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Fatwa CenterPlacing picture of sacred Islamic symbol next to picture of dog
Question
Assalaamu alaykum. Dear Shaykh, it is known that every creature is made by Allaah and that nothing is useless. If an animal or a symbol is considered filthy or indicent or improper, like the dog or the monkey in some Muslim countries, then in this situation, can we put two different pictures in the same place, one being the picture of a man with his dog while the second picture is that of some sacred Muslim symbol? That picture could be of the Kaabah, or the Seal of the beloved Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, or even a verse of the Quran in calligraphy, or simply the name of Allaah and His messenger. Is it right to say that pictures of dogs and so on must not be put right next to pictures of the Kaabah or the blessed Seal? Allaah says in the Quran (what means): {That [is so]. And whoever honors the symbols of Allah - indeed, it is from the piety of hearts.} [Quran 22:32] Is it a breach of honor when such disturbing pictures are put together, especially in the cultures in which people use words like 'dog' as an insult because it constitutes a symbol of disgust?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
If associating something that is Islamically sacred with disdained and despised things like those that you mentioned in the question implies insulting and disrespecting this thing that is Islamically sacred, then it is obligatory to avoid it, and those who are able to change this should do so as a way of honoring the symbols of Allaah.
Allaah says (what means): {That [is so]. And whoever honors the symbols of Allaah - indeed, it is from the piety of hearts.} [Quran 22:32]
Allaah knows best.
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