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Fatwa CenterRuling on entering places where there are images
Question
salam aleikum , is it allowed to practise east asien matiral arts in a room with pictures of humans and small buddhas and the like? Baraak Allahu Fikum
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and messenger.
Firstly, it is worth noting that the religious ruling on practising East Asian martial arts has been highlighted in Fataawa 82646 and 84964. At any rate, according to the opinion which deems it allowable to practise such martial arts, it is impermissible for a Muslim to practise them in such a place where pictures of humans and small Buddha statues and similar polytheistic manifestations are found. It was reported that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and his Companions used to abstain from entering places where images were found. For instance, ‘Aa’ishah 
reported that she had bought a cushion with images on it, and when the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, saw it, he stood by the door and did not enter. She noticed signs of disapproval on his face and said, "'O Messenger of Allaah! I turn back to Allaah and His Messenger in repentance. What sin have I committed?' The Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: 'What is this cushion?' She said, 'I have bought it for you so that you may sit and recline on it.' The Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: 'The makers of these images will be punished on the Day of Resurrection. It will be said to them, 'Give life to what you have created (i.e., these images).'' The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, then added: 'The angels do not enter a house where there are images.'" [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Moreover, it has been reported that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, ordered ‘Umar ibn Al-Khattaab 
who was in Al-Bat-haa' at the time of the conquest of Makkah, to go to the Ka‘bah and obliterate all the images that were inside it. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, did not enter it until all the images were obliterated. [Abu Daawood]
In addition, it was narrated that Aslam the freed slave of ‘Umar said: “When ‘Umar went to Shaam (greater Syria), one of the leaders of the Christians made food for him and said to him, ‘I would like you and your companions to visit me and honor me.’ ‘Umar said: ‘We do not enter your churches because of the images that are in them.’” [Al-Bayhaqi - Albaani classified its Isnaad (chain of narrators) as Saheeh (sound)]. Al-Bukhari 
cited this report on the authority of Aslam, omitting the Isnaad and using a term which confirms that the Hadeeth is directly attributed to its narrator.
Abu Mas‘ood (‘Uqbah ibn 'Amr) narrated that a man made food for him and invited him. He asked, “Is there an image in the house?” The man said, “Yes.” So he refused to enter, until [the man] destroyed the image, and then he entered [the house]. [Al-Bayhaqi - Ibn Hajar classified its Isnaad as Saheeh]
Ash-Shaafi‘i wrote, “A Muslim should abstain from entering a place where images are erected. However, if they are walked on (such as being imprinted on rugs or carpets), there is no harm in that (as a sign of disrespect).” [Al-Umm]
It is stated in Mughni Al-Muhtaaj that, “The compiler suggested that it is forbidden for a Muslim to enter a place where such images (statues) are found. The statements cited in Al-Rawdhah [a Fiqh reference] entail that the preponderant opinion is that it is not forbidden (i.e. it is only disliked). The author [of Al-Rawdhah] said, "Is it forbidden to enter a house containing images (statues) or merely disliked? There are two reported views; some scholars held that it is prohibited, while others maintained that it is only disliked. Shaykh Abu Muhammad deemed it prohibited, whereas, the author of At-Taqreeb and As-Saydalaani 
believed that it is only disliked. Al-Ghazaali considered it (the latter opinion) as preponderant as asserted in his book Al-Waseet.”
In any case, it is impermissible for a Muslim to frequent places where prohibitions are committed except for the purpose of forbidding people from committing them or the like. Allaah, The Exalted, says (what means): {And it has already come down to you in the Book that when you hear the verses of Allaah [recited], they are denied [by them] and ridiculed; so do not sit with them until they enter into another conversation. Indeed, you would then be like them. Indeed Allaah will gather the hypocrites and disbelievers in Hell all together -}[Quran 4:140]
Allaah, The Exalted, also says (what means): {And when you see those who engage in [offensive] discourse concerning Our verses, then turn away from them until they enter into another conversion. And if Satan should cause you to forget, then do not remain after the reminder with the wrongdoing people.}[Quran 6:68]
Allaah Knows best.
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