561. Is It Haraam To Keep Images Of Animate Beings In Our Homes And Shops

By Asma Bint Shameem

First of all, it is haraam to keep images of animate beings in our homes and shops. 

The Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam said: 

“The angels do not enter a house in which there is a dog or an image.” (Ibn Maajah -- saheeh by al-Albaani)

As for offering prayers in a room where there’s an image or a statue:

The majority of the scholars say that it is makrooh (allowed but disliked) to pray in a room that has images in it. 

But others said it is absolutely prohibited. 

Ibn Tayimiyah said: 

“The correct view, which was narrated from ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab and others, and is mentioned in reports from Ahmad and others, is that if there are images in it (the church), he should not pray there, because the angels do not enter the room in which there are images, and because the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam did not enter the Ka‘bah until the images that were in it had been erased. This is what ‘Umar said: “We would not enter their churches if there were images in them.”

(Majmoo‘ al-Fataawa, 22/162)

And Al-Shibramalsi said: 

“It is makrooh to pray in a garment on which there is an image, or on a cloth on which there is an image, even if one is blind or it is dark, or the image is behind his back or placed face downwards on the ground so that he cannot see it when he prays on it (the cloth). This is clear, so as to keep away from the image which is forbidden.”

(Haashiyat Nihaayat al-Muhtaaj, 2/14)

So we cannot keep any kind of 2D or 3D images of living beings. 

But if you’re in some place where there are images and there’s no other choice but to offer your prayer there, otherwise you would miss your prayer, then you can go ahead and pray there and the prayer would be valid. 

But try to cover the picture with something or move it away if possible. 

The scholars of the Standing Committee said:

“It is haraam to keep images or statues and put them in houses, 

because the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam said to ‘Ali radhi Allaahu anhu: 

“Do not leave any image without erasing it or any built-up grave without levelling it.” 

And because he Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam said: 

“The angels do not enter a house in which there is a dog or an image.” 

It is makrooh to pray in a room in which there are pictures hanging or statues, especially if they are in front of the person when he faces the qiblah. But the prayer is *valid*. 

[Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah (5/377) [vol. 2]

And Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said:

“As for the prayer, it is *valid*, but it is *makrooh* to pray in a place in which there are images except in the case of *necessity*; if nothing else is available, then there is nothing wrong with it.”

And Allaah knows best