Prohibition Of Pictures In Islamic Religion
Introduction
As compared to other religions in the world, Islam has contributed perfectly in every area of life. The teachings of Islam cover the entire spectrum of life, leaving all the questions of people answered. Be it politics, science or arts, a Muslim takes guidance from the Quran, secondly from hadith of Prophet P.B.U.H being two main primary sources of Islamic teachings. It was impossible for Islam, in that case, not to deal with arts and depictions of living beings. Therefore: Under this article, the assignee will give a brief review about stand of Islam on depiction living beings i.e Human and Animal figures in the light of teachings by Islam.
Pre Islamic Era
Because Islam took birth in Arabia, we will study first the situation of Arabs before Islam. Arabs before Islam were involved in practice of many religions. Polytheism, Christianity, Judaism, Zoroastrianism and idol worship were the dominant religions. Different deities were worshipped. Apart of them, culture of Arabs was dominant factor in community. There was no code of conduct to follow neither there were any restrictions nor permissions on their actions. It was solely left on the will of people. The religions which were brought by Prophets of Allah were altered by those people. Consequently, the society lived in ignorance and utter and misguided life.
Post Islamic Era
At the time Islam reached, Arabs were completely drowned in ignorance. Islam came with the message of Oneness of God. At that time, polytheism was very common and people used to worship more than one god. The Islam had reached and taken out arabs from depth of ignorance to heights of truth. One of the basic beliefs of new religion Islam was to believe on the Oneness of God. With the spread of Islam, people who embraced Islam stopped practicing the polytheism, repented towards True and One God. Gradually Islam kept eradicating the sources of polytheism. In the previous nations of Prophets, drawing paintings was permissible. In Jahilliya, the tradition of making paintings carried on, and eventually reached a level that people started to worship paintings made by them. It was therefore very important to prohibit the paintings so that true idea of Islam could be executed. The prohibition of depiction was declared. Understanding picture / painting: Picture is of two kinds. It is either of living being i.e Human, animal or non living being i.e mountains, houses etc. and it is either shadow less or shadow full. The human and animal figures are included in living being. The nations before Islam had freedom to paint the both sort of pictures. The jinns used to draw paintings for Prophet Sulleman a.s. In Quran, Surah Saba, verse 13 Allah SWT said: They made for him whatever he would desire: Stately buildings, images, basins like water-troughs and huge, built-in-cauldrons.
Prohibition of Painting
In Quran: There is no command about prohibition of either kind of pictures in Quran. In Surah Saba Quran shows us that nation of Hazrat Sulleman used to draw pictures. This shows they had permission. But in this new code revealed on Prophet Muhammad there is neither mention of permission nor prohibition.
In Sunnah: Unlike Quran, traditions of Prophet shared many stances where paintings were put under the command of prohibition. Many of hadith deal with the prohibition of paintings. Some of them are below:
Picture of non living being: There are two opinions about the prohibition of drawing picture of non livings. One goes with the prohibition of drawing picture and the other goes towards permission. Those who go with prohibition give the reference of Hadith on the authority of Abu Hurraira. Hazrat Abu Zur’uaa revealed that he, with Abu Hurraira went to madina in a house. We saw a picture hanging on the wall. Upon watching it, Abu Hurraira said, “Messanger of Allah informed us that Allah stated: Who can be more unjust than one who tries to create a creation like Mine. Let them create an atom, a grain of wheat, or a grain of barley. All the things Abu Hurraira mentioned were non livings.
Picture of living being: Drawing painting of living being is prohibited to all jurists. Even a majority group of jurists declare it absolutely prohibited and from Kibayer. In one hadith revealed by Ibn Abbas, Prophet said: Whoever makes a sura (picture, icon, idol etc.) in the world will be asked to breathe soul into it (on the Day of Ressurection), but they will not be able to breathe soul (into it) In another hadith revealed by Ibn Mas’uod, Prophet said: The people who will receive the severest punishment on the Day of Ressurection will be the Mussawwirs.
Picture for respect/ Honour: Another view of jurists with this regard is that the pictures should not be hanging or attached to any higher place showing respect towards picture. There is a quote that angel Jibrael refused to enter in room of Prophet where one painted hanging was hanged. There is hadith on the authority of Ibn Umar: Jibrael said: We do not enter a house in which there is a dog or a surah (picture). Imams of four leading school of thoughts went towards the opinion that if the painting is on cloth which is used f0r walk or for the purpose of sitting upon it, is permissible. In their opinion, there is no wrong in doing it.
Ibn Abideen Shami: If the picture is on carpet or bed, it is not from prohibited in Islam because a picture on carpet or so is not for the purpose respect. He further adds, picture is prohibited on two places:
- When it is fir respect to picture.
- When it puts Muslims in resemblance with pagans.
Shadow less pictures: To a few jurists, the picture which have shadow are prohibited only (idols). The pictures which are drawn on cloths are not prohibited. Bas’r reveals that we visited Khalid Bin Zaid when he fell sick. We saw there a painting on door hanging. Upon his asking about it, Abdullah Kholani said pictures which are drawn on cloth are not prohibited. Based on this, the Salafi school of thought is convinced that the drawings which have shadow (idols) are prohibited only. Paper paintings are permissible to them.
Pagan Pictures: We knew that the basic reason towards prohibition of painting was polytheism. Once, when the wives of Prophet mentioned about the beauty churches and idols of habash, Prophet felt uncomfortable and replied: “If any religious man dies amongst those people they would build a place of worship at his grave and make these pictures in it. They will be the worst creature in the sight of Allah on the Day of Resurrection.” In former hadith Prophet criticized the Christians and Jews for making pictures and makes their ancestors grave a worship place. Condemnation by Prophet proves this act as haram as there are chances in it people to lead to polytheism.
Few more conditions: A small painted picture is allowed. A picture without head is allowed, similarly if any other part of body is cut without which a person can not survive, is also allowed.
Digital pictures: Digital picture is modern form of pictures. It is not result of painting but product an electric device. There is split between the jurists whether the digital picture fall in the category of prohibited pictures or not. The majority of jurists of sub continent are in opinion of that it falls in prohibited. The second group of jurists holds that modern form of pictures does not fall in prohibited category. Some well known jurists from this group are Moulana Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani, Moulana Mufti Nizam ul din Auzami, Moulana Muhammad Saalim Qasimi, Moulana Muhammad Mujahid ul Islam Qasmi and other famous jurists of our times.
Conclusion
Pictures (idols) having shadow are prohibited to all jurists. Painting of non livings is allowed with the condition that there is no resemblance with pagans through it. Small pictures are also allowed i.e pictures on coin, on ring etc. There is difference between the shadow less picture of living being. Salafi school of thought hold it permissible, however, majority of school of thoughts hold it other way round meaning prohibited. Going further in it, those who call shadow less pictures prohibited are in opinion that pictures on carpets or on flour are allowed. Towards them, prohibition comes into effect when picture is used as honour or so. Pictures on passport, ID cards and other so are permissible as without them there is hardship for people and government in their respective places. There are two opinions about digital pictures, one goes with prohibition and other goes towards permission. So there is to be flexibility in this form. Both groups stand together on the place that naked or half naked or pictures from which parts of adult or near to adultery girl are exposed, they are strictly prohibited.
