Is It Permissible for a Muslim to Permanently Stay at a House Containing Hindu Idols? [Shafi’i]

Answered by Shaykh Jamir Meah

Question: Assalamu alaykum

1. Is it permissible for a Muslim to permanently stay at a house containing Hindu idols?

2. Will my worship be affected?

3. People say that angels do not enter a home that has idols. Thus, it is not protected from shaytan. Is it true?

4. Is it a must to purify a house that was previously occupied by a non-Muslim?

5. Are there certain prayers to be done when moving into a new place?

Answer: In the Name of God, the Merciful and Compassionate

Thank you for your question. May Allah grant you the best of states and guide you to what is pleasing to Him.

1. Is it permissible for a Muslim to permanently stay at this house for up to a year or two?

There is a difference of opinion in the Shafi’i school whether one is permitted to enter into a house (or room) where there are images or statues of animate beings. Many hold that it is impermissible, while others have stated it is disliked. The latter being the reliable opinion (that it is disliked).

(Note: This ruling differs to the ruling for entering such places when invited to a festive feast or when entering a place of worship (e.g. church), in which there is no difference of opinion regarding its prohibition, unless one’s presence will lead to the removal of the objects)

As for when the prohibited items are in the building, but not in the same room that one is staying, then it is permissible (without dislike).

Likewise, if the images are only above the front door and the hallway (and not in the room one is), then it is also permissible.

[Hashiyat Tuhfa al Muhtaj, Mughni al Muhtaj, Iyanat al Talibin]

2. Will my ibadah be affected? Will blessings and du’a be blocked? Is du’a blocked due to sins?

Your worship itself will not be affected as long as your own state is good, and you remain sincere in your supplications, insha’Allah.

It is true that sins affect the acceptance of supplication. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, ‘[A man] stretches his hands out toward the sky and says, ‘O Lord, O Lord,’ while his food is unlawful, his drink is unlawful, his clothing unlawful and his nourishment is unlawful. How is he to be answered [in such a state]?’ [Muslim].

What this hadith is referring to is sins in which the person is directly involved in, and not incidental circumstances, such as making supplication in a place which it is disliked to be.

We will discuss blessings below.

3. Also, people say that angels do not enter a home that has idols, statues or even sculptures of living things. Thus, this house is not protected from shaytan and jinn, and it and its occupants are not blessed. I would like to ask for your clarification on this.

The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, ‘The Angels do not enter a house in which there is a dog or a picture.’ [Bukhari, Muslim].

Imam Nawawi explains, ‘Those angels that do not enter a house in which there is a dog or a picture are angels who bring mercy and blessings and forgiveness. As for [those angels that bring] protection, they enter into every house.’ [Rawhda al Talibin].

Therefore, while angels of mercy, blessings and forgiveness do not enter into the house, the angels of protection do. Obviously one should say their regular daily invocations, sunna dua’s and recite Qur’an for further protection.

Also, if there are no prohibited objects in your room, there is nothing to say that you will not receive blessings of some kind in that specific area.

4. Is it a must to purify a house that was previously occupied by a non-Muslim?

No, it is not obligatory. though if there was something previously in the house which we deem to be filth, such as a dog or alcohol, then one should give the house a good clean.

5. Are there certain prayers to be done when moving into a new place?

There isn’t any specific supplication or du’a for entering into a new home. However, the following are good practices:

1. Whenever you enter the house say the Ta’awudh (أعوذ بالله من الشيطان الرجيم ), Bismillah, and then,

أعوذ بكلمات التامات من شر ما خلق
I seek refuge in the Perfect Word of Allah from the evil of what He has created

It is narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) said, ‘When anyone lands at a place, and then says, ‘I seek refuge in the Perfect Words of Allah from the evil of what He has created’, nothing will harm him until he leaves that place’. [Muslim].

2. Recite Surah Al-Baqarah in the rooms which you will be spending time in. The Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) said, ‘Offer some of your prayers at home, and do not take your houses as graves. In fact, Satan flees from the house where Surah al Baqarah is recited’ [Muslim]

3. Keep the house alive by reading Quran, dhikr, and praying. Play Qur’an on audio in the house daily.

Conclusion

As a general rule, it is always better for a Muslim to stay clear of anywhere where there are prohibited objects, particularly statues of deities.

However, since you said that it was difficult to find a place to stay during your work (and I assume it would be difficult to find somewhere else to stay, or at least at the same cost), and your friend offered her place to you and kindly stored away the main objects, it is obvious that there are many reasons for taking up the offer, and therefore it would be permissible for you to stay there.

If at all possible, I would suggest trying to cover the remaining items while you are there. Perhaps light cloth draped over each item will suffice.

I wish you all the best in your studies. May Allah protect you and us.

Warmest salams,
[Shaykh] Jamir Meah

Shaykh Jamir Meah grew up in Hampstead, London. In 2007, he traveled to Tarim, Yemen, where he spent nine years studying the Islamic sciences on a one-to-one basis under the foremost scholars of the Ribaat, Tarim, with a main specialization and focus on Shafi’i fiqh. In early 2016, he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continues advanced studies in a range of Islamic sciences, as well as teaching. Jamir is a qualified homeopath.