It is narrated from Ibn Mas'ud that he was invited to a meal, and when it was said to him that there was an image in the house, he refused to go until it was broken (19). Our evidence is what 'Aisha narrated, saying: "The Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) arrived from a journey, and I had covered a recessed wall (20) with a patterned cloth containing images. When he saw it, he said: 'Are you covering the private quarters with a curtain that has images in it?' He then tore it down." She said: "So I made from it two cushions (21), and it is as if I am looking at the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) reclining on one of them." Narrated by Ibn 'Abd al-Barr (22). Furthermore, when [images] are stepped upon and used for trivial purposes, they are neither venerated nor magnified, so they do not resemble the idols that are worshipped and taken as gods; therefore, they are not disliked (23). What we have narrated is more specific than what they narrated. It has also been narrated from Abu Talha that it was said to him: "Did the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) not say: 'The angels do not enter a house in which there is an image or a dog'?" He replied: "Did you not hear him say: 'Except for a pattern on a garment'?" Agreed upon (24). This is interpreted according to what we mentioned: that which is permissible is what is spread out (for use), and that which is disliked of it is what
= It was also recorded by Abu Dawud, in: The Chapter: On a person in a state of major ritual impurity (junub) who delays the ritual bath, from the Book of Purification; and in: The Chapter: On images, from the Book of Clothing. Sunan Abi Dawud 1/52, 2/392. By al-Tirmidhi in: The Chapter: What has been narrated regarding the fact that the angels do not enter a house in which there is an image or a dog, from the Book of Etiquette. 'Aridat al-Ahwadhi 10/248, 249. And al-Nasa'i in: The Chapter: On the person in a state of major ritual impurity if he does not perform ablution, from the Book of Purification; and in: The Chapter: The abstention of the angels from entering a house in which there is a dog, from the Book of Hunting; and in: The Chapter: Images, from the Book of Adornment. Al-Mujtaba 1/116, 7/164, 8/178, 188. And al-Darimi, in: The Chapter: The angels do not enter a house in which there are images, from the Book of Seeking Permission. Sunan al-Darimi 2/284. And Imam Ahmad, in: Al-Musnad 1/104, 107, 148, 150, 277, 3/90, 4/28, 29, 30, 6/246, 330. (19) Recorded by al-Bayhaqi, in: The Chapter: An invitee who sees images in the place where he is invited, from the Book of Dower. Al-Sunan al-Kubra 7/268, from Abu Mas'ud. (20) Al-sahwa: A wall niche or something like a shelf. (21) In Sahih al-Bukhari: "namruqatayn" (two cushions). (22) It was also recorded by al-Bukhari, in: The Chapter: Should the jars containing wine be broken, from the Book of Wrongs (Mazalim); and in: The Chapter: What is stepped upon of images, from the Book of Clothing. Sahih al-Bukhari 3/179, 7/215, 216. It was also recorded by al-Nasa'i, in: The Chapter: Mention of the people who will have the severest punishment, from the Book of Adornment. Al-Mujtaba 8/189. And Ibn Majah, in: The Chapter: Images that are stepped upon, from the Book of Clothing. Sunan Ibn Majah 2/1204. And by Imam Ahmad, in: Al-Musnad 6/36, 103, 199. (23) In B and M: "tukram" (are honored). (24) Recorded by al-Bukhari, in: The Chapter: If one of you says 'Amin', from the Book of the Beginning of Creation; and in: The Chapter: Whoever disliked sitting on an image, from the Book of Clothing. Sahih al-Bukhari 4/138, 139, 7/226. And Muslim, in: The Chapter: The prohibition of depicting an animal, from the Book of Clothing. Sahih Muslim 3/1665, 1666. =
