Answer
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:
There is nothing wrong with hanging a picture of the 99 Names of Allah.
The prominent Muslim scholar, Sheikh Muhammad Iqbal Nadvi, Director and Imam of Al-Falah Islamic Center, Oakville, Ontario, Canada, states:
It is said in the Qur’an that Allah Almighty has many Beautiful Names. The Hadith also states that Allah’s Names are 99.
A Muslim is encouraged to call upon Allah by His Beautiful Names. Allah says in the Qur’an, “Allah’s are the Most Beautiful Names. Invoke Him by them. And leave the company of those who blaspheme His Names. They will be requited what they do.” (Al-A`raf 7:180) Also, the Sunnah urges Muslims to learn the Beautiful Names of Allah.
There are some differences regarding the counting of these 99 Names. So, we need to understand that there is no other name of Allah except these 99.
The 99 names are mentioned in a hadith of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), but there are two different versions that are a little bit different in their counting of the Names. The authentic hadith says one who memorizes it fully will enter Paradise.
Therefore, to have a picture of those 99 names is permissible.
Almighty Allah knows best.
Editor’s note: This fatwa is from Ask the Scholar’s archive and was originally published at an earlier date.