Source: Excerpt from the book “Ahkām wa Masā’il Kitāb-o-Sunnat ki Roshni Main” by Shaykh Mubashir Ahmad Rabbani
❖ Question:
Is it permissible to hang the picture of a deceased person inside the house?
❖ Answer:
It is not permissible in Islam to hang pictures of living beings (dhī rūḥ – possessing souls) in houses—whether the being is alive or dead, whether the purpose is to remember them or any other reason.
This includes photographs of deceased relatives.
❖ Instruction from the Prophet ﷺ:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ instructed ʿAlī رضي الله عنه:
“Do not leave any statue without defacing it, nor any raised grave without leveling it.”
In another narration:
“And do not leave any picture without erasing it.”
This ḥadīth shows a clear command to erase or destroy images, not to preserve or display them.
❖ Key Ruling:
✘ Displaying pictures of deceased individuals—whether out of love, respect, or for memorial purposes—is forbidden.
✔ The correct practice is to avoid hanging any images of creatures with souls (humans or animals), as per the instruction of the Prophet ﷺ.
✅ Conclusion:
➤ Photographs of the deceased are not allowed to be hung on walls or displayed inside homes.
➤ The correct Islamic etiquette is to honor the deceased with duʿā’, Ṣadaqah, and good deeds, rather than idol-like displays of their images.
May Allah guide us all to what is correct and protect us from all forms of disobedience.
Āmīn.
