Author: Ali Razi Date: 2015-10-21

What is the law of drawing and installing pictures of the Messenger of God, peace and blessings of God be upon him and his family, and the Imams of the Ahl al-Bayt?

Answer to question: 3 Date: 2015-10-23

It is not permissible to draw and install pictures attributed to the Messenger of God, peace and blessings of God be upon him and his family, and the Imams of the Ahl al-Bayt, and this is for several reasons:

First, it is portraying living beings which is not considered permissible in the Quran and the Sunnah.

Second, it is bearing resemblance to Christians; because they draw and install pictures of Christ, peace be upon him, the apostles and the saints, whereas it is not permissible to resemble them; as God has said: ﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَكُونُوا كَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا﴾[1]; “O you who believed! Do not be like those who disbelieved”, and it has been narrated that Umm Habiba and Umm Salma narrated to the Prophet, peace and blessings of God be upon him and his family, that when they were in Habesha, they saw a church with pictures in it, so His Excellency said: «إِنَّ أُولَئِكَ قَوْمٌ إِذَا كَانَ فِيهِمُ الرَّجُلُ الصَّالِحُ فَمَاتَ، بَنَوْا عَلَى قَبْرِهِ مَسْجِدًا، وَصَوَّرُوا فِيهِ تِلْكَ الصُّوَرَ، فَأُولَئِكَ شِرَارُ الْخَلْقِ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ»[2]; “They are people who, when a righteous man among them dies, will build a mosque on his grave and draw these pictures in it, so they are the worst people in the sight of God on the Day of Judgment”.

Third, it is an example of lying; because their faces and bodies are not exactly known.

↑[1] . Al 'Imran/ 156
↑[2] . The Muwatta of Malik, vol. 2, p. 102; al-Tabaqat al-Kubra by ibn Sa’d, vol. 2, p. 239; Musannaf of ibn Abu Shaybah, vol. 3, p. 30; Musnad of Ishaq ibn Rahwayh, vol. 2, p. 264; Musnad of Ahmad, vol. 40, p. 296; Sahih of al-Bukhari, vol. 1, p. 93; Sahih of Muslim, vol. 1, p. 375; Sunan of al-Nisa’i, vol. 2, p. 41; Musnad of Abu Ya’la, vol. 8, p. 92; Sahih of Ibn Khuzaymah, vol. 2, p. 7; Mustakhraj of Abu Awanah, vol. 1, p. 334; al-Sunnah al-Kubra by al-Bayhaqi, vol. 4, p. 135