“This weekend I have been really depressed and wondering if it all was a good idea…..why?
Because I found out that we are not supposed to have sculptures or pictures showing at home.
It was a big shock to discover there was something wrong with sculptures, figurines and pictures.
But I was intended to do my best to be a good muslim and this weekend I intended to get rid of a few ornaments and stuff, and make my home look more Islamic, but things didn’t go according to plan.
At first I though it would be easy, just pack a few ornaments in boxes and keep in the wardrobe and put photos in albums…..but is not easy, is very hard. I’ve been crying all weekend.
As I said in the beginning, in my way towards islam, when I start thinking I am doing well, and learning, and improving, then, I find out that something else I do is wrong….
Sometimes I think I am not good enough for this, religion.
I am so useless,”
As I was reading the post of this Muslim sister I really felt for her. It brought back memories of my early days as a Muslimah. I was also brought up, as she went on to describe in her post, in a house where ornaments, pictures , wall hangings were the normal.
In my own house pictures and portraits were displayed in abundance and they were giving me a lot of comfort. Just by looking at them I was feeling close to the loved ones they were displaying.
However very early in my new life as a muslimah I found out about the ruling regarding these displays.
[Fatwa: You have to hasten to remove these pictures at once, because it was reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) strongly forbade hanging pictures, and he commanded his great Companion ‘Ali ibn Abi Taalib, “Do not leave any picture without blotting it out and do not leave any built-up grave without levelling it.” (Narrated by Muslim, 1/66). Hanging up pictures of animate beings deprives the people of that house of a great blessing, which is the entrance of angels into that house. It was reported from Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The angels do not enter a house in which there are statues or pictures.” (Narrated by Imaam Ahmad; see also Saheeh al-Jaami’, 1961).
You can replace them, if you wish, with pictures of inanimate objects, such as trees, mountains, oceans and other natural scenes, or other drawings of inanimate objects, without being extravagant or wasteful.
As for the pictures which are hanging, you have to remove them and blot them out or burn them; do not keep them. It is worth noting that hanging up pictures of the dead is one of the things that renews grief and serves no useful purpose; it may even lead to some kind of veneration which goes against Tawheed. Let us not forget that the shirk committed by the people of Nooh (peace be upon him) started because they set up pictures and images of some righteous people who had lived among them. So be very careful. May Allaah help us and you to do all that pleases Him and earns His forgiveness. And Allaah knows best. May Allaah bless our Prophet Muhammad.( Fatwa Islam QA)]
So with a heavy heart I removed all the portraits and I wrapped them and put them in a very dark cupboard. What did I do
next?
I thought about Allah( swt), The Prophet( saw), The Angels (as) and I comforted myself in the knowledge that for what I gave up, I will be Insha Allah compensated by Allah (swt ) maybe in this life or the next. Any prohibition if we understand the wisdom behind it or not, we know that it is for our own good. Sometimes something we like might not be good for us and vice versa.
This house I live in and the pictures that were decorating it are nothing but a temporary pleasure in this world. The house is just a shelter and the ornaments just a personal whim. As Muslims we know that everything in this world is temporary and a lot of things are a test for us.
Our love for Allah swt can be shown by obedience to Him (swt) and His Prophet (saw).Saying the Shahada is the first step. To believe in Allah( swt )with no partners and Prophet Muhammad saw as Allah’s slave and messenger.Islamic Monotheism.
So I looked at the empty walls and I exercised patience. The pictures of my father on the wall would not bring him back and what was more important was that his memory and love live in my heart.
A few days later I got used to the empty walls and I found the thought that my house frequented by angels far superior to having a few pictures on the walls.
So to the sister with the question I would say:
My dear sister, praise be to Allah swt for guiding us to the straight path and the True Religion of Islam. Allah swt knows what is in our hearts and our intentions. Please lets all strive for eternal happiness in Jannah Firdaus in the shade of our Creator, Allah swt.
May Allah swt accept our efforts.
And Allah knows best.
Xenia
