"In my house there was a cloth on which there were images, which I covered a closet which is in the house, and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to pray toward it. Then he said: '0 Aisha, take it away from me.' So I removed it and made pillows out of it."
The Book of the Qiblah - Sunan an-Nasa'i 761
"In my house there was a cloth on which there were images, which I covered a closet which is in the house, and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to pray toward it. Then he said: '0 Aisha, take it away from me.' So I removed it and made pillows out of it."
Commentary on the Prohibition of Images
This hadith from Sunan an-Nasa'i demonstrates the absolute prohibition of images containing animate beings in places of prayer. The Prophet (ﷺ) initially prayed toward the cloth, but when he noticed the images, he immediately commanded its removal, indicating that such representations distract from proper devotion and may lead to shirk (associating partners with Allah).
The scholars explain that images of animate beings are forbidden in prayer areas because they compete with the worship of Allah alone. The transformation of the cloth into pillows shows the permissibility of utilizing such materials for purposes where the images are not prominently displayed or venerated, thus preventing waste while maintaining religious principles.
Legal Rulings Derived
This narration establishes that prayer toward images invalidates the prayer or at minimum makes it detested (makruh). The immediate removal demonstrates the urgency of eliminating such distractions from prayer spaces.
The permissibility of repurposing forbidden items for permissible uses is established through Aisha's action of making pillows, provided the images are no longer displayed in a manner that could distract worshippers or lead to improper veneration.