What is obligatory for us regarding images, statues, and raised graves, and were there any humiliated images during the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)?
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The questioner : May Allah reward you, O Shaykh. There is an authentic hadith from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in which he ordered one of the Companions and said to him: Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1049Sahih (Darussalam) Is there an authentic hadith from the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) that there were humiliated images during his time?
The Shaykh : Humiliated?
The questioner : How?
The Shaykh : Were there images during his time?
The questioner : Is there evidence that there were humiliated images during his time, and is it better to obliterate them or leave them?
The Shaykh : The one whom the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) instructed regarding this is 'Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him)., and in another wording: . Therefore, it is prescribed to obliterate images, especially those that are venerated, such as images of leaders, scholars, and rulers, and the like. For this reason, he said: Sahih Muslim 969a, 969b Because a raised grave may be venerated to a degree that leads to associating partners with Allah, and so it is with these images.
As for humiliated images, the majority of scholars have permitted them, citing the hadith of the cushion, in which the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):. The scholars said: This is evidence that if an image is humiliated, there is no harm in it, because what is feared regarding images is veneration. If it is humiliated, the fear is removed. This is the position of the majority of scholars.
Some scholars said: It is not permissible to keep an image, even if it is humiliated, and it is not permissible for a person to spread out something containing an image or to lean on something containing an image. This is undoubtedly more cautious and safer.
That you not leave an elevated grave without leveling it, nor an image without erasing it.
لا تدع قبراً مشرفاً إلا سويته ولا صورة إلا طمستهاThe Shaykh : Humiliated?
The questioner : How?
The Shaykh : Were there images during his time?
The questioner : Is there evidence that there were humiliated images during his time, and is it better to obliterate them or leave them?
The Shaykh : The one whom the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) instructed regarding this is 'Ali ibn Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him).
He instructed him not to leave an image without obliterating it.
أوصاه ألا يدع صورة إلا طمسهاA statue without obliterating it, and not a raised grave without leveling it.
تمثالاً إلا طمسه ولا قبراً مشرفاً إلا سواهor a high grave without levelling It
ولا قبراً مشرفاً إلا سويتهAs for humiliated images, the majority of scholars have permitted them, citing the hadith of the cushion, in which the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
When he entered upon 'A'ishah and she had a curtain with which she had screened her room, he disapproved of it, so he tore it and made it into two cushions to be used for sitting.
لما دخل على عائشة وعندها قرام سترت به بيتها أنكر ذلك فشقته وجعلته وسادتين يرتفق بهماSome scholars said: It is not permissible to keep an image, even if it is humiliated, and it is not permissible for a person to spread out something containing an image or to lean on something containing an image. This is undoubtedly more cautious and safer.