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What is the ruling on hanging crescent and star illuminated by electricity on building facades and balconies in celebration of the month of Ramadan? Is this considered extravagance or an imitation of the Christmas tree? And is the ignorant excused for doing so?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

There is no harm in displaying decorations and lanterns as an expression of joy for Ramadan, provided that it is not considered an act of worship, and that there is no extravagance, images of animate beings, or musical instruments involved. Mosques, however, should be kept free of these decorations, as they distract worshippers. Decorating mosques with electricity and flowers is not permissible, as it was not reported from the Prophet (peace be upon him) or the early Muslims (Salaf), and because it imitates disbelievers. If the mosque's lighting is sufficient, there is no benefit in adding more. Furthermore, adopting the crescent moon or star as a symbol for Muslims has no basis in Islamic law.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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