Explanation and clarification of the hadith concerning images and statues with souls.
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The Shaykh : Who was the one who was asking? What was the question?
The questioner :Sahih al-Bukhari 5958 .
The Shaykh : What is the matter with it?
The questioner : What is the meaning of this hadith?
The Shaykh : Except for a pattern on a garment, meaning an image that is on a garment, and you bought this image without intending to keep it, so it is kept and worn until the image disappears.
The questioner : Even if it is one of those with souls?
The Shaykh : That is the issue, but here is something established in Sahih al-Bukhari that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), when he saw a cross on a garment, would cut it out; the intention is to remove the effect of the cross which reminds one of associating partners with Allah (Mighty and Majestic); likewise, any image that is on a garment, if it is possible to change its form as the Messenger (peace be upon him) did on the day when Jibril informed him not to enter the room because there was an image hanging on a curtain, he would pass by the image and change it until it became like a tree; so if it is possible to change the image on the garment, either by changing its shape or by cutting it if the garment can be cut, then one must take such measures, otherwise, as I told you first, it is kept until it is erased and dissolves.
The questioner : Well, when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) entered the house of 'A'ishah and found a curtain with images on it, he said to her, "Turn it over," for you...?
The Shaykh : This does not contain statues with souls; this is a prohibition for the sake of discouragement, because it is not good for there to be in the home of a Muslim something that distracts him from his prayer when he stands to pray.
The questioner : May Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : And you.
The questioner : Regarding the authenticated books and the tracing of hadiths following the books of contemporary scholars, meaning they commented on the authentications you mentioned, do you not respond to them?
The Shaykh : Perhaps, perhaps.
The questioner :
except a design in a garment
... إلا رقما في ثوبThe Shaykh : What is the matter with it?
The questioner : What is the meaning of this hadith?
The Shaykh : Except for a pattern on a garment, meaning an image that is on a garment, and you bought this image without intending to keep it, so it is kept and worn until the image disappears.
The questioner : Even if it is one of those with souls?
The Shaykh : That is the issue, but here is something established in Sahih al-Bukhari that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), when he saw a cross on a garment, would cut it out; the intention is to remove the effect of the cross which reminds one of associating partners with Allah (Mighty and Majestic); likewise, any image that is on a garment, if it is possible to change its form as the Messenger (peace be upon him) did on the day when Jibril informed him not to enter the room because there was an image hanging on a curtain, he would pass by the image and change it until it became like a tree; so if it is possible to change the image on the garment, either by changing its shape or by cutting it if the garment can be cut, then one must take such measures, otherwise, as I told you first, it is kept until it is erased and dissolves.
The questioner : Well, when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) entered the house of 'A'ishah and found a curtain with images on it, he said to her, "Turn it over," for you...?
The Shaykh : This does not contain statues with souls; this is a prohibition for the sake of discouragement, because it is not good for there to be in the home of a Muslim something that distracts him from his prayer when he stands to pray.
The questioner : May Allah reward you.
The Shaykh : And you.
The questioner : Regarding the authenticated books and the tracing of hadiths following the books of contemporary scholars, meaning they commented on the authentications you mentioned, do you not respond to them?
The Shaykh : Perhaps, perhaps.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.