[Hadith of the day]

“Angels do not enter a house in which there is a picture or a dog” (Bukhari and Muslim)

((La tad’khoulul malaaikatou’ baytan fihi sooratun wa la qalbun))

“Picture” or “sooratun” refers to all animate drawings, forms, pictures and photos, whether they cast a shadow or not, unless they are in a degraded position (i.e. a picture on a floor covering that is trodden on).  The occupants of such a dwelling are deprived of the presence of angels and their prayers and their seeking forgivgesness for them. 

Angels do not enter places containing animate pictures because animate forms are often taken for worhip.  The Messenger of Alaah (swt) said: “Those who make (draw, print or publish animate pictures will be punished on the day of judgement and it will said to them: Bring to life what you have created. “Angels” here refer to guardian angels (hafaza) and angels of mercy, and not the angel of death, who calls upon people at their appoointed time wherever they are.  The reason for angels not entering where dogs are present is because dogs are considered filthy.  Also, some dogs have been referred to as devils in the hadiths.  Inanimate pictures such as scenery, buildings,