❀ Ruling on Performing Salah While Wearing Clothes with Animal Images ❀
Question:
If a person offers Salah and later finds out that there was an image of an animal on their clothing, is the prayer valid? Must it be repeated?
Answer by:
Shaykh Saeed Mujtaba Saeedi ḥafiẓahullāh
It is true that images of living beings—such as animals or humans—are ḥarām in Islam due to the prohibition of taswīr (drawing/making images of animate creatures). However, these images:
❖ Do not carry physical impurity (najāsah).
❖ Therefore, they do not invalidate Salah.
If someone unknowingly prayed wearing clothes that had an image of an animal, then:
His prayer is valid
There is no need to repeat it
There are authentic reports that some Companions of the Prophet ﷺ had images on buttons or cloaks, and they would still offer Salah in those garments.
This indicates that although making or keeping images is sinful, they do not nullify the prayer itself, as long as the image is not venerated and the clothes are pure (ṭāhir).
① Images of animals on clothing are ḥarām, but not najis.
② Salah performed in such clothing is valid, even if discovered afterward.
③ There is no obligation to repeat the prayer.
④ One should, however, avoid wearing clothes with images during Salah out of respect and precaution.
وَاللهُ أَعْلَمُ
Question:
If a person offers Salah and later finds out that there was an image of an animal on their clothing, is the prayer valid? Must it be repeated?
Answer by:
Shaykh Saeed Mujtaba Saeedi ḥafiẓahullāh
✦ Image is Ḥarām but Not Impure (Najis)
It is true that images of living beings—such as animals or humans—are ḥarām in Islam due to the prohibition of taswīr (drawing/making images of animate creatures). However, these images:
❖ Do not carry physical impurity (najāsah).
❖ Therefore, they do not invalidate Salah.
✦ The Salah is Valid
If someone unknowingly prayed wearing clothes that had an image of an animal, then:
His prayer is valid There is no need to repeat it✦ Practice of the Companions (Ṣaḥābah)
There are authentic reports that some Companions of the Prophet ﷺ had images on buttons or cloaks, and they would still offer Salah in those garments.
This indicates that although making or keeping images is sinful, they do not nullify the prayer itself, as long as the image is not venerated and the clothes are pure (ṭāhir).
Conclusion:
① Images of animals on clothing are ḥarām, but not najis.
② Salah performed in such clothing is valid, even if discovered afterward.
③ There is no obligation to repeat the prayer.
④ One should, however, avoid wearing clothes with images during Salah out of respect and precaution.
وَاللهُ أَعْلَمُ
