Depictions of Imams (AS) Faces

[ILuvMuhammadSAW]

Salam

I usually see depictions of the Imams (عليه السلام) faces, most commonly Imam Ali and Hussein (عليه السلام) and im wondering, is this Haram and where did we get these Depictions from? 

Thanks

[Abu Hassanain]

Salam

I have not seen any scholar from our school of thought rule such things haram in of themselves

However, one considers that these are the actual image of the holy prophet and his family, peace and blessings, be upon them or one was to touch them, not as respect as as common and some of the Pakistani communities, but is an active worship or thinking they can hear Aid then this would be impermissible

Another issue would be if these images are in a Hussaynia in the area where Salah occurs they should be on the side or back walls not the wall facing the Qilba and if an area is dedicated as a Masjid this could be problematic and without knowing the ruling of scholars, I would definitely say this is something to be avoided because Masjid vs Hussaynia and  Centers have different rules in Fiqh 

I have pictures of the first five and pictures of the hundred times peace recited in Ziyarah Ashura with an owl due to narration in kamil Ziyarah on right wall and Alam on left wall oh Hussaynia but whole wall faces Qilba is bare for instance and patio deck there 

Wallahu Alam 

[ILuvMuhammadSAW]

2 minutes ago, Abu Hassanain said:

Salam

I have not seen any scholar from our school of thought rule such things haram in of themselves

However, one considers that these are the actual image of the holy prophet and his family, peace and blessings, be upon them or one was to touch them, not as respect as as common and some of the Pakistani communities, but is an active worship or thinking they can hear Aid then this would be impermissible

Another issue would be if these images are in a Hussaynia in the area where Salah occurs they should be on the side or back walls not the wall facing the Qilba and if an area is dedicated as a Masjid this could be problematic and without knowing the ruling of scholars, I would definitely say this is something to be avoided because Masjid vs Hussaynia and  Centers have different rules in Fiqh 

I have pictures of the first five and pictures of the hundred times peace recited in Ziyarah Ashura with an owl due to narration in kamil Ziyarah on right wall and Alam on left wall oh Hussaynia but whole wall faces Qilba is bare for instance and patio deck there 

Wallahu Alam 

 quick question, what is a Hussaynia? Im also asking this question because i like this Shia flag/poster but it has Imam Husseins (عليه السلام) face on it fyi.

[Abu Hassanain]

6 minutes ago, ILuvMuhammadSAW said:

 quick question, what is a Hussaynia? Im also asking this question because i like this Shia flag/poster but it has Imam Husseins (عليه السلام) face on it fyi.

Salam

Masjid is for 5 Salah Jummah Eid Salah the major classes and Quran and Duaa Recation 

Masjid generally not for Wedding Funeral Latimiyah Majalis Latm etc

Would have to look at current opinion of leading scholars on it

Hussaynia is a place for Majalis Latm Food Weddings (some cultrue) etc 

In many parts of Iran You go Masjid Pray than walk to Hussaynia for Majalis 

Sayyid Khumanyi would lead the prayers at one masjid in Tehran than give speeech at Hussaynia

Masjid have specific rulings about how they’re made how they’re built how they’re endowed what canon can’t be done there what speeches Canon can be made there, etc.

Mostly in the west, we have Islamic centers which are the same thing as Hussaynia sometimes you’ll have A Masjid in a small area dedicated in a center like Islamic House of wisdom and Islamic Institute of knowledge in Detroit and similar Imam Hussayn association in Toronto is like that

A lot of times what people are calling Masjid in America in Canada are actually Islamic centers. People just don’t know how they’re endowed. It may be that some places really aren’t following the rules associated with certain places, but for instance, there’s a place in the Chicago suburbs called House of knowledge that was very strict with the people of what can be done and what portion of the center because it’s dedicated.as  a Masjid and it has some areas that are dedicated as centers

This is a very complex topic in Islamic law. The different scholars have different rules and is constantly debating changing as the situation changes but what kind of buildings can be bought built acquired, etc.

I’ll try to see if I can find something more detailed than endowment from the scholars in English on this topic

[Abu Hassanain]

14 minutes ago, ILuvMuhammadSAW said:

 quick question, what is a Hussaynia? Im also asking this question because i like this Shia flag/poster but it has Imam Husseins (عليه السلام) face on it fyi.

Salam

you can have that flag poster on your wall, but it cannot be facing the Qilba especially in the room, where you pray. 
 

In some tribes , it’s common to get married under the huge flag known as Alam 

It’s also like you find replicas of the shrines of the 14 in some centers based on some cultures

The general ruling that many of my teachers and their teachers understood and was endorsed by many of the scholars was the ruling of the late Sayyid Hakam the tease items that are made to show respect to the holy family peace and blessings be upon them are allowed if they’re done for respect and worship 

There are a few scholars I could think of would most probably differ on this, but I don’t know they’re ruling off the top of my head and would have to look

[ILuvMuhammadSAW]

5 minutes ago, Abu Hassanain said:

Salam

you can have that flag poster on your wall, but it cannot be facing the Qilba especially in the room, where you pray. 
 

 

So lets say when i walk into my room, the qibla is the left side of my room, so i cant place the flag directly infront of me when i pray? it can be behind me or to the other sides? 

[Abu Hassanain]

8 minutes ago, ILuvMuhammadSAW said:

So lets say when i walk into my room, the qibla is the left side of my room, so i cant place the flag directly infront of me when i pray? it can be behind me or to the other sides? 

Salam

yes unless your scholar specifically objects to such images, that is the general rules and principal

[Abu Hassanain]

23 minutes ago, Abu Hassanain said:

Salam

you can have that flag poster on your wall, but it cannot be facing the Qilba especially in the room, where you pray. 
 

In some tribes , it’s common to get married under the huge flag known as Alam 

It’s also like you find replicas of the shrines of the 14 in some centers based on some cultures

The general ruling that many of my teachers and their teachers understood and was endorsed by many of the scholars was the ruling of the late Sayyid Hakam the tease items that are made to show respect to the holy family peace and blessings be upon them are allowed if they’re done for respect and worship 

There are a few scholars I could think of would most probably differ on this, but I don’t know they’re ruling off the top of my head and would have to look

 Salam

deify it different Islamic buildings are endowed in intended for different purposes, and depending on what you endow them for depends on what you can do there

Masjid vs Hussaynia evolved from the fact that the fourth imam as would hold morning gatherings after combining the midday prayers and reciting different things according to different narrations having speeches and lunch and dessert it never mentions that you have held these morning and grief ceremonies in the Masjid . Traditionally wedding celebrations, visiting people post funerals general celebrations were not held inside The Madjid so is our numbers are larger specific places evolved for these activities overtime also we don’t have massive courtyards with patios and walls in most of our countries that you can fit a lot of people to hold outdoor gatherings year-round. Also, as most people work in the day, the gatherings were moved to the evening.

If you need more clarification on some of the rulings and differences, I can go in and explain better but specify which parts so I can get into more details instead of just an overview

@ILuvMuhammadSAW
 

There was once a preacher who spoke English He was in the seminary in Lebanon. He mentioned that his teacher said if you have a question about theology or doubt about an important issue, interrupt me in prayer.
 

There is a scholar of the current guardian council in Iran. He once came to recite in Canada. He told the people if you have a question about the theology  or a doubt about whether something is permissible or not wake me up even if I’m sleeping I don’t want to face a lot, having known the answer to an important issue and not giving it due to sleep.

Edited September 11 by Abu Hassanain
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[ILuvMuhammadSAW]

2 hours ago, Abu Hassanain said:

Salam

yes unless your scholar specifically objects to such images, that is the general rules and principal

If you mean "your scholar" as in the scholar or ayatollah i agree with, I havent found a ruling on this topic by Khamenei, but i understand now

[Abu Hassanain]

Salam

https://www.sistani.org/english/qa/01282/
 

Ruling on pictures of 14 ruling  general 

Sayyid Muhammad Musawi is not Marja don’t know what level he achieved in Fiqh but he holds a negative view thst some scholars and people of knowledge hold 

https://al-islam.org/ask/are-the-pictures-of-imam-ali-as-that-we-see-in-some-shia-communities-the-actual-images-of-him
 

No ruling found on either of Rahbar site 

tazbah to all

[EiE]

22 hours ago, ILuvMuhammadSAW said:

Salam

I usually see depictions of the Imams (عليه السلام) faces, most commonly Imam Ali and Hussein (عليه السلام) and im wondering, is this Haram and where did we get these Depictions from? 

Thanks

 

 

 

 

It's sad that our imams have become commercialized, probably by people who don't even believe in them. So have could they know their looks?.....
When I see those "depictions" I feel bad, something's wrong....

[Meedy]

I see the whole photos or depictions of the Imams (عليه السلام) faces is wrong. We should not be doing it, if so, their faces should be covered like light or something...

[ILuvMuhammadSAW]

1 hour ago, Meedy said:

I see the whole photos or depictions of the Imams (عليه السلام) faces is wrong. We should not be doing it, if so, their faces should be covered like light or something...

Yeah, i agree, we dont know how they actually looked so i think its best to put light over their faces, but theres still bit of me that thinks its okay to show depictions as long as we dont do overly compassionate things with it (touching it, praying to it, even kissing it... yes, theres videos of that) and its just for decoration purposes, ill get my local imams opinion about it

[ILuvMuhammadSAW]

On 9/12/2025 at 9:58 PM, Meedy said:

I see the whole photos or depictions of the Imams (عليه السلام) faces is wrong. We should not be doing it, if so, their faces should be covered like light or something...

its also more of just a culture thing, most common opinion ive heard online nowadays after ive researched is its okay as long as it doesnt cause worship towards it, and to acknowledge that these arent the real faces of the imams (عليه السلام)