This text is extracted from the book 500 Questions and Answers for Women, which includes the fatwas of the scholars of the Two Holy Mosques. The translation has been done by Hafiz Abdullah Saleem.
Question:
What is the ruling regarding hanging pictures in homes and other places?
Answer:
The ruling on pictures, specifically those depicting living beings, is that it is forbidden to create them. This is because the Prophet (peace be upon him) instructed Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) to:
ألا تدع صورة إلا طمستها ولا قبرا مشرفا إلاسويته
(Sahih Muslim, Hadith No. 969)
“Do not leave any image without erasing it, and do not leave any elevated grave without leveling it.”
Furthermore, it is established from Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) that she had hung a curtain with images on it in front of a wardrobe. When the Prophet (peace be upon him) saw this, he removed it and his face changed with anger, saying:
يا عائشة إن أصحاب هذه الصور يعذبون يوم القيامة ويقال لهم أحيوا ما خلقتم
(Sahih Bukhari, Hadith No. 4886)
"O Aisha! Indeed, the makers of these images will be punished on the Day of Judgment, and they will be told, 'Bring to life what you have created!'"
However, when the picture is on an item like a cushion or bedspread that is commonly used, there is no harm in it. This is because it is established from the Prophet (peace be upon him) that when his meeting with Jibril (peace be upon him) was delayed due to an idol, a curtain with images, and a dog in the house, Jibril refrained from entering. The Prophet (peace be upon him) inquired, and Jibril responded that the idol's head should be cut off, the curtain should be transformed into two cushions that could be pressed, and the dog should be removed from the house. After these actions, Jibril (peace be upon him) entered the house. This narration has been reported by Nasa'i with an excellent chain of narration.
The narration also clarifies that the dog in question was a pet of Hassan or Hussain (may Allah be pleased with them), which was under a bed in the house.
Additionally, it is authentically reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
لا تدخل الملائكة بيتا فيه صورة ولا كلب
(Sahih Bukhari, Hadith No. 3053; Sahih Muslim, Hadith No. 2106)
“Angels do not enter a house in which there is a picture or a dog.”
This has been unanimously agreed upon by Bukhari and Muslim.
The incident with Jibril (peace be upon him) further illustrates that pictures on objects such as beds or cushions do not prevent angels from entering the home. Similarly, a narration in Sahih Bukhari mentions that Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) used the same curtain (with pictures) to make a cushion on which the Prophet (peace be upon him) would lean.
(Abdul-Aziz bin Abdullah bin Baz, may Allah have mercy on him)
Question:
What is the ruling regarding hanging pictures in homes and other places?
Answer:
The ruling on pictures, specifically those depicting living beings, is that it is forbidden to create them. This is because the Prophet (peace be upon him) instructed Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) to:
ألا تدع صورة إلا طمستها ولا قبرا مشرفا إلاسويته
(Sahih Muslim, Hadith No. 969)
“Do not leave any image without erasing it, and do not leave any elevated grave without leveling it.”
Furthermore, it is established from Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) that she had hung a curtain with images on it in front of a wardrobe. When the Prophet (peace be upon him) saw this, he removed it and his face changed with anger, saying:
يا عائشة إن أصحاب هذه الصور يعذبون يوم القيامة ويقال لهم أحيوا ما خلقتم
(Sahih Bukhari, Hadith No. 4886)
"O Aisha! Indeed, the makers of these images will be punished on the Day of Judgment, and they will be told, 'Bring to life what you have created!'"
However, when the picture is on an item like a cushion or bedspread that is commonly used, there is no harm in it. This is because it is established from the Prophet (peace be upon him) that when his meeting with Jibril (peace be upon him) was delayed due to an idol, a curtain with images, and a dog in the house, Jibril refrained from entering. The Prophet (peace be upon him) inquired, and Jibril responded that the idol's head should be cut off, the curtain should be transformed into two cushions that could be pressed, and the dog should be removed from the house. After these actions, Jibril (peace be upon him) entered the house. This narration has been reported by Nasa'i with an excellent chain of narration.
The narration also clarifies that the dog in question was a pet of Hassan or Hussain (may Allah be pleased with them), which was under a bed in the house.
Additionally, it is authentically reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
لا تدخل الملائكة بيتا فيه صورة ولا كلب
(Sahih Bukhari, Hadith No. 3053; Sahih Muslim, Hadith No. 2106)
“Angels do not enter a house in which there is a picture or a dog.”
This has been unanimously agreed upon by Bukhari and Muslim.
The incident with Jibril (peace be upon him) further illustrates that pictures on objects such as beds or cushions do not prevent angels from entering the home. Similarly, a narration in Sahih Bukhari mentions that Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) used the same curtain (with pictures) to make a cushion on which the Prophet (peace be upon him) would lean.
(Abdul-Aziz bin Abdullah bin Baz, may Allah have mercy on him)