Salam and Attention to all!
This is a statement to make things clear for myself or anyone think he/she involves in.
“As of this moment, I shall STOP designing, drawing and illustrating ANYTHING which consist of living things. This will include humans, animals, and all those things that have a soul in them. And if you have any of my graphic designs which consist of any or combination of all that, please delete or throw it away. I shall replace your money necessarily or I will redesign it back again at no extra charge.”
Dear all,
This will be an enormous shift in my career. I’m sorry that I can’t produce any graphic images or even take pictures of living things. And yes, in this industry there is a whole lot more things that you can do such as abstract graphic or even typography. So, good luck to me and anyone who is ready to make a change.
“I care about the triumph in the Hereafter and this is my worldly sacrifice”
*Please continue reading if you are a Muslim or interested to know about why I need to make a change. Thank you for your time.
These are my major concern. I’m quoting few Hadith, saying of the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him which are taken from the book Riyad-us-Saliheen and each of them is authentic Hadith. (The commentaries are also taken from the same book and it is not my own commentary)
Prohibition of Drawing Portraits
Ibn ‘Umar r.a. said, The Allah’s Messenger s.a.w. said, “Those who draw pictures will be punished on the Day of Resurrection; and it will be said to them: ‘Breath soul into what you have created.’ ” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Commentary:
We learn from this Hadith that drawing pictures of humans, animals and all those things that have a soul in them is a great sin and is liable to heavy punishment. However, one will not taken to task for such pictures which are made compulsory by the Government, i.e., identity cards, passports domicile cert etc., because one cannot exercise his own will in such matters, but this exemption is subject to the condition that he does not exceed the compulsory requirement.
Ibn ‘Abbas r.a. said: I heard the Allah’s Messenger s.a.w. saying, “Every painter will go to Hell, and for every portrait he has made, there will be appointed one who will chastise him in the Hell.” Ibn ‘Abbas said: If you have to do it, draw pictures of trees and other inanimate things. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Commentary:
A painter will be punished for his paintings according to the number of his products. The greater the number of paintings he has produced, the more would be the punishment. Thus, there is a great warning for those who make films and photographs on marriages and functions because they make photographs of hundreds or thousands of persons at a time. If, in spite of knowing that his act is unlawful in Shariah, they do it on account of slackness on their part, they shall have to suffer heavy punishment for it in Hell. If they think that it is permissible in Islam, while it is forbidden, they would be regarded infidels and abide in Hell. It is absolutely wrong to think that this prohibition applies only to the painters or sculptors and that photograph taken by camera is not a picture but a mere reflection and, therefore, one is exempted from their prohibition. Whether a picture is made by hand or camera or video, it is a picture and its makes is warned with Hell. May Allah save us from it. However, pictures of natural scenery which are lifeless are permissible.
Ibn Mas’ud r.a. said: I heard the Allah’s Messenger s.a.w. saying, “These who will receive the most severe punishment from Allah on the Day of Resurrection will be painters (of living objects).” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Abu Hurairah r.a. said: The Allah’s Messenger s.a.w. said, “The Almighty Allah said: ‘Who is more an oppressor than him who goes to create like My creation? Let him make an ant or a grain of corn of a grain of barley.’ ” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Commentary:
The Hadith has a stern warning for photographers and video-makers who try to imitate the Creative Attribute of Allah.
Abu Talhah r.a. said: The Allah’s Messenger s.a.w. said, “The angels do not enter a house which there is a dog or a portrait.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Commentary:
Angels here means angels of mercy whose visit is a blessing for homes, because the angles who supervise us and record our deeds are with us all the time.
Abul-Haiyaj bin Husain said: ‘Ali bin Abu Talib r.a. said to me: “Shall I not send you to do a task that the Allah’s Messenger s.a.w. had assigned to me? Spare no portrait unwiped out, and leave not a high grave unlevelled.” [Muslim]
Commentary:
Drawing pictures and raising graves over the height of a span are forbidden and their removal is the responsibility of Muslim rulers. An Islamic state neither allows pictures, nor does it permit permanent structures over graves or graves over a span’s height. “Leave not a high grave unlevelled” does not mean levelling them to the ground. What it really means is that these should be reduced to the permissible height.
Thus, I hope everything is clear and there is no need for me to explain more. There is no ‘ifs’ or ‘buts’. I’ve heard and now I myself have read it, so I shall obey it. Spread the words and may Allah forgive my sins and all of us. Ameen.
*Anyone who can translate this entry for me in different language, please let me know so that I can put a link here. Thank you.
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Also featured at:
1. Religion Graphic Design at JustCreativeDesign
2. Could you do this? at Jacob Cass side blog
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10 Comments
really? i mean.. selalu jugak jumpa hadis2 atas tu.. tp ustazah kat tahfiz pn tak pernah ckp pulak mmg tak boleh amik gambar langsung… i know one story yang Siti Aisyah r.a pernah kene tegur dgn Rasulullah s.a.w sbb gantung kain yang ade gambar, but then, kain tu dijadikan sarung bantal… is it really that strict?
kalau nak diikutkan, any video termasuk video ceramah pn mmg tak boleh lah?
In Malay:
Dalam perkara² agama seperti ini, ulama mempunyai banyak pendapat dan masing – masing daripada mereka mempunyai hujah mereka tersendiri. Dan kita yang tidak mempunyai ilmu untuk berijtihad, maka wajarlah kita mengikut mana – mana ulama yang kita yakin dan percaya.
Berjalan dalam hidup ini umpama melalui satu jalan yang penuh berduri. Berhati – hati agar tidak terpijak mana – mana duri tersebut. Dan tidak salah rasanya jika saya berpegang untuk tidak melukis/mengambil gambar ataupun video. Anggaplah sebagai seorang ini tak mempunyai kamera atau pun laptop dan keupayaan untuk berbuat sedemikian.
Allah waRasulu a’lam
In English:
In this religion matters, our ulamas have their own thought and each of their justification is valid. As we don’t have such knowledge to make an ijtihad, thus it is essential for us to follow any ulamas that we believe in.
Living in this world is like walking in a road full of thorn. We must be careful so that we don’t step on any of it. And I guess it is not wrong for me to choose not to design/take pictures or video (living things especially). Just assume that I don’t have a camera and laptop as well as skills to make all of this.
Allah and His Messenger know best
=====================================================
Here are some of the things that I still can do
- Web design
- Typography
- Logo design
- Abstract design
- Flash animation
- 3D animation
- etc (as long as it doesn’t contain any living things)
Lastly, as I said before, this will be a major shift in my career. But I’m fine with it. And I’m sorry if any of you love to see pictures that I took.
Wow, that is a very brave step you have taken. I wonder how it will limit you in terms of design. I am sure you will be successful either way :)
Dear Jacob Cass,
It is a brave step I might say. From the comment #3, you can see that I’m trying to get myself on the safe side. But I believe that the sky is still the limit. ;) Cheers mate~
I’m not gonna totally throw away photography from my life =) But really, your writing here is awakening, and I thank you for that bro. See you online some other time ;)
fd,
Just a reminder for myself and anyone who wants it. Some scholars allow pictures and videos but for a good purposes. Well, this is only a small part in our religion because in such case, you can follow any scholars that you believe in.
Jacob Cass,
Thanks for the post and link! I’m gonna start searching for designers that can be an example. If you have one, just let me know. Thank you very much.
hi Rafie
My work doesn’t contain images of living things with souls. I’ve always preferred to try and explain myself in abstract type art. That basically means patterns, and once your brain gets ‘into gear’ it’s amazing how you ignore portraits or similar work.
For those who problems with this concept, try looking at the early Islamic patterns, to me they’re an abstract and geometric type pattern and can be stunning in use of colours.
I might add that I’m not a Muslim, but I lived in what was once Malaya when I was very young and I remember all the statues of the gods of some religions there, plus the Islamic patterns.
Aslm wbt bro.
I might have different opinion in this issue. However what i want to say here is: “I really admire your strong principle to stick what u believe is right.”
And i thin u r one the minority muslim in Malaysia who hold this opinion.
so gud luck, May Allah Bless You.
wslm wbt
Mr Ken,
Thanks for your support. I believe it is worth posting about the Islamic arts in the future. *I used to be a President of Islamic Arts Club in my college a year ago.
Masri,
Waalaikum salam bro. Thanks for visiting. I know that not many people hold the same view as me but I’m not being afraid being accused about this issue. All I want is myself to be on the safe side. If I have doubt, I’ll just leave it. ;)
May Allah bless all of humankind. Wasalam wbt
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