TASWEER (PICTURES, STATUES)

TASWEER (PICTURES, STATUES)

PICTURES, MAGAZINES AND TV: PUTTING THEM IN A PLACE OF PRAYER

Photos fall under the category of unlawful pictures, photos and all other form of pictures, no matter what instrument is used to create them, share the same ruling: They are unlawful. Also it makes no difference what you mentioned about the photo requiring no effort. It makes no difference as all photos are unlawful regardless of the means to produce them. It is permissible to buy educational magazines, magazines filled with useful information, even if they have pictures of humans or animals in them. This is because we buy the magazine not for the pictures but for the news and information. And it is permissible to place such a magazine in a place of prayer, but by either covering the pictures or obliterating the head of the pictures. It is not permissible to put a television in a place of prayer because of the falsehood and frivolity that television signifies.

It is not allowed to take pictures of beings that have souls, a rule that encompasses cameras and other instruments, with the exception of pictures that are necessary such as: Passports or identity photos.

Allaah says: "But do not help one another in sin and transgression." (Ma'idah 5:2)

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 4.571 Narrated by Ibn Abbas: When the Prophet saw pictures in the Ka'ba, he did not enter it till he ordered them to be erased. When he saw (the pictures of Abraham and Ishmael carrying the arrows of divination, he said, "May Allah curse them (i.e. the Quraish)! By Allah, neither Abraham nor Ishmael practiced divination by arrows."

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 4.570 Narrated by Ibn Abbas: The Prophet entered the Ka'ba and found in it the pictures of (Prophet) Abraham and Mary. On that he said' "What is the matter with them ( i.e. Quraish)? They have already heard that angels do not enter a house in which there are pictures; yet this is the picture of Abraham. And why is he depicted as practicing divination by arrows?"

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 7.836 Narrated by Aisha: I never used to leave in the Prophet's house anything carrying images or crosses but he obliterated it.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 7.840 Narrated by Aisha: I purchased a cushion with pictures on it. The Prophet (came and) stood at the door but did not enter. I said (to him), "I repent to Allah for what (the guilt) I have done." He said, "What is this cushion?" I said, "It is for you to sit on and recline on." He said, "The makers of these pictures will be punished on the Day of Resurrection and it will be said to them, 'Make alive what you have created.' Moreover, the angels do not enter a house where there are pictures.'"

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 7.841 Narrated by Abu Talha: Allah's Apostle said, "Angels (of mercy) do not enter a house where there are pictures." The sub-narrator Busr added: "Then Zaid fell ill and we paid him a visit. Behold! There was, hanging at his door, a curtain decorated with a picture. I said to 'Ubaidullah Al-Khaulani, the stepson of Maimuna, the wife of the Prophet, "Didn't Zaid tell us about the picture the day before yesterday?" 'Ubaidullah said, "Didn't you hear him saying: 'except a design in a garment'?"

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 4.448 Narrated by Abu Talha: I heard Allah's Apostle saying; "Angels (of Mercy) do not enter a house wherein there is a dog or a picture of a living creature (a human being or an animal)."

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 7.843 Narrated by Salim’s father: Once Gabriel promised to visit the Prophet but he delayed and the Prophet got worried about that. At last he came out and found Gabriel and complained to him of his grief (for his delay). Gabriel said to him, "We do not enter a place in which there is a picture or a dog."