✿ Islamic Ruling on Hanging Pictures of Birds at Home ✿
Answer by: Shaykh Abdul Wakeel Nasir (حفظه الله), and Shaykh Hafiz Qamar Hasan (حفظه الله)
Is it permissible to hang pictures of birds in the home?
If a picture is such that it clearly depicts a living being, such as a butterfly, crow, or eagle — and it's obvious that it is an image of a creature with a soul (ذی روح) — then one should avoid hanging such pictures on walls.
◈ Whether the image shows clear facial features like eyes and face or not, if it is understood to represent a living being, then displaying it on walls should be avoided.
◈ This becomes especially impermissible when the picture is placed in a manner that suggests reverence or honor (تعظیم) — such use is clearly not allowed in Islam.
✔ If the picture does not show distinct features, and it is not clearly recognized as a living being, then there is no harm in displaying such an image.
✔ If the intention behind displaying the picture is not reverence, then it holds a lighter ruling. However, if the image is kept with an intention of glorification or veneration, then even pictures of non-living things become impermissible.
✿ Hanging pictures of birds or similar living beings in the home — where they are recognizable as creatures with a soul — should be avoided, particularly if they are displayed in a way that signifies respect or honor.
✿ Undetailed, non-distinct images or art lacking facial clarity do not fall under prohibition.
✿ The intention behind displaying such images plays a key role:
→ If done with reverence = impermissible
→ If not done with reverence & features are unclear = permissible
Answer by: Shaykh Abdul Wakeel Nasir (حفظه الله), and Shaykh Hafiz Qamar Hasan (حفظه الله)
❀ Question:
Is it permissible to hang pictures of birds in the home?
Answer in Light of Sharī‘ah
If a picture is such that it clearly depicts a living being, such as a butterfly, crow, or eagle — and it's obvious that it is an image of a creature with a soul (ذی روح) — then one should avoid hanging such pictures on walls.
◈ Whether the image shows clear facial features like eyes and face or not, if it is understood to represent a living being, then displaying it on walls should be avoided.
◈ This becomes especially impermissible when the picture is placed in a manner that suggests reverence or honor (تعظیم) — such use is clearly not allowed in Islam.
❀ Permissible Cases:
✔ If the picture does not show distinct features, and it is not clearly recognized as a living being, then there is no harm in displaying such an image.
✔ If the intention behind displaying the picture is not reverence, then it holds a lighter ruling. However, if the image is kept with an intention of glorification or veneration, then even pictures of non-living things become impermissible.
Summary:
✿ Hanging pictures of birds or similar living beings in the home — where they are recognizable as creatures with a soul — should be avoided, particularly if they are displayed in a way that signifies respect or honor.
✿ Undetailed, non-distinct images or art lacking facial clarity do not fall under prohibition.
✿ The intention behind displaying such images plays a key role:
→ If done with reverence = impermissible
→ If not done with reverence & features are unclear = permissible
