Hanging Pictures in the Home

27-7-2002 | IslamWeb

Question:

I became a Muslim about 3 months ago. Please can you explain the reason why we are not supposed to have pictures up in our home? I can understand if the pictures are of 'Idols' i.e. someone famous etc, but can't understand why we cannot have pictures of ourselves and our families on the wall, as we are not worshipping them like we would usually worship for, example a 'pop star'.

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

We pray to Allah, The Exalted, to grant all of us success and steadfastness on the upright path of Islam.

As for the impermissibility of hanging pictures at home, Maymoonah narrated that the Prophet said: “Angels do not enter a house where there is a dog or a picture.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Imam Muslim's narration reads: “Angels do not enter the house in which there are pictures.”

This means that such an action constitutes violation and disobedience to Divine Orders.

The presence of Angels manifests Allah's Mercy. So, the house in which there is not Allah's Mercy is not good in itself and its present state.

In addition, having pictures up is a form of imitation of those who ennoble pictures and hang them.

Thus, there is no objection if a picture is not to be exalted, like natural scenes, or not respected as those pictures on mattresses or pillows.

Here, we draw your attention to the fact that you may not glorify pictures, but it is not sure that those who will come after you will glorify these pictures or not!!

For more benefit on making images, please refer to Fataawa 88456, 4549, 63235, 89555 and 88306.

For more benefit on hanging pictures, please refer to Fataawa 82040, 83193 and 269941.

Allah knows best.