What is the ruling on hanging pictures, and is the prayer valid in a mosque or house where pictures are hung, or is it not valid?
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The Shaykh : There is no evidence for this. Therefore, the people of the mosque should cooperate with one another and not allow any picture to be hung in the mosque. Rather, even in a house where the residents are a group of people who worship Allah with the true Islam, they should take every measure to ensure that no picture is hung in that house, let alone in the houses of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). Thus, pictures are not permissible in people's houses, let alone in the houses of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). However, regarding the claim that the prayer in this house or that one is not valid? This requires evidence, and there is no evidence. Is that clear?
The student : Is that clear?
The Shaykh : I will add to the clarification by saying: If you have a mosque to the east and a mosque to the west, one of which has pictures and the other does not, then you must choose the one without pictures, in order to stay away from the mosque that has pictures. As for if you are not between two mosques, you may choose the one that is less in violation of the Shari'ah. In that case, you are free from sin and from what is disliked if you pray in that mosque. But if you have a word to say, and if you are able to offer advice to those young men who have gotten involved in placing such pictures, then it is obligatory for you to do so, in obedience to the command to enjoin what is right and to forbid what is wrong. May Allah reward you with good.
The student : And beware, O Shaykh, of hanging pictures in the mosques, given the harms that have resulted from it in Iraq. Some of the Islamic groups I mentioned earlier were hanging pictures of certain personalities or Islamic leaders who lead the movement ideologically.
The Shaykh: Yes.
The student : So the Ba'ath Party entered the mosques, removed the pictures, and hung pictures of Saddam in their place.
The Shaykh : Allahu Akbar! Oh, give the adhan, yes. Did you pray? Did you pray? Is it permissible to give the adhan?
The student: By Allah.
Another student: There are two opinions on this issue, hehehe.
The Shaykh : As long as the prayer is permissible, the adhan is permissible.
The student : Is that clear?
The Shaykh : I will add to the clarification by saying: If you have a mosque to the east and a mosque to the west, one of which has pictures and the other does not, then you must choose the one without pictures, in order to stay away from the mosque that has pictures. As for if you are not between two mosques, you may choose the one that is less in violation of the Shari'ah. In that case, you are free from sin and from what is disliked if you pray in that mosque. But if you have a word to say, and if you are able to offer advice to those young men who have gotten involved in placing such pictures, then it is obligatory for you to do so, in obedience to the command to enjoin what is right and to forbid what is wrong. May Allah reward you with good.
The student : And beware, O Shaykh, of hanging pictures in the mosques, given the harms that have resulted from it in Iraq. Some of the Islamic groups I mentioned earlier were hanging pictures of certain personalities or Islamic leaders who lead the movement ideologically.
The Shaykh: Yes.
The student : So the Ba'ath Party entered the mosques, removed the pictures, and hung pictures of Saddam in their place.
The Shaykh : Allahu Akbar! Oh, give the adhan, yes. Did you pray? Did you pray? Is it permissible to give the adhan?
The student: By Allah.
Another student: There are two opinions on this issue, hehehe.
The Shaykh : As long as the prayer is permissible, the adhan is permissible.
Source
www.al-albany.com
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.