The ruling on selling Gold that contains Drawings and Pictures
Question :
What is the ruling on selling gold that contains drawings or pictures, like a butterfly or the head of a snake or something similar to that?
Answer:
The gold and silver jewelry that is made in the form of animals is forbidden to sell, forbidden to buy and forbidden to wear. It is forbidden to take it. This is because it is obligatory for the Muslim to erase pictures and remove them. This is like what is in Sahih Muslim on the authority of Abul- Hayyaj, that 'Ali bin Abu Talib said to him, "Shall I not send you on the mission that the Messenger of Allâh sent me on? It is that you do not leave any picture except that you erase it or any elevated grave except that you level it." It is confirmed from the Prophet that the angels do not enter a house that has pictures in it. Based on this, it is obligatory for the Muslims to avoid using this jewelry, selling it and buying it.
Source:
Ash-Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaimin
Fatawa Islamiyah, Vol. 4 Pages 406-407