The Ruling on Image-Making, Keeping Pictures, and Hanging Them

Question:
May Allah reward you with good. A number of letters have arrived asking about the ruling on image-making, keeping pictures for remembrance, and hanging pictures, and we ask the Honorable Shaykh to clarify this, may Allah reward you?

Answer:
All of this is forbidden. Image-making is forbidden, and the one who does it is cursed, and it is more severe in punishment for people on the Day of Resurrection. It is said that a soul is created for every image he makes, and he will be tortured with it in the Fire of Hell. It is said to him on the Day of Resurrection, "Bring to life what you created," and he is told, "Bring to life what you created." The images are gathered, and he is told, "Go on, spend your best spirit," as a form of torture and challenge for him, and may Allah protect us from that. Image-making is not permissible, but image-making out of necessity, such as an ID card, a passport, or a driver's license, has become necessary, and a dispensation is granted for it due to the saying of Allah the Exalted: So this is among the necessities.
As for hanging pictures on the walls and keeping them for memories, this is forbidden, and the angels do not enter a house in which there is a dog or a picture.
Therefore, houses must be cleared of hanging pictures or those kept in boxes, and they must be destroyed, except for necessary pictures that a person needs in his dealings, such as an ID card, a driver's license, or enrollment in studies. These matters have become necessary; if a person did not have them, he would be deprived of his interests, so they are necessary.