Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Assalam-u-alaikum  Brother Buhan,

question-on lailatul Quadar why do people get pictures off the wall that have any human being on any living thing drawn on it .It is wrong to have pictures on as it is believed that angels do not enter the house with pictures in it,and if it is wrong then it should not be allowed any time  right please specify.Another question i understand Lailatul Quader is the night of fazihat and forgiveness and we must get the best of it  is it a must to stay up all night  since we don,t live in muslim country and don,t get off day from work  the next day.What should one do .Jakala khair.

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Answer:

Picture on wall

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Q-1: It is wrong to have pictures on as it is believed that angels do not enter the house with pictures in it

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 4.447 Narrated by Aisha

I stuffed for the Prophet (saws) a pillow decorated with pictures (of animals) which looked like a Namruqa (i.e. a small cushion). He (saws) came and stood among the people with excitement apparent on his face. I said, "O Messenger of Allah (saws)! What is wrong?" He (saws) said, "What is this pillow?" I said, "I have prepared this pillow for you, so that you may recline on it." He (saws) said, "Don't you know that Angels do not enter a house wherein there are pictures; and whoever makes a picture will be punished on the Day of Resurrection, and will be asked to give life to (what he has created)?"

It is indeed not permitted to hang or display pictures of animate objects in a house, for the Messenger of Allah (saws) has said that the Angels do not enter a house wherein there are pictures.

Q-2: and if it is wrong then it should not be allowed any time  right please specify.

It is indeed true, that when a thing is forbidden in Islam; its prohibition should be practiced at all times, and not just on special occasions. If a person removes the pictures only on the night of Qadr, its like saying he accepts and does not mind if the Angels of Mercy does not enter his house everyday of the year, except the night of the Laylatul Qadr!! We are and should always be in desperate need of Allah’s Mercy to enter our lives and our houses every single moment of our lives.

Q-3: is it a must to stay up all night  since we don,t live in muslim country and don,t get off day from work  the next day.What should one do

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 97 Surah Qadr verses 3-5:

3 The Night of Power is better than a thousand Months.

4 Therein come down the angels and the Spirit by Allah's permission on every errand:

5 Peace!... This until the rise of Morn!

Allah Subhanah declares in the Glorious Quran that the Night of Qadr is better than a thousand months; and the night starts from the time the sun sets until the morning. It is not obligatory for one to stay awake all night and worship his Lord, if one does not wish to do so. One may worship and glorify the Merciful Lord, seek His Mercy and Forgiveness, for as long as one wills and is easy for him. There is absolutely no condition or obligation on the believers that they have to stay awake all night.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 3.231 Narrated by Abu Huraira

The Prophet (saws) said, "Whoever fasted the month of Ramadan out of sincere Faith (i.e. belief) and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his past sins will be forgiven; and whoever stood for the prayers in the Night of Qadr out of sincere Faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, then all his previous sins will be forgiven ."

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 2096 Narrated by Anas ibn Malik

Allah's Messenger (saws) said that when Laylat al-Qadr comes, Jibrael (a.s.) descends with a company of Angels who invoke blessings on whoever is standing or sitting and remembering Allah, who is Great and Glorious.

Each moment of the Night of Qadr are invaluable, and the more one takes this opportunity to remember, worship and glorify Allah Subhanah and seek His Forgiveness, the more reward he will earn from his Merciful and Bounteous Lord.

One should try to the best of his ability to worship the Merciful Lord as much as is easy for him on this most blessed of Nights.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan