where the Prophet, may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him, disliked entering? Therefore, the view that it is prohibited—if it is not the correct view—is at least the more cautious one.

The third category is where using them involves neither veneration nor degradation. The majority of scholars hold that using images in this manner is prohibited (1). It has been related from some of the early generations that they permitted it if the images were coloured. Indeed, some of the early generations had curtains in their homes depicting animals, and they did not object to this. Yet there is no doubt that those among the early generations who did this, such as al-Qasim ibn Muhammad (2), may Allah have mercy on him, are to be excused on the grounds that they acted on an interpretation. Their practice is not to be used as proof, for the proof lies in the word of Allah and His Messenger; perhaps the report had not reached them, or there were similar excuses.

Two issues:

The first issue: what has now become widespread and unavoidable—namely, the presence of these images in virtually everything. They are found on eating and drinking utensils, on food packaging cartons, in books, and in newspapers; they are found in everything, except what Allah wills.