Answer
Wa `alaykum as-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
In this fatwa:
The detested pictures and images are only those, which are worshiped and revered. One should not wear any clothes which have any revered or worshiped images printed upon them. Photographic pictures and those printed on clothes are originally permissible as long as the picture does not contain anything haram, and does not aim at glorifying its subject under religious or worldly considerations. The ruling here is much stricter if clothes bear pictures of persons known for their disbelief or deviate character.
Replying to the issued question, Sheikh `Abdul-Majeed Subh, a prominent Azharite scholar, states:
It seems from your question that you are influenced by what is propagated regarding the prohibition of photography and statues. When the Prophet (peace be upon him) cursed Tasweer (making figures), he made an exception to those which are not glorified such as those made in carpets, curtains and the like.
Basr ibn Sa`id is reported to have said, “Zayd ibn Khalid became ill and we went to visit him. There was a picture on the curtain of his door. I said to my companion `Ubayd Allah al-Khulani, who was the servant of the Prophet’s wife Maymunah, ‘Was it not Zayd who told us about pictures the other day?’ `Ubayd Allah replied, ‘Did you not hear him when he said, ‘Except if it is made of cloth?’“
Al-Tirmidhi reported on the authority of `Utbah that once the latter went to visit Abu Talhah al-Ansari, who was ill, and he found Sahl ibn Hanif (another Companion) there. Abu Talhah called someone to come and tear up the sheet which was under him. “Why tear it up?” Sahl asked. “There are pictures on it, and you know what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said concerning that,” Abu Talhah replied. “Did he not also say, ‘Except if it is made on cloth?’” Sahl asked. “Yes, but it makes me feel better,” Abu Talhah replied.”
Based on this, there is nothing wrong in wearing clothes having pictures on them for both children and adults as long as these pictures are not revered or glorified and do not display nudity or lewdness.
Allah Almighty knows best.
Editor’s note: This fatwa is from Ask the Scholar’s archive and was originally published at an earlier date.