The basic principle is that it’s not allowed for Muslims to have images of animate beings, whether as a decorative object or to hang on walls or put in frames or on clothes etc.
The Prophet Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said:
“Jibreel came to me and said: I was going to come to you yesterday and nothing prevented me from entering upon you in the house where you were except that at the door of the house there were some statues of men, and in the house there was a curtain on which there were*images*, and there was a dog in the house. So tell someone to cut off the heads of the statues that are by the door of the house, so that they will become like trees, and tell someone to take down the curtain and make it into two cushions which can be thrown on the floor and on which people may step, and tell someone to take the dog out.So the Messenger of Allaah Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam did that.”
(at-Tirmidhi -saheeh by al-Albaani)
And the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said:
“The angels do not enter any house in which there is a dog or an image.’” (Muslim 2104)
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen explains in detail:
“*Firstly:*
Image-making is of two types:
- one, by hand and
- the other, by means of machines.
Image-making by *hand* is haraam, and is in fact a major sin, because the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam cursed the one who does it.
He did not differentiate between images that have a shadow (i.e., three-dimensional) or those that are simply drawn (two-dimensional), according to the more correct scholarly opinion, because of the general meaning of the hadeeth.
With regard to image-making by means of *machines*, i.e. cameras, there is a difference of opinion among the later scholars on this matter.
Some of them forbid it and some of them allow it.
In order to be on the safe side, it is better to *avoid* that, because it is one of the doubtful areas.
And whoever is careful with regard to doubtful matters will protect his religious commitment and his honor.
But if he needs to do that for a specific purpose such as proving his identity, there is nothing wrong with that because if there is a “need”, the matter is no longer doubtful.
*Secondly:*
With regard to keeping pictures, this is also of two types:
The first type is keeping images that are *three-dimensional.*
Keeping them is haraam.
Ibn al-‘Arabi narrated that there is consensus on this point. (Fath al-Baari, p. 388, vol. 10).
He said: This consensus has to do with things *other than girls’ dolls*.
It was narrated that ‘Aa’ishah Radhi Allaahu anhaa said:
“I used to play with dolls in the presence of the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallamand I had friends who would play with me.
When the Messenger of Allaah Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam entered they would hide themselves and he would call them to come and play with me.” (al-Bukhaari, 5779; Muslim, 2440)
The second type is images that are not three-dimensional.
These are of different types:
1. Those that are hung up to be venerated and respected, as in the case of pictures of kings, presidents, ministers, scholars etc.
This is haraam because it involves exaggeration about a created being.
2. Those that are hung up for the sake of memory, such as hanging up pictures of one's friends.
This is also haraam, because of the hadeeth narrated in Saheeh al-Bukhaari from Abu Talhah Radhi Allaahu anhu who said:
“I heard the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam say:
“The angels do not enter any house in which there is a dog or an image.’” (Muslim 2104)
3. Those that are hung up for the purpose of adornment.
These are also haraam because of the hadeeth of ‘Aa’ishah who said:
“The Messenger of Allaah Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam
came back from a journey and I had hung a patterned curtain on which there were images over (the door of) a room of mine.
When the Messenger of Allaah Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam saw it, he tore it and said,
“The most severely punished of the people on the Day of Resurrection will be those who tried to imitate the creation of Allaah.’”
She said: “So I made it into one or two cushions.” (al-Bukhaari 5610; Muslim 2107)
4. Those that are treated with disrespect, such as images in carpets and pillows.
Al-Nawawi narrated from the majority of scholars among the Sahaabah and Taabi’een that these are permissible.
5. Those that have unfortunately become widespread and are difficult to avoid, such as images engraved on coins etc which have become a problem for the Muslim ummah.
It seems to me that there is no sin on the one who acquires these without wanting to acquire images.
*Thirdly:*
With regard to dolls that children play with:
An exception is made in the case of children’s toys, which are not regarded as haraam or makrooh.
But what are the toys which are exempted?
We know that the toys of the past did not have eyes and lips and noses as they do nowadays.
I think it is better to avoid these toys and limit oneself to those the kind of toys that were known previously.”
(Fataawa al-‘Aqeedah by Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, p. 66, 663, 679)
So as Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen explained, hanging pictures of the family or animals etc is not allowed.
But we can keep pictures of *INANIMATE* objects like trees, mountains, seaside, flowers etc.
Sa’eed ibn Abi’l-Hasan said:
“I was with Ibn ‘Abbaas radhi Allaahu anhu when a man came to him and said,
‘O Ibn ‘Abbaas, I am a man who earns a living by the work of my hands, and I make these pictures (or images).’
Ibn ‘Abbaas said: ‘I will only tell you what I heard the Messenger of Allaah Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam say, and I heard him say,
“Whoever makes an image in this world will be punished until he breathes life into it, and he will never be able to do so.’’
The man became very upset and his face turned pale.
He – meaning Ibn ‘Abbaas – said, ‘Woe to you! If you insist on making them (images), then you can make images of these trees and everything that does not have a soul.’” (Saheeh al-Bukhaari 2225 and Saheeh Muslim 2110)
*What about an incomplete picture?*
If the image or picture is incomplete without which it’s impossible to live, then the scholars say it is “permissible” to keep such an image or picture.
Shaykh Muhammad ibn Ibraaheem Aal al-Shaykh said:
“If the picture is incomplete, such as a picture of the face or head or chest, and so on, and something is removed from the picture that represents a part of the body without which there can be no life, then the words of many fuqaha’ indicate that it is permissible, especially if there is a NEED for that, which is partial depiction.
Whatever the case, people should fear Allaah as much as they are able to and should avoid that which Allaah and His Messenger have forbidden.”
(Fataawa al-Shaykh Muhammad ibn Ibraaheem, 1/167)
And Shaikh Ibn Uthaymeen said:
“Everyone who makes something that imitates the creation of Allaah is included in this hadeeth, which says that the Prophet ﷺ cursed the image makers… and his words “The people who will be most severely punished on the Day of Resurrection will be the image-makers.”
But as I said, if the image is not clear and if it does not have eyes or a nose or mouth or fingers, then it is not a complete image, and is not imitating the creation of Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala .”
(Fatawaa Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen)
*Conclusion:*
We should NOT be hanging any pictures of our families, children, or ANY animate being.
There’s no problem in putting up pictures of flowers, mountains, beaches, or other inanimate objects.
It’s best to *AVOID* pictures of animals and humans even if the picture is incomplete.
Why take a chance with something when the warnings are so severe?
Also keep in mind that just because something is “permissible” does not necessarily mean that it’s “desirable”.
In any case, what’s so special about having a picture on the wall, right?
What difference will it make if we don’t hang it up?
*THINK about it.*
And Allaah knows best.
