Placing pictures for beings with souls in the Masjid

Q: The society for teaching the Glorious Qur'an in Al-Jubayl Industrial City, in the eastern district, printed an annual calendar including Salah (Prayer) times during the year. This calendar is attached to a big sheet, of which I submitted a copy with the question. These sheets include pictures of the Sacred House, Maqam (place) of Ibrahim (Abraham). Some of these pictures are old and others are recent as shown under every picture. They contain groups of people offering Tawaf (Circumambulation of the Ka`bah). Please, give us a Fatwa in this regard. Is it permissible to hang such pictures and sheets inside mosques and their lobbies considering that some Imams (the one who leads congregational Prayer) in our industrial city of Al-Jubayl hung them inside the mosque thinking that it is permissible to do so? May Allah grant you the best reward for what you do for Islam and Muslims. A: Putting these calendars inside mosques is impermissible as they include pictures of animate objects and occupy praying people during Salah by looking at them and pondering on their colors and forms, that contradicts with the purpose of Salah which is Khushu` (the heart being submissively attuned to the act of worship), and focusing on Salah while one is standing before Allah (Exalted be He). (Part No. 5; Page No. 239

A: Putting these calendars inside mosques is impermissible as they include pictures of animate objects and occupy praying people during Salah by looking at them and pondering on their colors and forms, that contradicts with the purpose of Salah which is Khushu` (the heart being submissively attuned to the act of worship), and focusing on Salah while one is standing before Allah (Exalted be He). (Part No. 5; Page No. 239) May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.