The ruling on carving images of leaders and commanders, or photographing them and hanging them up
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The question: This message came to us from 'Umar Hamid Ahmad Mas'ud from Cairo in the Arab Republic of Egypt. In his message, he says: What is the ruling of the Shari'ah regarding carving images and hanging them on walls, and hanging them as decorations in houses? And unfortunately, they are found in the streets of many Islamic cities, whether images of leaders or images of great men. What is their ruling? May Allah reward you.
The answer: All of that is forbidden. Carving images and photographing them with a camera or otherwise, all of that is not permissible. It is not permissible to erect them in houses, nor in offices, nor in the streets. All of that is forbidden. Their presence in the streets of some Islamic cities is not a proof; rather, it is an error on the part of whoever did it, and a mistake on the part of whoever did it.
It is obligatory for the rulers of the Muslims to remove that, due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Sunan an-Nasa'i 5362Sahih (Darussalam) And his saying (peace and blessings be upon him): Mishkat al-Masabih 4498 And his saying (peace and blessings be upon him): Sahih Muslim 2110b And his saying (peace and blessings be upon him) also: Sahih Muslim 2109a.
And because images are among the causes of shirk (associating partners with Allah) and exaggeration, especially the images of those who are revered. They may be worshipped besides Allah, as happened in the pre-Islamic age of ignorance, and as happened to the people of Noah when they carved Wadd, Suwa', Yaghuth, Ya'uq, and Nasr. They were righteous men among the people of Noah, but when Satan made their carving attractive to them, they carved them, and then they worshipped them besides Allah—(there is no power nor strength except with Allah).
So it is obligatory for the rulers of the Muslims to obliterate these images and remove them, and it is obligatory for every Muslim not to keep images in his house, in his office, or in his library, and not to hang them in his room or elsewhere. This is due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):Riyad as-Salihin 1687 Narrated by Muslim in the Sahih from the hadith of 'Ali (may Allah be pleased with him).
And what al-Tirmidhi and others narrated from Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said:.
So it is obligatory for all Muslims to cooperate in this matter, and it is obligatory for the rulers of the Muslims also to implement what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded. However, if there is a need for this thing, such as a Muslim who needs a national ID and it is not given to him except with a picture, then there is no blame on him because he is like one who is coerced. Likewise, if the state sees that it is necessary so that people's affairs are not confused, and so that people can identify the documents in their possession that contain their pictures, if dire necessity calls for this, then there is no blame in that for the sake of public benefit. And due to the saying of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He): [al-An'am: 119].
The point is that people in these matters may be compelled to use some images. If dire necessity calls for that, as mentioned earlier regarding the national ID, meaning the national identity, or like an academic certificate if an institution does not give the certificate except with a picture, then he is compelled to do so. And likewise, criminals if it is necessary to photograph them so that they are recognized and so that they can be arrested wherever they are. These are matters where dire necessity calls for them, and there is no blame in that. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you and may Allah bless you.
The answer: All of that is forbidden. Carving images and photographing them with a camera or otherwise, all of that is not permissible. It is not permissible to erect them in houses, nor in offices, nor in the streets. All of that is forbidden. Their presence in the streets of some Islamic cities is not a proof; rather, it is an error on the part of whoever did it, and a mistake on the part of whoever did it.
It is obligatory for the rulers of the Muslims to remove that, due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
The makers of these images will be punished on the Day of Resurrection, and it will be said to them: 'Bring to life that which you have created.'
إن أصحاب هذه الصور يعذبون يوم القيامة، ويقال لهم: أحيوا ما خلقتمEveryone who makes representations of things will go to hell, and for every representation he has made there will be produced a soul which will punish him in jahannam.
كل مصور في النار، يجعل له بكل صورة صورها نفس يعذب بها في جهنمHe who painted pictures in the world would be compelled to breathe soul in them on the Day of Resurrection, but he would not be able to breathe soul (in them).
من صور صورة في الدنيا كلف أن ينفخ فيها الروح وليس بنافخthe most grievously tormented people on the Day of Resurrection would be the painters of pictures
أشد الناس عذاباً يوم القيامة المصورونAnd because images are among the causes of shirk (associating partners with Allah) and exaggeration, especially the images of those who are revered. They may be worshipped besides Allah, as happened in the pre-Islamic age of ignorance, and as happened to the people of Noah when they carved Wadd, Suwa', Yaghuth, Ya'uq, and Nasr. They were righteous men among the people of Noah, but when Satan made their carving attractive to them, they carved them, and then they worshipped them besides Allah—(there is no power nor strength except with Allah).
So it is obligatory for the rulers of the Muslims to obliterate these images and remove them, and it is obligatory for every Muslim not to keep images in his house, in his office, or in his library, and not to hang them in his room or elsewhere. This is due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
Spare no portrait unwiped out, and leave not a high grave unlevelled.
لا تدع صورة إلا طمستها، ولا قبراً مشرفاً إلا سويتهAnd what al-Tirmidhi and others narrated from Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said:
He prohibited images in the house and making them
نهى عن الصورة في البيت، وأن يصنع ذلكSo it is obligatory for all Muslims to cooperate in this matter, and it is obligatory for the rulers of the Muslims also to implement what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded. However, if there is a need for this thing, such as a Muslim who needs a national ID and it is not given to him except with a picture, then there is no blame on him because he is like one who is coerced. Likewise, if the state sees that it is necessary so that people's affairs are not confused, and so that people can identify the documents in their possession that contain their pictures, if dire necessity calls for this, then there is no blame in that for the sake of public benefit. And due to the saying of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He):
while He has explained in detail to you what He has forbidden you, excepting that to which you are compelled
وَقَدْ فَصَّلَ لَكُمْ مَا حَرَّمَ عَلَيْكُمْ إِلَّا مَا اضْطُرِرْتُمْ إِلَيْهِThe point is that people in these matters may be compelled to use some images. If dire necessity calls for that, as mentioned earlier regarding the national ID, meaning the national identity, or like an academic certificate if an institution does not give the certificate except with a picture, then he is compelled to do so. And likewise, criminals if it is necessary to photograph them so that they are recognized and so that they can be arrested wherever they are. These are matters where dire necessity calls for them, and there is no blame in that. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you and may Allah bless you.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.