Is It Permissible to Pray Facing Bottles With Human Images on Their Labels?
Question
I've seen many mosques in my country having water bottles especially around mihrab in case anyone gets thirsty. These bottles commonly have a "do not litter" icon which is also known as tidyman icon (a man throwing trash in a basket). I saw that Muslims are prostrating in front of them, which alarmed me. They, even the mosques don't know that the image exists on them. I have informed some mosques and requested to tear the labels out. What is your recommendation to the mosques doing this and the Muslims who know this?
Islamic Ruling & Answer
If a water bottle bears the image of a living being, it is makruh (disliked) to keep it in the mosque, especially near the mihrab or in front of worshippers, because the mosque is the House of Allah and images should be avoided there as much as possible. Therefore, the mosque administration should remove the label or cover the image. However, if someone unknowingly prayed while such a bottle was in front of them, their prayer is not invalid, because the prostration is made to Allah alone, not to the image.
Answered by
Mufti Tosif Qasmi
June 29, 2026
Researched & verified under our editorial & answer-review policy.
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