Date: 2020-09-22 · Kind: question · Transcript tier: machine · Recording: Monday Nights with Mufti #183 | Q&A Unscripted & Unrestricted! 😉 | Mufti Abu Layth (1:14:37–1:17:16) - Status: general teaching - Watch from the start of the segment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTYEM-eEe78&t=4477s - Recording page: https://muftiabulayth.org/r/jtyem-eee78/ **Topics:** Islam and modernity; Umayyads and Abbasids **Question as asked:** What are your thoughts on extremely elaborate mosques, assuming their costs in time and resources are in line with Islamic principles, or are they borrowed ideas from Byzantine structures? **Summary (not a quotation; machine-made, unchecked):** Mufti Abu Layth says there is little need for so many lavish mosques, and that mosques should suit their local surroundings. **Checked position (checked by two independent reviews, not by the channel):** Mufti Abu Layth says mosques should really have structures that harmonise with the local geography. **Evidence, his words at 1:16:36:** “whereas really they should have structures that harmonize with the local local kind of geography” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTYEM-eEe78&t=4596s) ## Longer summary Asked which masjid he goes to, Mufti Abu Layth jokes about whether a masjid could contain him. Mufti then takes a super chat asking about extremely elaborate mosques and whether their designs are borrowed from Byzantine structures. He says the grandeur comes more from the aristocracy that entered the Islamic empire, especially in the Abbasid era and with signs under the Umayyads. He understands people wanting a prestigious masjid, but doubts the need for a hundred of them each done up, since every sect wants its own, and says mosques should have structures that harmonise with the local geography rather than looking as if they came from Pakistan, Bangladesh or India. ## Sources and names cited - Byzantine Empire ## Transcript (machine tier, 1:14:37–1:17:16) [1:14:00] would want this from her child and he said that i couldn't not tolerate my child going to a mosque like he said that that's just to me like taking the piss now you see that that's looking at things from the lens of sobriety so this is why i do say to people that you know have a reality check before you think these things through if you think it's fine then so be it right somebody said muftisab which masjid are you [1:14:36] in do i look like a masjid could contain me [Laughter] so right what is going on people what is going on right so right let's move on to sorry i was just trying to see the comments um yep claire jones doing it is you doing it you're doing it margaret you're doing it right so [1:15:17] um what are your thoughts zaid saying the super chat i will take a look what is the super chat that i've not rami has sent in want to know your thoughts on extremely elaborate mosques assuming their costs both time and resources are in line with islamic principles or are they borrowed ideas after the byzantine structures we are from the byzantine and not so much i mean that's where it comes in it's more to do [1:15:56] with um the aristocrat you know the the aristocracy that enters is the islamic empire especially during the abbasid era and i suppose some signs are there during the umayyad dynasty as well i mean it's here now it's uh i don't think there's you know i understand people want a prestigious masjid i get that um i don't know if there's a need really for having a hundred masjids and each one done up in that way but [1:16:36] then muslims don't have unity and the problem is this sect wants their mask and this sect wants their mosque and then they all want to turn it into something that looks like it's out of pakistan bangladesh or india or in the middle of the uk whereas really they should have structures that harmonize with the local local kind of geography but yeah that's um i hope that makes some sense let me what did i miss another i answered that super chat about the enemies aisha answered her super chat ## Cite Mufti Abu Layth Archive, segment jTYEM-eEe78/s/13. https://muftiabulayth.org/r/jtyem-eee78/s/13/ Not a fatwa: these answers were given to specific people at specific times. Ask a qualified scholar about your own situation.