The ruling on praying in a place with pictures, and hanging pictures
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
This is Sa'd Ahmad Muhammad Marzuq from the Arab Republic of Egypt, Fayyum, working in Iraq. He sent us this message containing some questions. He says: I pray in a room that has pictures, such as a picture of a friend of mine hanging on the wall, or a picture of another person. Some of my brothers told me that your prayer is invalid because you are facing the pictures or turning toward these pictures. So what should I do regarding the past period, and what is the ruling on my prayer? May Allah reward you.
Answer: No, that is wrong. The one who told you that it is invalid is wrong. The prayer is valid, but it is disliked to pray in this room if another place is available. Otherwise, the prayer is valid because you are not worshipping the picture; rather, you prayed for Allah, so your prayer is valid. It is not permissible to hang pictures in the room. Hanging pictures in offices and rooms is not permissible; it is obligatory to remove them. So you should advise your brother to remove these hanging pictures and not leave them in the house. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sunan Abi Dawud 227Da'if (Al-Albani) And he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Riyad as-Salihin 1687 Thus our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) : Riyad as-Salihin 1687 And when he saw a curtain at Aisha's (may Allah be pleased with her) place that had pictures in it, he tore it and became angry, and the one with peace and blessings upon him said: Sunan an-Nasa'i 5362Sahih (Darussalam).
So you advise your brother until he removes the hanging picture. As for the prayer, it is valid, but it is disliked to pray in a place that has pictures except in case of need. If no other place is available, there is no harm. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you.
Answer: No, that is wrong. The one who told you that it is invalid is wrong. The prayer is valid, but it is disliked to pray in this room if another place is available. Otherwise, the prayer is valid because you are not worshipping the picture; rather, you prayed for Allah, so your prayer is valid. It is not permissible to hang pictures in the room. Hanging pictures in offices and rooms is not permissible; it is obligatory to remove them. So you should advise your brother to remove these hanging pictures and not leave them in the house. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Angels do not enter the house where there is a picture, or a dog
لا تدخل الملائكة بيتاً فيه صورة ولا كلبSpare no portrait unwiped out, and leave not a high grave unlevelled.
لا تدع صورة إلا طمستها ولا قبراً مشرفاً إلا سويتهSpare no portrait unwiped out, and leave not a high grave unlevelled.
لا تدع صورة إلا طمستها ولا قبراً مشرفاً إلا سويتهThe 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 خلقتمSo you advise your brother until he removes the hanging picture. As for the prayer, it is valid, but it is disliked to pray in a place that has pictures except in case of need. If no other place is available, there is no harm. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.