What is the ruling on images drawn on bedding, carpets, pillows, or garments that are worn and trampled upon?
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The questioner : Shaykh, what is the ruling on images drawn on bedding, carpets, pillows, or garments, things that are worn, trampled, and stepped on? What is its ruling?
The Shaykh : Complete images should not be in the homes of Muslims, and it is not permissible for a Muslim to possess a garment, whether it is bedding, clothing on his body, or otherwise. It is not permissible to possess any of these garments as long as they contain a complete image. If he buys something without noticing, as sometimes happens, buying a carpet and not noticing that it has a complete image on it, or not noticing that it has a cross or crosses, then he must do one of two things:
Either he must apply the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) by removing the cross by cutting it out and removing its features in one way or another, and likewise the image by changing its shape until it becomes like in the hadith of Jibril:. And if he is unable to do any of that which removes the features of the image, it is permissible for him to benefit from that carpet as long as he is between benefiting from it or destroying it, and in that is some waste of wealth.
As for intentionally buying something that has an image on it, this is not permissible. And the story of Jibril (peace be upon him) when he was delayed from him (peace and blessings be upon him), and the saying of Jibril: This is a command not to keep the image as it is, but rather one must attempt to remove it.
Images on garments are more problematic and more forbidden than images on carpets. And unfortunately, it has spread among some of the youth in the current time to wear shirts that have images on them. The disbelievers, may Allah be glorified, seem to be intentionally seeking to harm the Muslims. When images first appeared on shirts, they placed them on the chest, and now they have placed them on the back as well. Often when we stand to pray, we find a young man in front of us with an image on his back facing us, and it may be an image of a woman displaying her adornment, with her hair uncovered and disheveled, and so on. Therefore, images on garments are worse than them being on carpets, because first, they are displayed like this, and the one praying may face them as I mentioned earlier. In any case, it is obligatory for Muslims, when they go to the markets, to choose children's clothing, in particular, that does not have images of living beings on it.
The Shaykh : Complete images should not be in the homes of Muslims, and it is not permissible for a Muslim to possess a garment, whether it is bedding, clothing on his body, or otherwise. It is not permissible to possess any of these garments as long as they contain a complete image. If he buys something without noticing, as sometimes happens, buying a carpet and not noticing that it has a complete image on it, or not noticing that it has a cross or crosses, then he must do one of two things:
Either he must apply the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) by removing the cross by cutting it out and removing its features in one way or another, and likewise the image by changing its shape until it becomes like in the hadith of Jibril:
like the shape of a tree
كهيئة الشجرةAs for intentionally buying something that has an image on it, this is not permissible. And the story of Jibril (peace be upon him) when he was delayed from him (peace and blessings be upon him), and the saying of Jibril:
Look, is there a curtain in the house with images of men on it? Look, and let it be changed until it becomes like the shape of a tree
انظر أفي البيت قرامٌ فيه صور رجال، فانظر فليغيَّر حتى تصير كهيئة الشجرةImages on garments are more problematic and more forbidden than images on carpets. And unfortunately, it has spread among some of the youth in the current time to wear shirts that have images on them. The disbelievers, may Allah be glorified, seem to be intentionally seeking to harm the Muslims. When images first appeared on shirts, they placed them on the chest, and now they have placed them on the back as well. Often when we stand to pray, we find a young man in front of us with an image on his back facing us, and it may be an image of a woman displaying her adornment, with her hair uncovered and disheveled, and so on. Therefore, images on garments are worse than them being on carpets, because first, they are displayed like this, and the one praying may face them as I mentioned earlier. In any case, it is obligatory for Muslims, when they go to the markets, to choose children's clothing, in particular, that does not have images of living beings on it.