❖ Ruling on Keeping Family and Children’s Photos & Praying in a Room Containing Pictures ❖
Source: Ahkam wa Masail in the Light of the Qur’an and Hadith, Volume 01, Page 513
Many people preserve pictures of their children to show them when they grow older, or keep family photos as memories.
What is the Shar‘i ruling on keeping such pictures?
Is it permissible to store photos in a briefcase or attaché case?
What is the ruling on offering prayer in a room where such images exist?
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد:
❖ It is impermissible to keep such pictures.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would destroy or tear down any image he saw in the house.
He ﷺ said:
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَصْنَعُونَ هَذِهِ الصُّوَرَ يُعَذَّبُونَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ
“Indeed, those who make these images will be punished on the Day of Resurrection.”
(Sahih Hadith)
❖ It is not permissible to store or preserve such photographs — even if kept inside closed items like a briefcase or attaché case.
Preservation of unlawful images remains impermissible, regardless of where they are kept.
❖ If the intention of worship or veneration of the picture is not present, the prayer will be valid.
However:
✔ It is better and strongly recommended to remove or destroy the image from the room before praying.
✔ This is to ensure maximum reverence for salah and avoid resemblance to practices of image-veneration.
هٰذَا مَا عِندِي وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
This is what I know; and Allah knows best what is correct.
Source: Ahkam wa Masail in the Light of the Qur’an and Hadith, Volume 01, Page 513
❀ Question
Many people preserve pictures of their children to show them when they grow older, or keep family photos as memories.
What is the Shar‘i ruling on keeping such pictures? Is it permissible to store photos in a briefcase or attaché case? What is the ruling on offering prayer in a room where such images exist?✔ Response
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد:
➊ Keeping Pictures of Children or Family
❖ It is impermissible to keep such pictures.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would destroy or tear down any image he saw in the house.
He ﷺ said:
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَصْنَعُونَ هَذِهِ الصُّوَرَ يُعَذَّبُونَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ
“Indeed, those who make these images will be punished on the Day of Resurrection.”
(Sahih Hadith)
➋ Storing Photos in a Briefcase or Attaché Case
❖ It is not permissible to store or preserve such photographs — even if kept inside closed items like a briefcase or attaché case.
Preservation of unlawful images remains impermissible, regardless of where they are kept.
➌ Praying in a Room Containing Images
❖ If the intention of worship or veneration of the picture is not present, the prayer will be valid.
However:
✔ It is better and strongly recommended to remove or destroy the image from the room before praying.
✔ This is to ensure maximum reverence for salah and avoid resemblance to practices of image-veneration.
هٰذَا مَا عِندِي وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
This is what I know; and Allah knows best what is correct.
