So I read books at school for class and I read this book with a bird on the cover but I cover it up with a sticky note I could read other books without animal cover but I really like it so is it haram or halal
1 Answer
There is no specific hadith or verse that condemns books having images (for obvious reasons), but I will give the words of some scholars. Sheikh ‘Abdurrahman as Sa'di said:
With regard to necessary items (containing images) that have becomes part of people’s daily lives and have become widespread, such as images on currency, matches and the like, what appears to me to be the case is that this comes under the heading of matters concerning which one has no choice, and with regard to matters concerning which one has no choice and which are very widespread, there is the hope that Allah will pardon them and the ruling is leniency concerning them."
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said:
The individual is not required to blot out everything that he finds in magazines and newspapers, because of the hardship entailed. Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning): “and has not laid upon you in religion any hardship” [al-Hajj 22:78]. He does not buy these magazines and newspapers because of the images and pictures; rather he buys them because of what they contain of news and information."(Jalasaat Ramadhaniyah)
He also said:
Nowadays the problem is widespread and it is common to find images on everything, except in rare cases. They are to be found on vessels, food containers, books, newspapers and everything except what which Allah wills. There are also images that can be eaten, such as biscuits in the shape of fish and rabbits. We say: if a person keeps the images (i.e., he keeps the things because of the images on them), this is undoubtedly haraam. If he buys magazines which publish images because of the images, this is also haram, but if he buys them for knowledge and to read the news, we hope that there is nothing wrong with that, because of hardship. Allah says:
“and [Allah] has not laid upon you in religion any hardship” [al-Hajj 22:78]
These images should not be the aim when a person buys something, and he should not be concerned with them at all. With regard to vessels and food boxes, etc., it may be said that these pictures are not being treated with respect, so there is no need to regard them as haraam.
Basically, it's fine if you need it for learning and absorbing knowledge, according to these scholars, but Allah knows best. I hope this was helpful and not a regurgitation of what you already know.
