13 Prohibition of Drawing in Islam – Reasons

Review by : Yuli SE., MM

Drawing, painting, and photography are said to be expressions of art in modern days. Art is for people to enjoy and surprisingly had many benefits such as releasing stress. For some people, those three not merely arts. They make money from there and make it as a fixed job. For a Muslims, working hard to earn money for living is a must and full of blessing, as long as its done in the right way. Talking about taking a job as painter or photographer is not a bad thing in Islam and not that Islam forbid it. But drawing and photography are strictly prohibited in Islam. How are the prohibition of drawing in Islam and what are the reasons? Let’s check about them all below:

1. Painter Will be the Most Severely Punished

It has been common in Islam that every kind of image making, drawing, and sculpting any living and animate being Allah has created is strongly warned. It has said both in the Holy Quran and Hadith, that every painter will be punished severely in the Day of Judgement. It was narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessing upon him):

“The most severely punished of the people on the Day of Resurrection will be the image-makers.” – Bukhari & Muslim

2. Allah is the Only Creator and Inventor of Everything.

Who can create and invent everything but Allah SWT? Allah is One and no one can ever match The Almighty. Drawing an animate being means that one is copying Allah’s creation, something that Allah SWT hates most.

“He is Allaah, the Creator, the Inventor of all things, the Bestower of forms. To Him belong the Best Names. All that is in the heavens and the earth glorify Him. And He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.” – Al Hashr (59:24)

Also read: Reason of Prohibition of Riba in Islam

3. It’s Careless Act

The existence of every being in this world is due to Allah’s will. Recreating what Allah has done is such a careless act. Since everything Allah done has always been perfect.

“O man! What has made you careless about your Lord, the Most Generous? Who created you, fashioned you perfectly, and gave you due proportion. In whatever form He willed, He put you together.” – Al Infitaar (82:6-8)

4. Human Should Not Match the Creation of Allah

Indeed, Allah is the one who capable of creating and inventing everything, including every being on this Earth. It is Allah who shaped us human, right from the womb of our mother. The best way to appreciate Allah’s creation is by sending praise to him, not recreating any of His creation.

“He it is Who shapes you in the wombs as He wills.” – Ali ‘Imraan (3:6)

Also read: Prohibition of Lying In Islam

5. The Drawing Would be the Most Evil Creation

When human dies, he must take the responsibility for any of his doing while he lived in the world, including what he drew. It was clearly explained in the Hadith below:

It was reported from ‘Aa’ishah that Umm Habeebah and Umm Salamah mentioned a church which they had seen in Ethiopia, in which there were images. They told the Prophet (peace be upon him) about it, and he said: “Those people, if there was a righteous man among them and he died, they would build a place of worship over his grave and put images in it. These will be the most evil of creation before Allah on the Day of Resurrection.” – Bukhari & Muslim

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6. Endless Punishment for a Painter

Only Allah capable to give life to any being. And what will happen when human are told to give life to the things he drew? Endless punishment.

Ibn ‘Abbaas said: I will only tell you what I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and be upon him) say. I heard him say: “Whoever makes an image, Allaah will punish him until he breathes life into it, and he will never be able to do that.” The man became very upset and his face turned pale, so [Ibn ‘Abbaas] said to him, Woe to you! If you insist on making images, then make images of these trees and everything that does not have a soul. – Bukhari & Muslim

Also read: Prohibition of Fortune Telling In Islam

7. Recreate Allah’s Creation is the Greatest Wrong

Allah SWT is the Almighty, the Greatest, the Highest. Nobody can even matched all the things Allah has done, including the animated creation.

It was reported that Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) entered a house in Medina and saw somebody making images in it. He said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) say: [Allaah says:] “Who does greater wrong than one who goes and creates something like My creation? Let them create a seed or a small ant!” – Bukhari & Muslim

8. Angels Will Never Enter a House with Drawings in It

As narrated by Abu Talha,

I heard the Messenger of Allah (saws) saying; “Angels (of Mercy) do not enter a house wherein there is a dog or a picture of a living creature (a human being or an animal).” – Bukhari

Also read: Prohibition of Begging in Islam

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9. Only Inanimate Objects are Allowed

Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said,

“Every image-maker will be in the Fire, and for every image that he made a soul will be created for him, which will be punished in the Fire.” Ibn ‘Abbaas said: “If you must do that, make pictures of trees and other inanimate objects.” – Muslim

10. Keeping a Drawing is Also Prohibited

Not only drawing is prohibited, but keeping it is also prohibited. Ali ibn Abi Thalib (may Allah be pleased with him) said

“Shall I not send you on the same mission as the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) sent me? Do not leave any built-up tomb without levelling it, and do not leave any picture in any house without erasing it.” – Muslim

Also read: Prohibition of Intoxicants in Islam