25 - If the picture of a living thing is drawn on the wall or on pieces of cloth or paper hanging or put on a wall just above the head, in front, or just to the right or left of a person who is performing namaz, it is makruh. Even if not in a living form, a picture of the cross is like the picture of a living thing. For it means to be like Christians. It is makruh to imitate their evil practices, even if not in order to be like them, or to imitate their unharmful habits with the intention of resembling them. [In fact, it is written in the books Targhib-us-salat and Nisab-ul-ahbar that it is makruh to perform namaz at such places as well as places where people are drinking alcohol, gambling or playing musical instruments, and prayers said at these places will not be accepted. Apparatuses through which musical instruments are heard and pictures that are haram to look at are watched are like musical instruments.] If the picture of a living or lifeless thing is on something upon which a person is standing, sitting or leaning, his namaz does not become makruh. If the picture is on the walls behind the person performing namaz or on the ceiling it is khafif (light) makruh.
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MAKRUHS OF SALAT (NAMAZ)