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Fatwa CenterAngels avoid homes with picture of living creatures
Question
Angels do not enter a house where there are images of people or any other living creatures. Is this ruling applicable only for pictures that are exposed or does this also imply to pictures that are not kept open, i.e. for pictures in our school books (in their closed state)?
Answer
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.
The picture that prevents the entry of angels is an animate picture which is exposed or glorified. A picture which has no value, that is stepped on or covered by a case (for a need) like a picture in a passport or an identity card, etc. does not prevent the angels from entering the house. The same thing applies to pictures which are now so widespread that it is impossible to avoid them, like pictures on coins, or schoolbooks, etc…, because it is difficult to prevent that.
Al-Khattaabi 
said: 'The angels do not enter a house where there is a dog or animate pictures, and this only applies to what is forbidden to possess, either dogs or pictures. But what is not prohibited, like hunting dogs, farm dogs and sheep dogs, and animate pictures on the carpet or a rug, etc. does not prevent the angels from entering.'
Al Qaadhi ‘Iyaadh and Ibn Hajar are of the opinion of Al Khattabi 
.
However, some other people of knowledge argue that animate pictures are absolutely forbidden. These scholars include Imaams An-Nawawi and Al-Qurtubi .
Allaah knows best.
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