Thought your prayer spot was fine? Learn why praying in front of a photo might distract you — and what to do instead.
Scholars generally hold that praying in front of photographs or paintings showing living beings is disliked. The reasoning is practical: such images can distract the worshipper and reduce presence of heart (khushoo‘) during prayer. For that reason the act of praying before such images is regarded as makruh — and the article summarises the main reasons for that ruling:
Distraction from God: A visible image of a living creature in front of the worshipper may draw attention to the picture and diminish focus on God.
Respect for the sacred act: Prayer is a solemn worship act that should be performed in a calm, pure environment; having images of living beings nearby can lessen that sanctity.
The article goes on to note several considerations that can affect the degree of dislike:
Type of image: If the image does not strongly resemble a person or animal (e.g., highly stylised, very small, or abstract), some jurists view the dislike as weaker.
Placement of the picture: If the image is placed where it’s not easily seen during prayer, or can be covered, the degree of makruh is reduced.
Type of place: In a mosque or formal prayer space, stronger caution is advised — it’s better to avoid any pictures of living creatures in a place of prayer.
To be safe, it’s better to avoid praying directly in front of photographs or paintings that show living beings. If you must pray where such an image exists, you can either move to another spot or cover the image before praying. The article emphasises that this ruling applies specifically to prayer; it does not automatically apply to other acts of worship.
Question | Short answer |
|---|---|
Is praying in front of pictures/paintings of living creatures makruh? | Yes, generally considered makruh because of distraction and respect concerns. |
Exceptions / weaker cases | Stylised/very small images, images not visible during prayer, or when the image can be covered. |
Mosques / formal prayer spaces | Greater caution recommended — better to avoid any such images. |
Scenario | Practical advice |
|---|---|
You’re at home and a photo is on the wall in front of you | Move slightly to the side, or cover the image (cloth, paper) before praying. |
You’re in a public place with unavoidable images | Try to find a different spot, or turn so the image isn’t in front of you. |
The image is abstract / tiny / not life-like | Many jurists find the dislike reduced — still aim for a calm, image-free spot if possible. |
