What is the ruling concerning the hanging of Images in homes and other places?

Question :
Answer : The ruling is that it is prohibited if these images ( suwar ) are of that which possess a soul - human beings or otherwise. This is based upon the saying of the Prophet salallahu alayhe was salaam to Ali " Dont leave any image except that you have affaced/obliterated it, nor any raised grave except that you have leveled it ( to the ground ) " narrated by Muslim in his Saheeh.

Also because it has been authentically reported from Aaisha radiallahu anha that she hung a curtain having images over the door of a chamber of hers. When the Prophet sallallahu alayhe was salaam saw it, he tore it apart, and his face changed[showing displeasure], and he said : O Aaisha : Verily , the makers of these images will be punished on the day of judgement and it will be said to them : give life to what you have created ." Narrated by Muslim and others.

However if the image is in a carpet, such that it is degraded and held in contempt , or a pillow which is leaned upon , in that case there is no harm .

This is because of what is authentically reported from the Prophet sallallahu alayhe was salaam that he had an appointment to meet Jibreel. When Jibreel came he was prevented from entering the home. The Prophet sallallahu alayhe was salaam asked him why? And he said ;" Verily there is a statue ( timthaal ) in the house, and a curtain with images , and a dog." So, he ordered that the head of the statue be cut off, and he ordered the curtain to be cut up and made into two cushions spread out in which the people walk; and he ordered that the dog be put out. The Prophet sallallahu alayhe was salaam then did so and Jibreel then entered. Narrated by an -Nasaa'ee and others with a jayyid chain of narrators.

It is also mentioned in the hadeeth that the dog was a puppy belonging to al -Hasan and al - Husain, and that it was under a couch in the house.

It has also been authentically reported from the Prophet sallallahu alayhe was salaam that he said : " The angels do not eneter a house in which there is an image ( surah ) and a dog ." Agreed upon by al - Bukharee and Muslim .

Finally the story of Jibreel indicates that the image ( surah ) in a carpet , and things like carpets, do not prevent the entering of angels. And the likeness of that is what has been authenticated in the Saheeh ( Al Bukharee) on the authorit of Aaisha radiallahu anha that she made the aformentioned curtain into a pillow for the Prophet sallallahu alayhe was salaam to lean upon.

Sheikh 'Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah bin Baaz
Silsilah Kitaab ad-Dawah 1/19,20

Al Haafidh ibn Hajar says "......when the curtain was cut up, the cutting could have been , for example, in the middle of the image, thereby changing its form
from the book Book " The Islaamic Ruling concerning Tasweer"