Question:

What is the status of a person’s Salaah that was prayed around images (e.g. teddy bears, kids toys)?

Answer:

The scholars mentioned that his prayer is valid however he should avoid praying around things which will distract him in the prayer, due to the following hadeeth:

‘A’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) said: “The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) stood up to pray wearing a checkered shirt, and he looked at the patterns in it. When he had finished his prayer, he said, “Take this shirt to Abu Jaham ibn Hudhayfah and bring me an anbajaani (a garment with no decorations or checks), because it distracted me when I was praying.” According to another report: “These checks distracted me.” According to another report: “He had a checkered shirt, which used to distract him whilst he was praying”

The hadeeth is in Bukhaari and Muslim

Also they use the following hadeeth:

Anas (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “A’ishah had a decorated, colourful curtain which she used to cover the side of her house. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said to her, “Take it away from
me, because its decorations keep distracting me when I pray.” (Reported by al-Bukhaari, Fath al-Baari, 10/391).

~ Abu Fajr AbdulFattaah bin Uthman