What is the ruling on drawings on clothes? And what is the meaning of the hadith (except for a design on a garment)?

The questioner : The drawings on clothes, O Shaykh, some of the people we discuss with argue that it is an exception ; does this apply...?

The Shaykh : Raqm, the word raqm in the language does not mean an image. All of this is raqm. Do you see the images here? All of them are called raqm. So whoever wants to interpret must have a hadith—and this is missing—he must have an authentic hadith with the wording: "except for an image on a garment," and this does not exist. Is that clear?

The questioner: Yes.

The Shaykh : So I do not know, perhaps some of our brothers know. The exception in the Arabic language is divided into two types: a connected exception and a disconnected exception. For example, when an Arab says, "The people came except the minister," this is called a connected exception, because the excepted item is of the same kind as the excepted-from item. "The people came" means humans, and "except the minister" is a human. This is called an exception. But if an Arab says, for example, something you will not be surprised by, because I will give you an example from the Qur'an: "The people came except the donkey." This is a correct Arabic expression, but what do they call it? A disconnected exception. It has no relation to the excepted-from item, for the donkey is not among the people. What is the meaning? The people came other than the donkey. Other than the donkey, the objection that arises regarding "except the donkey" does not apply. But one who knows the Arabic language does not find this expression difficult. There is much of this second type in the Qur'an. Is it the verse "all of them" or "all of them"? The point is: .

The questioner : .

The Shaykh : , Is it connected or disconnected? Disconnected; because Iblis is not among the angels, contrary to what some of the common people imagine. That is because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: So when it said: , that means other than Iblis. What is this called? A disconnected exception.
The Shaykh: Here it benefits us now. means other than a design on a garment. It is not necessary to interpret it as the image mentioned at the beginning of the hadith: . Then they mentioned his companion, and he said to him: "But I did not hear anyone say: ?" Yes, yes, does not mean except for an image on a garment, unless it is interpreted as what? A connected exception. No, this is not a connected exception. Someone might say: What is the evidence? The evidence is that when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was at that appointment with Jibril (peace be upon him), and he was slightly late for the appointment, he was seen as if distressed (peace be upon him). His wives asked him, and he said that Jibril had promised to come to him, as if he were saying: He did not come. And when Jibril appeared outside the room, the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) hastened to him, and Jibril said to him: . So these images were changed until they became like the shape of a tree.
The Shaykh: Likewise, there is another hadith where the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)—the Lady Aisha bought a cushion, meaning the Prophet would lean on it. So the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) disapproved of it for her. She took this cushion and cut it until the image on it was changed. So from all these hadiths, we deduce that whether the image is hanging or is trampled underfoot, if it is complete, it is not permissible, . But if its features are changed, whether by cutting it or by transforming it into the image of a tree or the like, then it is permissible. I explained this matter somewhat in my book "Etiquette of the Wedding in the Pure Sunnah."
The Shaykh: Let us go, Professor.

The questioner: Go ahead.