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Pictures in Everyday Life
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Question: |
With reference to the answer of an
existing question "Praying in a Room with Pictures Hanging on the Wall", I would
like to have some more guidance and clarification on same matter.
Now a days, it is extremely hard to have pictures completely out of our homes as
there are many kind and forms of pictures available, and as per the answer to
above referred question, "It is makrooh to perform salah in a room that has a
picture of an animate object. (Tahtawi pg.294)" and in another response ""Angels
do not enter a house wherein there is a dog or an animate picture. (Sahih
Bukhari Hadith no. 2986)". In order to avoid this, I need your guidance in
following cases; please guide us that whether its OK or not, and if not, what
should we do to avoid and improve the situation.
1. How about pictures which are in our wallets, e.g. ID Cards, Currency notes
etc.
2. How about small pictures / cartoons on baby cloths and baby toys, as most of
the baby cloths and toys come with some kind of pictures and animate objects.
3. How about pictures which come on different utility items like Shampoo bottle,
soap covers, ice cream boxes, and other similar merchandises which we put in
washrooms and kitchen normally.
4. Is it OK to keep toys (with pictures, cartoon or animate shapes) outside of
the home like in the balcony and/or backyard of home?
5. How about pictures in a digital frame (electronic picture frame having family
pictures in a bitmap format thru a USB, flash memory or similar technology).
6. How about pictures in books and copies, specially books and drawing books for
kids, as we can't avoid those?
7. How about pictures in newspapers? Should we completely avoid bringing
newspapers in our home?
8. How about keeping one room (specially for prayers) free from every kind of
pictures but other rooms may have pictures / toys? Will our prayers be not-makrooh
in that case and will angels enter in our house?
9. If I have a picture of doll (barbie) and I put a flower sticker on its face
to hid its face but the body of doll's picture is still visible, will it fulfill
the requirement of not having picture?
10. What if our computer is on with a picture of an animate object on the
computer screen?
11. I have to wear/carry a picture identity badge on my job, and this is
mandatory by my employer, will it be counted as sin? (however, I keep it inside
pocket while performing salah).
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Answer: |
1) Pictures on currency notes and ID
cards that are concealed in one's wallet do not render the Salah makruh.
Further, taking a picture for a visa or ID document is acceptable on the grounds
of necessity.
2) Care should be taken not to purchase toys or clothes with pictures. If one
does purchase them the pictures should either be removed or a patch could be
stitched over the pictures thereby concealing them.
3) The pictures should be removed if they are on stickers. Alternatively one may
use a marker and write over the pictures thereby concealing them. I am aware of
many a household where this is done.
4) One must avoid keeping toys with pictures of animate beings on them even in
the balcony or in the yard.
5) There is a difference of opinion amongst the Ulama with regards to whether
digital pictures of animate objects fall under the prohibited category of
pictures or not. Some Ulama consider these digital pictures the same as pictures
that are painted or printed on a page or other such objects and hence declare
these pictures prohibited.
On the other hand the research of other Ulama, such as the Respected Mufti Taqi
Usmani Sb (DB) concludes that a digital image is closer to an image (such as a
mirror image) rather than a picture and hence does not fall under the prohibited
category. Our view is also the same.
Notwithstanding the above, one should bear in mind that whatever is prohibited
to view in reality (e.g. strange women etc.), it is prohibited to view on a
screen as well.
Keeping in mind the above difference of opinion, it is best that one limits
one's use of digital images to situations of necessity.
6) Pictures that are in books would not render one's Salaah makruh as long as
they are not exposed. With regards to pictures in colouring books, children
should be taught of the objectionable nature of pictures and the head of the
picture should be removed by painting or colouring over them using a marker. As
for pictures in some Islamic Books, some Scholars do not deem pictures taken by
a camera to be impermissible. Although the view is respected, the more
precaitious view is that these pictures should be avoided as well. Hence, one
must ensure that the pictures in such books are not left exposed.
7) The majority of newspapers today contain indecent and other impermissible
pictures. Hence, it is best that one avoids bringing such newspapers into ones
home. If one has to read the newspaper then one could read the relevant portion
and then discard of the paper or keep it away in a manner that the pictures are
not exposed.
8) One should endeavour to have a seperate place for Salaah. However, this would
of course not mean that pictures could be exposed in other areas of the house.
9) If the whole head is concealed it will suffice the Shariah requirement.
10) As mentioned above, computer images are digital and there is a difference of
opinion among the Ulama regarding there permissibility. However, as a matter of
precaution one should turn ones screen off or change the window that is open to
one that does not have any image of animate being thereon.
11) You would not be sinful for wearing the badge as it would fall under the
category of need or necessity. Putting it in ones pocket during Salaah is the
right thing to do.
And Allah Ta'ala Knows Best
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