Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

salam,

Alhamdullilah i have been working on a book titled "STRUCTURE OF THE QURA`N" which deals with all the statistics of its ayah and other details apart from that depicting every surah in a pictorial form so as to bring out its message at least in its informative aspect.

now my question is "is dipicting the quran in a pictorial form without contemplating the islamic sharia (usage of living creatures) is allowed? if not

please let me know if it is prohibited from the Quran and authentic ahadiths.

jazak allah

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Depicting pictures of quran

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 7.841 Narrated by Abu Talha

The Messenger of Allah (saws) said, "Angels (of Mercy) do not enter a house where there are pictures (of animate creatures)."

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 4.450 Narrated by Abu Salim

Once Gabriel promised the Prophet (saws) that he would visit him, but Gabriel did not come, and later on he said, "We, Angels, do not enter a house which contains a picture (of animate creatures)."

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 7.834 Narrated by Muslim

We were with Masruq at the house of Yasar bin Numair. Masruq saw pictures on his terrace and said, "I heard 'Abdullah saying that he heard the Prophet (saws) saying, "The people who will receive the severest punishment from Allah will be the picture makers.' "

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 4.448 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)."

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 3.428 Narrated by Said bin Abu Al Hasan

While I was with Ibn 'Abbas a man came and said, "O father of 'Abbas! My sustenance is from my manual profession and I make these pictures." Ibn 'Abbas said, "I will tell you only what I heard from Allah's Messenger (saws). I heard him (saws) saying, 'Whoever makes a picture (of animate creatures) will be punished by Allah till he puts life in it, and he will never be able to put life in it.' " Hearing this, that man heaved a sigh and his face turned pale. Ibn 'Abbas said to him, "What a pity! If you insist on making pictures, I advise you to make pictures of trees and any other unanimated objects."

Your Question: now my question is "is dipicting the quran in a pictorial form without contemplating the islamic sharia (usage of living creatures) is allowed?

In light of the above absolutely clear guidance of the Messenger of Allah (saws), it is absolutely impermissible to make, draw, or construct pictures of animate creatures; thus as honorable as your intention in serving the Quran and its Mission by depicting the stories in a pictorial form is; it would not be permissible or acceptable to construct pictures of animate creatures.

If you so wish, you may either depict the incidents of the Quran by constructing pictures of inanimate objects; or serve the Quran and the Cause in any other lawful way….but to serve the Cause and Mission through something which has been clearly declared as unlawful by Allah and His Messenger (saws) would neither be permissible nor acceptable to Allah Subhanah.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan