The Ruling on Depicting Living Beings

The second question: In a letter from Sister (A. M.) from the Eastern Region, Khobar, she says: There are pictures in our house, and I know that angels do not enter a house that contains pictures, and I know the hadiths regarding this. I have told my family and I keep repeating it, but I face opposition from them and they have become angry. Will I be sinful after that, knowing that the room I sit in has no pictures? Please guide us, may Allah reward you with good, especially regarding the ruling on praying in that place where there are pictures; is the prayer valid or not?
Answer: The ruling is as you mentioned. Pictures are forbidden, and they are images of living beings, whether from the children of Adam, or from other animals, or from birds; they are all forbidden. This is based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): It is agreed upon as authentic. Also, when he saw a curtain at Aisha’s place with pictures hanging on some of her doors, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) became angry and tore the curtain, and he said: “Indeed, the people of these images will be punished on the Day of Resurrection, and it will be said to them: ‘Bring to life what you have created.’” And he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: And he (peace and blessings be upon him) also said to Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) : when he sent him to Madinah: And it is also established from him (peace and blessings be upon him): The curse indicates the severity of the danger and that it is among the major sins; that this image-making is among the major sins.
And you, may Allah reward you with good, have advised your family and forbidden the evil, so you have done well in this. And this is what is obligatory upon you and those like you; based on the saying of Allah, the Exalted: [At-Tawbah: 71], which indicates that the obligation is not limited to men but is general for men and women. This is the obligation in forbidding evil and enjoining good; it encompasses everyone.
And likewise his (peace and blessings be upon him) saying: which Imam Muslim recorded in his Sahih. And this also encompasses men and women. If they do not respond to you, then you are excused, but you must continue in advising, and do not give in or despair. And you must encourage those among your family who have goodness to help you in that. And likewise, those among your relatives in whom you see goodness, you should urge them to forbid this evil. And if your room is free of them, praise be to Allah, and we hope that angels will enter it; because it is free of them.
And prayer in a place where there are pictures is a valid prayer, but doing it in a place other than the one with pictures is more preferable and better; because the pictures may distract the one praying, and may occupy him from his prayer; and because prayer in a place where pictures are hung involves a type of imitation of the worshippers of idols, a type of imitation of the worshippers of idols. So the least of the states in that is dislike, but the prayer is valid. And you must continue in advising, and we ask Allah for guidance and success for your family.
And what is excluded from this is what dire necessity calls for, for a person is not prevented from it. Like the one who needs a passport, and it is not given to him except with a picture; then he is excused in this due to dire necessity. If he is in need of the passport—meaning the document—and it does not become available to him except with a picture; then he is excused due to pressing need. And likewise what is similar to that, like an academic certificate that he cannot obtain except by that. And like: a driver’s license; for people are in need of this driving. So if the dispensation does not become available except by this, there is no blame. And like: photographing criminals known for their crimes; so that they are recognized until they are arrested and until the ruling of Allah is executed upon them wherever they are found.
And if the head is cut off or the head is erased from the picture, its ruling is removed; based on what is established in al-Nasa'i and others from the hadith of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that Jibril promised him that he would visit him, but he delayed. So the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) went out of the house to look for his arrival, and he met him and said: So the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) asked him: He said: Cut off the head of the statue so that it becomes like a tree, and order that the curtain be made into two low cushions to be sat upon, and order that the dog be taken out. So the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did what Jibril said, and they found the dog to be a puppy under a bed in the house for al-Hasan or al-Husayn, so he took it out and cut the curtain and made it into two cushions, and cut off the head of the statue, and Jibril (peace be upon him) entered. So this indicates that if the picture is on something that is trampled upon, like a carpet or a cushion, or if it is without a head, its head has been completely removed and what suffices is the line between the head and the body being removed. It must be removed completely or erased completely so that no image remains. For if the head is removed, the rest of the body is excused, and it does not prevent the entry of angels. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.