Question: The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Do not cover the walls”. What is the ruling on hanging papers on the wall and they have pictures of things that do not possess souls like oceans and trees?
Answer: “If the purpose is to see these pictures, then there is no harm. Likewise, if hanging them is from a type of paint or from a type of marble and the likes, then this is fine because these papers, if they do not have anything prohibited, then they are a substitute for that paint and what resembles it. Verily what is prohibited are things that are hung, like a carpet and cloth and what is like that of which is done”.
[Sharh Abi Dawood no. 178]
Translator’s Note: The Hadith mentioned in the question is weak by al-Albani in Daif Abi Dawood no. 1485]
Translated by
Faisal Ibn Abdul Qaadir Ibn Hassan
Abu Sulaymaan
