Islam and Picture-Making

*Published 50 years ago*

By: Shaikh Mustufaa Hamami rahimahullah of Egypt

The Messenger of Allah sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam said: “The Angels do not enter a home in which there is a dog or a picture.”

Imam Nawawi rahimahullah writes in his Sharhul Muslim regarding the above-quoted Hadith: “The Ulama have said that the reason for the non-entry of the Angels in a house wherein there is a picture is the fact that it (picture) is an open sin and in it is the imitation of Allah Ta'ala's creation. Some pictures are images of objects which are being worshipped. The reason Angels do not enter a house where there is a dog is that a dog eats much najaasat (impure things). The Hadith has referred to some dogs as Shaitaan. And Shaitaan is the antithesis of Angels. Dogs have in

them a very bad odour as well, and Angels detest bad odours. Keeping dogs is forbidden under Shariah. Therefore, the punishment for keeping dogs is that such a person is deprived of the visits of the Angels, the Duas and the grace (Barakaat) of the Angels. And the Angels do not ward off the mischief of the devils in the home of such a person (who keeps dogs).” The Angels referred to in the Ahadith (i.e. those Angels who stay away as a result of the presence of pictures and dogs) are the Angels of Rahmat or Mercy, the Angels who make Dua and Istighfaar on behalf of the inmates of the home. However, the Angels who are responsible for recording man’s deeds do not separate themselves, and they enter every home. 

The manner in which a Muslim may secure the visits of the Angels of Mercy, Dua and Istighfaar and the manner in which he may save himself from being deprived of the blessedness of the Angels is to rid himself of all pictures. If he desires that Angels of Rahmat enter his home, he should destroy the pictures so that they do not resemble animate objects. This was the fatwa, or verdict, which Jibraeel 'alayhi as-salaam gave to our Nabi sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam.

Imam Abu Hanifah, Imam Nisaai and Ibn Majah have narrated this Hadith. In his Musnad, Imam Abu Hanifah rahimahullah narrates the Hadith as follows:

Sayyiduna Ali radiyallahu 'anhu narrates: In the home of Rasulullah sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam, there was a screen on which were some pictures. Jibra-eel's visit was delayed for a long while (i.e. he did not visit Rasulullah sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam as promised by him).

After a long while, when Jibraeel came, Rasulullah sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam asked the reason for the delay. Jibraeel 'alayhi as-salaam replied that we do not enter a home wherein there is a dog or a picture. Have the screen taken down, cut the head off the picture and have the dog ejected." 

Picture-making is Haraam (absolutely forbidden) according to the unanimous opinion of the Jurists of Islam. Making a picture by means of the hand or by means of the camera is forbidden. Both fall under the same category of prohibition. There is no difference between the two methods (as far as the Law of Islam is concerned).

Readers may think that since the people have accepted this practice of picture-making and are indulging in it profusely, no advice will benefit them. Therefore, whatever I have said above is of no benefit and amounts to a sheer waste of effort. In this regard, three factors have to be borne in mind. 

(a) It is the compulsory duty of the Ulama to explain the Laws of Allah. And this is especially so when people have become victims of neglect with regard to the Divine Laws. Therefore, regardless of whether people accept or reject, we have to discharge our sacred duty.

(b) It is false to say that all Muslims have degenerated to such a base level that they are not prepared to give a hearing when the Ulama explain the Laws of Allah and His Rasool sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam. We have firm faith in the fact that there are many Muslims who practise the Laws of Allah when they are explained to them. Hence, we are writing and explaining for such people (who desire to obey Allah).

(c) By writing this article, at least people will come to know Allah’s Law about pictures. And knowledge is beneficial, for he who practises or indulges in a Haraam act knowing that it is Haraam will likewise know that his action is Haraam and constitutes a sin. Because of this, Allah may grant him guidance and the Tawfeeq to repent. On the other hand, he who is ignorant of the Law will indulge in Haraam, labouring under the impression that it is Halaal (permissible). May Allah Ta’ala save us from ignorance and the mischief of the ignorant ones.

Someone may pose the question that today all - both learned as well as the general public - make and keep pictures without any hesitation. Is this general indulgence based upon some proof? This general indulgence conveys the impression that the prohibition of pictures has been abrogated, and now it is permissible. The answer to the foregoing question is:

The prohibition of pictures is so absolute (Haraam Qat’i) that consensus of opinion exists on this question. The negligence and the indulgence of the people of today can never constitute proof for the permissibility of pictures.

One should remember that today we are passing through an age of atheism in which no attention is paid to the dictates of the Deen. In fact, a deliberate shunning of the Deen prevails today. What more can you expect when you see that those who preach the Laws of Deen are being mocked and jeered? It should also be remembered that there are certain groups who have eliminated those whom they considered to be in their path. They have killed them, and some have migrated in order to save their Deen. Yes, these people have exiled their very own, and if they did not migrate, then they too would have been shown the grave. (N.B. Sheikh Hamami rahimahullah is here alluding to the persecutions and murder of the true Ulama by certain governments of Muslim lands. When the true Ulama proclaim the truth which clashes with the evil desires of the un-Islamic officialdom ruling Muslim states, the un-Islamic authorities resort to persecution and murder of the Ulama.)

All this evil is today perpetrated by this Ummah, who sometimes describes itself as “Ummah Muslimah”, which once was the refuge of Islam, the fortress of Islam and the sword of Islam. What?… Shall we wash our hands of Islam because of the evil way of life adopted by these people? Shall we conclude that Islam has been abrogated? Shall we conclude that it is no longer the Deen of Allah? The abject degradation of the people today is such that they have no connection with Islam and its injunctions. Now ponder. Shall those who have divorced themselves from Islam be followed?

Leave alone what the Muslims are doing nowadays and grasp firmly onto the Truth. Do not attempt to learn Islam from the actions of the present-day Muslims, but obtain the Deen from the Men and the treasure-houses of the Deen. In the Books of Deen the Laws are recorded. Ponder into these you will observe that the true Deen has been preserved in these Books without any addition or deletion.

Beloved Brother! Should you attempt to learn the Deen from the practices of present-day Muslims, then you will regard open great sins as Halaal and the compulsory injunctions of Allah as Haraam. (May Allah forgive us.) Hence, no attention should be accorded to the action of any person if it conflicts with the Quran and the Sunnah.

…This, today, is the state of those Muslims who are negligent and indulgent regarding the matter of pictures. The negligence of the people with regard to this practice of pictures has reached such proportions that people labour under the impression that this strict prohibition has been cancelled. No. Never. Never. The prohibition of pictures has not been cancelled. The prohibition remains as severe as it was. The very same warning applies, i.e. whoever makes a picture will receive the severest of punishments. He has been warned of being flung into Hell. He will be required to give life in Hell to his pictures, but will be unable to do so. The picture-maker has also been told (by Rasulullah sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) that all the pictures he has made here will assume live forms in the Hereafter, and these will collectively inflict upon him various types of tortures.

And Allah is the One from Whom aid is sought.

This was published 50 years ago; imagine what the Sheikh Rahimahullah would have said had he seen us today!