Decorating homes with figurines Q- What is the ruling on decorating homes with figurines that are not kept in houses for the purpose of worship? A – It is not permissible to display pictures, nor keep taxidermy or stuffed animals in homes or offices or places of gathering – as implied by the authentic Sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him) that indicate the prohibition of displaying pictures or keeping statues or figurines in homes or elsewhere. This is because it is a means to shirk and competing with Allah in terms of creation. Stuffed animals are also a waste of money and a pretext to displaying or keeping statues. The complete Shariah was established to close all the doors to the means which lead to shirk or sinful practices. – The Permanent Committee for Islamic Research and Verdicts; Fatawa Islamiyyah, vol. 1, pg. 39. Praying right or left to the Imam Q- If the congregation became crowded in the Masjid, then is it permissible for some of them to pray (immediately) to the right of the Imam or his left. Will those who pray to the side of the Imam be regarded as having attained the reward for praying in the first row? A – If the congregation became crowded in the Masjid, then there is no harm in praying (immediately) to the right of the Imam or to his left, or to the right of him only, and those who do so are not regarded as (being in) the first row, because the first row is the first row behind the Imam. – Sheikh Bin Uthaymeen; Majmoo' Fatawa, vol. 13, no. 418 Is it allowed to split into multiple groups and parties? Q- Are there any texts from the Book of Allah or the Sunnah of His Prophet (peace be upon him) which contain an allowance of multiple groups and parties or Al-Ikhwaan? A – I say: There is not in, either the Book or the Sunnah, which allows multiple parties and groups. Rather, there is in the Book and the Sunnah what opposes this. Allah say: “Verily those who split-up their religion and become sects, you have no concern with them in the least. Their affair is with Allah, Who will tell them about what they used to do.” (Qur'an, 6: 159) Allah say: “Each sect rejoicing in only that which is with itself.” (Qur'an, 30:32) There is no doubt that (splitting into groups) is contrary to what Allah ordered. Rather what Allah has ordered and encouraged is: “And indeed this Ummah of yours is one Ummah and I am your Lord, so fear and obey Me.” (Qur'an, 23:52) And some people say: It is not possible for the da'wah to be strong unless it is done within the framework of a party! We say to that: This is incorrect! Rather the da'wah will be strong whenever the person is under the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace be upon him) following the narrations of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and that of his Companions. – Sheikh Muhammad Bin Salih Al-Uthaymeen; from the cassette Majmoo' Kalaamul-'Ulemaa fee 'Abdur-Rahmaan 'Abdul
