The Ruling on Covering Walls
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His Eminence the Shaykh: There is a prohibition against covering walls. Is this prohibition for the sake of prohibition (tahrim)? Also, does the prohibition apply to covering one side or all sides?
Covering walls is of two types: The first category is when it is on the outside, covering the house or room just as the Ka'bah is covered. There is no doubt that this is prohibited because it makes one's house resemble the Ka'bah.
The second category: Internal covering is permissible if a person needs it, either for protection from cold, protection from heat, or protection from light if he wants to sleep. This is because modern construction, as you know, is cold in winter and hot in summer. If one puts some cloth on the wall, it mitigates the cold in winter and the heat in summer. This is permissible because the intention is not the covering itself, but rather the warmth obtained in winter, the cooling of the heat in summer, or the blocking of light for one who wants to sleep in a way that allows him to rest.
Covering walls is of two types: The first category is when it is on the outside, covering the house or room just as the Ka'bah is covered. There is no doubt that this is prohibited because it makes one's house resemble the Ka'bah.
The second category: Internal covering is permissible if a person needs it, either for protection from cold, protection from heat, or protection from light if he wants to sleep. This is because modern construction, as you know, is cold in winter and hot in summer. If one puts some cloth on the wall, it mitigates the cold in winter and the heat in summer. This is permissible because the intention is not the covering itself, but rather the warmth obtained in winter, the cooling of the heat in summer, or the blocking of light for one who wants to sleep in a way that allows him to rest.