Art

[Sumaiya54]

Asalaamu Aleikum,

I have been told from various Muslims that you shouldn't draw, that you shouldn't draw eyes, and so on in Islam. What is the stance of drawing, taking pictures, and such in Islam?

Salaam :)

[White Rose]

:wa:,
Drawing pictures with eyes is indeed prohibited. About pictures, I hope someone more knowledgeable can answer. I think some people think that taking pictures is prohibited while others say that it is not.

[Hulk]

I don't know the opinions of the ulemas on it but there has been research that shows that when there is a picture/drawing of an eye/eyes in the room there is a psychological effect that will take place. I can't post a link but I think you can google it.

[marwen]

In islam we are only permitted to draw inanimate beings / objects. It's haram to draw animate beings like humans or animals.
This restriction created an islamic drawing art where artists use only :
- plants or floral-like decorations.
- nature inanimate objects (sea, mountains, ...)
- abstract shapes (geometrical shapes).
- arabic letters.

examples :

Ruling on drawing in islam:

Praise be to Allaah. Drawing is of two types:
One is drawing pictures of animate beings. It says in the Sunnah that this is forbidden. It is not permitted to draw anything that depicts animate beings, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, according to the saheeh hadeeth: “Every image maker will be in the Fire.” And he (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The most severely punished of people on the Day of Resurrection will be the image-makers, those who tried to imitate the creation of Allaah.” And he (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The makers of these images will be punished on the Day of Resurrection, and they will be told, ‘Give life to that which you have created.’”
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) cursed those who consume riba (interest, usury) and those who pay it, and he cursed the image-makers. This indicates that making images is forbidden. The scholars interpreted that as referring to images of animate beings such as animals, people and birds.
With regard to drawing inanimate objects – which is the second type of drawing – there is no sin in that, such as drawing mountains, trees, planes, cars and the like. There is nothing wrong with that, according to the scholars.
With regard to forbidden kinds of pictures, an exception is made in cases of necessity, such as drawing pictures of criminals so that they will be known and caught, or pictures for identity cards which are essential and which cannot be obtained otherwise, and other cases of necessity. If the ruler decides that producing images of criminals is necessary, because of the seriousness of their crimes and to protect the Muslims from their evil when they are known, or for other reasons, there is nothing wrong with that. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“…He has explained to you in detail what is forbidden to you, except under compulsion of necessity …”
[al-An’aam 6:119]

islamqa..

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[Sumaiya54]

Thanks for clearing it all up for me :)

Salaam

[dqsunday]

This was a question which has been plaguing me for some time and now I feel myself well answered. I was not able to find any answer to this before I came to this forum