Quran
Hadith
Islamic Text
The angels that do not enter your house if you have pictures are the angels of mercy. The preserving angels do still enter.
عَنْ أَبِي طَلْحَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، قَالَ: لاَ تَدْخُلُ المَلاَئِكَةُ بَيْتًا فِيهِ كَلْبٌ وَلاَ صُورَةٌ
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, ‘The angels do not enter a house in which there is a dog or a picture.’ (Sahih al-Bukhari, 3322).
The images that prevent angels entering a house are the ones that are prohibited (see the link below for details). Such prohibited images do not prevent all angels from entering, rather the recording angels still enter.
وَاخْتَلَفَ الْمُحَدِّثُونَ فِي امْتِنَاعِ مَلَائِكَةِ الرَّحْمَةِ
قَيَّدَ بِهِمْ إذْ الْحَفَظَةُ لَا يُفَارِقُونَ الْإِنْسَانَ إلَّا عِنْدَ الْجِمَاعِ وَالْخَلَاءِ كَذَا فِي شَرْحِ الْبُخَارِيِّ وَيَنْبَغِي أَنْ يُرَادَ بِالْحَفَظَةِ مَا هُوَ أَعَمُّ مِنْ الْكِرَامِ الْكَاتِبِينَ وَاَلَّذِينَ يَحْفَظُونَهُ مِنْ الْجِنِّ نَهْرٌ. (رد المحتار على الدر المختار)
Imam al-Haskafi: The scholars of Hadith differed over the angels of mercy entering.
Imam Ibn Abideen: He restricted it to them (the angels of mercy) because the preserving angels do not leave a person except during intercourse or visiting the toilet. This has been mentioned in the commentary of al-Bukhari. It is correct (to say) that what is intended by the preserving angels is more general than the noble recording angels and the angels that protect one from the Jinn, Nahr. (Radd al-Muhtaar).
The Nass (text) above clarifies that only the angels of mercy are prevented from entering. There is some discussion and difference of opinion amongst scholars with regards to angels entering when there is a valid excuse (see link below for details). However, Imam Ibn Abideen made it clear that the Hanafi scholars are of the opinion that they do enter in such cases.
وَهُوَ ظَاهِرُ كَلَامِ عُلَمَائِنَا، فَإِنَّ ظَاهِرَهُ أَنَّ مَا لَا يُؤْثَرُ كَرَاهَةً فِي الصَّلَاةِ لَا يُكْرَهُ إبْقَاؤُهُ. (رد المحتار على الدر المختار)
The apparent of the statements of our scholars is that which does not cause dislike (Makruh) in Salah, is not disliked to keep in the house. (Radd al-Muhtaar).
And Allah Most High Knows Best
-Answered by Shaykh Noorud-deen Rashid (29.11.2022)
See also:
Is it permitted to change a photo with filters
If you keep a dog for security do the angels enter the house?
Hadith saying angels don’t enter a house with an impure person in it.
Is it permitted to keep a pet dog?
