Source: Fatāwā Arkān-e-Islām
What is the Islamic ruling on wearing clothes that have pictures of humans or animals, and what does Shari'ah say about placing such pictures on walls?
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, Ammā baʿd!
According to Islamic teachings, it is not permissible for a Muslim to wear clothing that has a picture of a human or animal on it. It makes no difference whether the picture shows the entire body or just the face — this act is disliked and impermissible in Shari'ah.
Similarly, it is not allowed to wear a scarf, sheet, or any other garment — whether red, white, or any colour — that has the image of a human or animal. This prohibition is based on the severe warning found in the ḥadīth of the Prophet ﷺ regarding pictures.
«اِنَّ الْمَلَائِکَةَ لَا تَدْخُلُ بَيْتًا فِيهِ صُوْرَةٌ»
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Libās, Ḥadīth: 5958; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Libās wa-al-Zīnah, Ḥadīth: 2016)
“Indeed, the angels do not enter a house in which there is a picture.”
Therefore, a Muslim should not keep pictures — whether as a memory or for any other purpose. This includes:
◈ Hanging them on the wall
◈ Keeping them in an album
◈ Storing them in any form
Their mere presence prevents the angels of mercy from entering the home.
All such pictures should be destroyed, because the absence of angels can deprive the household of many spiritual blessings. The above authentic ḥadīth is a clear and sufficient proof for this ruling.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
Question
What is the Islamic ruling on wearing clothes that have pictures of humans or animals, and what does Shari'ah say about placing such pictures on walls?
Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, Ammā baʿd!
According to Islamic teachings, it is not permissible for a Muslim to wear clothing that has a picture of a human or animal on it. It makes no difference whether the picture shows the entire body or just the face — this act is disliked and impermissible in Shari'ah.
Similarly, it is not allowed to wear a scarf, sheet, or any other garment — whether red, white, or any colour — that has the image of a human or animal. This prohibition is based on the severe warning found in the ḥadīth of the Prophet ﷺ regarding pictures.
Prophetic Ḥadīth
«اِنَّ الْمَلَائِکَةَ لَا تَدْخُلُ بَيْتًا فِيهِ صُوْرَةٌ»
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Libās, Ḥadīth: 5958; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Libās wa-al-Zīnah, Ḥadīth: 2016)
“Indeed, the angels do not enter a house in which there is a picture.”
Keeping Pictures is Also Forbidden
Therefore, a Muslim should not keep pictures — whether as a memory or for any other purpose. This includes:
◈ Hanging them on the wall
◈ Keeping them in an album
◈ Storing them in any form
Their mere presence prevents the angels of mercy from entering the home.
Advice
All such pictures should be destroyed, because the absence of angels can deprive the household of many spiritual blessings. The above authentic ḥadīth is a clear and sufficient proof for this ruling.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
