It is narrated that the emperor Heraculeus had shown the Sahaabah some pictures which he claimed were the portraits of the Ambiya.

Answer

It is haraam to intentionally look with pleasure at pictures of animate objects. Those molvis who say the contrary are not Ulama. They are extremely dim in their thinking, hence they blurt out just any trash that comes to their mouths.

Prohibited looking refers to intentionally looking at a picture to derive pleasure. Even if it is a picture of a wine bottle, it will not be permissible to look at it to derive pleasure. The Fuqaha have forbidden looking at even the dress of ghair mahram, yet it is quite evident that the Sahaabah must have looked at the outer garments of women who passed them in the streets, etc. The prohibition applies to intentional looking to derive pleasure.

Similarly, unintentional listening to music is not sinful. It is just unavoidable. The Sahaabah had not gone to Heracleus to look at pictures. It was something coincidental and not planned to derive pleasure. It was an exception. Such rare exceptions do not cancel the normal hukm of the Shariah. There are many rare/exceptional incidents in the lives of the Sahaabah which are set aside and not followed.

annulled, you may marry her. She has valid grounds for annulment.