The Ruling on Hanging Pictures of Kings and Leaders

Question:
There are embroidered pictures of some leaders and kings in some offices. Is it permissible to place these pictures in these offices?

Answer:
These pictures are not permissible. I have warned about this, but the situation remains as it is, and we ask Allah to grant them success. Hanging pictures in offices and government departments is not permissible, and there is a fear that this may lead to shirk (associating partners with Allah), because many non-Muslim countries hang these pictures in public squares and in the places they choose. It is feared that shirk will occur through them after a time. This is what happened to the people of Noah. When five righteous men who were upon tawhid (the oneness of Allah) died among them, Satan whispered to them. When he saw their sadness and weeping for them, he whispered to them, saying, "Make pictures of them and hang them in their gathering places so that you remember their worship and their deeds." So they made the pictures. Then Allah the Exalted said to them, "You have made them idols besides Allah." This is more widespread than these pictures, and the duration is longer for those who worship besides Allah, especially with the ignorance of many people, and especially with the love of this world and the multitude of sects, seeking to draw near to their people by every means. Therefore, what we hold is that it is not permissible to hang these pictures in offices, nor in government departments, nor in public squares. It is obligatory upon the rulers to remove them. We ask Allah to grant them success in doing so, and to guide them to all that is good, and to guide them in what is beneficial for themselves and the people.