Why cant Muslims draw Mohammed?

Answer 1

The Islamic faith has strict injunctions against depictions of humans or animals which might result in idol-worship. Therefore there are no depictions of any person or animal. See related question listed below for more information on How Allah (God) look like.

Islamic Answers

For Muhammad

1. It should be well remembered that not only the last prophet i.e. Muhammad but also the preceding prophets ( about 1 lac and 24 thousand) including Abraham and Jesus ( .........and other sacred and holy personalities like Mary) etc are prohibited to be drawn as per their status, honour, respect, dignity....
2. There were no cameras back at that time but though a short or few descriptions of how he looked are present in the sayings of his companions but still we cannot dare to draw a picture because we might make a mistake or anything wrong which would be insolence.
3. We can also argue that pictures are not allowed in Islam.

For Allah

How can one paint Allah, when He says that "There is nothing like unto Me". What ever we can imagine, Allah is different than that. We know only His attributes.

Imagine a car, does it look like its engineer? Of course not. Whatever humanity has made are completely different than humanity. (Robots nearly look like humans, but only in shape. What about the structure? What about the human flesh?) If cars could think, they perhaps would think that their makers are made up of iron, plastic and glass.

Similarly, Allah is different than anything He has created. Whatever we can think is created by Allah, and therefore, is not like Allah. So how to draw and what to draw? Allah is spirit and we know almost nothing about the spirits. That is why Allah warns us in the Qur'aan not even to try. Allah cannot be drawn because:

1. There is no concept of figured God in Islam.
2. Allah is the Creator. In Islamic believes, none of the creations is like the Creator, nothing can compare Him. He is beyond human imaginations and there is nothing like Him.Drawing Allah would mean to compare Him with something (imaginable) or regarding Him like something (in our minds) and definitely no deed can be more heinous than that.(Note: we haven't yet discovered whole of the universe and we can't imagine what creations are there so let alone the Creator. He is far beyond that that.)
3. if someone even tries to draw Allah, what would they draw when no one has ever seen Him.

Secular Answers

Pictures of Muhammad and Allah have been painted for time immemorial. Many paintings were made during the Ottoman Years of Muhammad, depicting his many actions and encounters with other folks of his time period. These pictures are often disputed as being counter to Muslim ideals, BUT often times these pictures were created by Muslims themselves. The ideal that pictures of Muhammad should not be created is a very modern ideal.

Answer 2

How can one paint Allah, when He says that "There is nothing like unto Me". What ever we can imagine, Allah is different than that. We know only His attributes.

Imagine a car, does it look like its engineer? Of course not. Whatever humanity has made are completely different than humanity. (Robots nearly look like humans, but only in shape. What about the structure? What about the human flesh?) If cars could think, they perhaps would think that their makers are made up of iron, plastic and glass.

Similarly, Allah is different than anything He has created. Whatever we can think is created by Allah, and therefore, is not like Allah. So how to draw and what to draw? Allah is spirit and we know almost nothing about the spirits. That is why Allah warns us in the Qur'aan not even to try. Allah cannot be drawn because:

1. There is no concept of figured God in Islam.
2. Allah is the Creator. In Islamic believes, none of the creations is like the Creator, nothing can Him. He is beyond human imaginations and there is nothing like Him.Drawing Allah would mean to compare Him with something (imaginable) or regarding Him like something (in our minds) and definitely no deed can be more heinous than that.(Note: we haven't yet discovered whole of the universe and we can't imagine what creations are there so let alone the Creator. He is far beyond that that.)
3. if someone even tries to draw Allah, what would they draw when no one has ever seen Him.

-Adeel Mahmood-

Answer 3

Because muslims keep fundemental beleifs. That means they think their beliefs apply to everyone -not just fellow believers. Many Christians are also like this. If you break one of their rules (sin), you will go to hell when you die even if you are not a believer of their religion.Most probably because drawing pictures of our beloved human beings may lead to worshiping them.

While Hindu scriptures clearly say that God is one, and He has no image, still it was tendency of human beings to worship something that they can see. They created man made idols and started worshipping.

("There is no image of HIM! HE is bodiless and pure!" (Yujurved. Chapter: 32-3. & 40:8). Further in the Upanishads chapter 6:2:1 & Chapter 4:19 it clearly states: "There is no likeness of HIM, & HE is ONE only, without a second.")

People started worshipping Jesus also because they saw him doing things that normal human beings did not do.

Islam strictly condemns religious extremism and the use of violence against innocent lives.

There is no justification in Islam for extremism or terrorism. Targeting civilians' life and property through suicide bombings or any other method of attack is haram - or forbidden - and those who commit these barbaric acts are criminals, not "martyrs."

The Qur'an, Islam's revealed text, states: "Whoever kills a person [unjustly]…it is as though he has killed all mankind. And whoever saves a life, it is as though he had saved all mankind."

(Qur'an, 5:32)

Prophet Muhammad said there is no excuse for committing unjust acts: "Do not be people without minds of your own, saying that if others treat you well you will treat them well, and that if they do wrong you will do wrong to them. Instead, accustom yourselves to do good if people do good and not to do wrong (even) if they do evil." (Al-Tirmidhi)

God mandates moderation in faith and in all aspects of life when He states in the Qur'an: "We made you to be a community of the middle way, so that (with the example of your lives) you might bear witness to the truth before all mankind." (Qur'an, 2:143)

In another verse, God explains our duties as human beings when he says "Let there arise from among you a band of people who invite to righteousness, and enjoin good and forbid evil." (Qur'an, 3:104)

The Prophet Muhammad, who is described in the Qur'an as "a mercy to the worlds" said: "All creation is the family of God, and the person most beloved by God (is the one) who is kind and caring toward His family."

Quran

2:256 There is no compulsion in religion.

Don't give bad rating to a Mercedes only because the driver who had in it didn't know how to drive such a good car. Don't judge islam by the actions of bad Muslims who take out their frustration with west with wrong interpretation of Islamic teaching. Know islam by yourself. Give yourself a chance to know truth with open mind and heart, not with closed mind and heart. Give yourself a chance atleast.

Prophet taught us how to treat even those enemies who try to kill you, on conquest of makkah talked to people who had killed muslims and made his life miserable earlier:

He said:

"O you people of Quraish! What do you think of the treatment that I am about to accord to you?"

They replied:

"O noble brother and son of noble brother! We expect nothing but goodness from you."

Upon this he said:

"I speak to you in the same words as Yusuf (the Prophet Joseph) spoke unto his brothers: He said: "No reproach on you this day,"

Any ruling of religion on a particular matter has to consider all verses on the topic.

The reason why jihad was first permitted in Islam was so the Muslims could defend themselves against persecution and expulsion from their homes.

Allah, Most High says: "To those against whom war is made, permission is given (to fight), because they are wronged - and verily Allah is Most Powerful for their aid - (They are) those who have been expelled from their homes in defiance of right - (for no cause) except that they say, 'Our Lord is Allah'. Did Allah not check one set of people by means of another, there would surely have been pulled down monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques, in which the name of Allah is commemorated in abundant measure. Allah will certainly aid those who aid his cause, for truly Allah is full of strength and might." [Surah al-Hajj: 39-40]

Now comes the verse which is most debated, however, people just quote one part of it. Permission is given to fight "those who fight you", that also under strict controlled ways:

."Fight in the cause of Allah those who fight you, but do not transgress limits; for Allah loves not transgressors. And kill them wherever you catch them and drive them out from whence they drove you out, for terrorism is worse than killing. But do not engage in combat with them at the sacred mosque unless they engage you in combat there. But if they combat against you, kill them. Such is the reward of those who suppress faith. But if they cease, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. And combat them on until there is no more terrorism or oppression and there prevail justice and faith in Allah. But if they cease, don't let there be hostility except to those who practice oppression."

[Surah al-Baqarah: 190-193]

From this point on, the scope of jihad was broadened from being purely for defense against direct attack to being inclusive of resistance against those who suppress the faith and deny people the freedom to choose their religion for themselves. This came later, because it is legislated for the Muslims only when they are capable of doing so. In times of weakness, Muslims may only fight against direct attack.

As for the spread of Islam, this is supposed to take place peacefully by disseminating the Message with the written and spoken word. There is no place for the use of weapons to compel people to accept Islam. Weapons can only be drawn against those who persecute and oppress others and prevent them from following their own consciences in matters of belief. The Muslims cannot just stand by while people are being denied the right to believe in Islam and their voices are being crushed.

This is the meaning of Allah's words: "And fight them on until there is no more terrorism or oppression and there prevails a way for justice and faith in Allah." [Surah al-Baqarah: 193]

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said in his letter to the Roman governor Heracles: "I invite you to accept Islam. If you accept Islam, you will find safety. If you accept Islam, Allah will give you a double reward. However, if you turn away, upon you will be the sin of your subjects." [Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim]

Once people have heard the Message without obstruction or hindrance and the proof has been established upon them, then the duty of the Muslims is done. Those who wish to believe are free to do so and those who prefer to disbelieve are likewise free to do so.

Even when the Muslims are compelled to fight and then subdue the land, their duty thereafter is to establish Allah's law in the land and uphold justice for all people, Muslim and non-Muslim. It is not their right to coerce their subjects to accept Islam against their will. Non-Muslims under Muslim rule must be allowed to remain on their own faith and must be allowed to practice the rights of their faith, though they will be expected to respect the laws of the land.

Had the purpose of jihad been to force the unbelievers to accept Islam, the Prophet (peace be upon him) would never have commanded the Muslims to refrain from hostilities if the enemy relented. He would not have prohibited the killing of women and children. However, this is exactly what he did.

During a battle, the Prophet (peace be upon him) saw people gathered together. He dispatched a man to find out why they were gathered. The man returned and said: "They are gathered around a slain woman." So Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) said: "She should not have been attacked!" Khalid b. al-Walid was leading the forces, so he dispatched a man to him saying: "'Tell Khalid not to kill women or laborers". [Sunan Abu Dawud]

Therefore, even in the heat of battle against a hostile enemy, the only people who may be attacked are those who are actually participating in the fighting.

Islam commands the Muslims to be just with people of other faiths, whether they be Jews, Christians, or pagans. Islam calls us to treat them kindly and try to win their hearts as long as they do not take up arms against us. Allah says: "Allah forbids you not with regard to those who neither fight against you for your faith nor drive you out of your homes from dealing kindly and justly with them, for Allah loves those who are just." [Surah al-Mumtahanah: 9-10]

The Qur'an clearly says in Surah.5:v 82: "Thou wilt find the most vehement of mankind in hostility to those who are muslims (to be) the Jews and the idolators. And thou wilt find the nearest of them in affection to those who believe; those who say: Lo! We are Christians. This is because there are among them priests and monks (i.e. persons entirely devoted to the service of God, as are the muslims) and because they are not proud."

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Answer 4

B/c it's considered an insult to their God.

Answer 5

Because