full of pictures and doing Sal?t in it is strongly detested. This is indeed the truth’. (1)

Al-Murghiyn?n? -one of the Hanafi ‘Ulamah- stated that the detestation of doing Sal?t in places full of pictures or decorations is of several levels according to their direction: ‘the most detested case is when the pictures or decorations are in front of the one doing Sal?t, the second degree is when the pictures are over one’s head, then to one’s right, then to one’s left and the least degree of detestation is when the pictures are at one’s rear’. (2)

It is indeed detested that one does Sal?t in a place or on a carpet full of decorations or pictures for one should be fully given to Sal?t when he / she performs it and such things distract one’s attention from it. And this ruling applies on whatever distracts one’s attention from it. And this ruling applies to whatever distracts one’s attention from Sal?t.

Accordingly; the Fuqah?’ believe that this ruling applies to all kinds of pictures, wheather painted on walls or any other thing [such as clothes]. Besides distracting the praying muslim form Sal?t, doing Sal?t in a place full of them resembles the act of those who worship idols. (3) Such is the case regarding doing Sal?t on a carpet full of pictures, (4) even if they are stepped on. (5)

* Proofs from the Sunnah:

(1) The prophet ( - صلى الله عليه وسلم -) said: ‘The Angels [of mercy] do not enter a house in which there are pictures’. (6)

An-Nawaw? said: ‘The ‘Ulamah explained that the angels do not enter a house in which there are pictures because having pictures is one of the grave sins for they bear the idea of