Question: What is the ruling on hanging pictures on walls and keeping personal photographs?
Answer: Hanging pictures of living beings (with souls) and keeping them is impermissible; rather, it is necessary to destroy them because the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said to Sayyiduna Ali, may Allah be pleased with him:
لا تدع صورة الا طمستها
“Erase every picture.”
It is established in the hadith of Sayyiduna Jabir, may Allah be pleased with him:
ان النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم نهي عن صورة فى البيت
“That the Prophet, peace be upon him, forbade pictures in the house.”
It is necessary to destroy all kinds of commemorative pictures. They should be torn or burned. However, photographs affixed on identification cards or passports, etc., may be kept as they are a necessity.
