Pictures of the Prophet

Pictures of the Prophet
Mohammad Irtaza, Jan 14, 2008

MODERATOR: This is a radical thought to many a Muslims.

“The Quran does not mention anywhere that making of images of the Prophet is unacceptable. We have to remember that the Prophet is human being like us”.

It was the desire and humility of the Prophet to ask people not to paint his portrait or make his bust put on every street corner, had he not admonished that people would have done that. That was precisely his contention – because he was the bringer of the message to them, the specific people at that specific time, out of reverence and gratitude they would have made a divinity out of him, and he wanted people to singularly focus on God and no one else. That truly makes him a great human. Look at all the great teachers; they lived the simplest possible life. Prophet Muhammad was the head of an empire, yet, he lived in an ordinary home and lived a simple life

As far as Muslims not objecting to God’s pictures and Pictures of Abraham and Jesus, they are simply not worried about it – as they cannot imagine worshipping any one but God. The idea of not making Prophet’s picture has really done the job it was intended to. No Muslim worships the prophet and he is considered with all the reverence without being worshipped.

However, there are a few Muslims out there who have made God less important than the Prophet, as a few Christians have made God less important than Jesus.

There is a humorous comments that is made where I am from; In the name of the saints, people feed the best food (Gyarween Shariff), in the name of Prophet they feed the next best food (plain rice and lentil) and in the name of God, they give the feed the left overs and the poorest of the poor get the food in the name of God.

Mike Ghouse

Now the article .................

[1:1] In the name of GOD, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
[6:151] Say, "Come let me tell you what your Lord has really prohibited for you: You shall not set up idols besides Him. You shall honor your parents. You shall not kill your children from fear of poverty - we provide for you and for them. You shall not commit gross sins, obvious or hidden. You shall not kill - GOD has made life sacred - except in the course of justice. These are His commandments to you, that you may understand."

"The pics of Abraham and Ismael"

Salamun Alykum.

The Wikipedia.org published an article on the Prophet Muhammad. This article includes the following pics of the Prophet Muhammed: (1) the earliest surviving image of the Prophet Muhammed from Rashid al-Din's Jami' al-Tawarikh, approximately 1315, depicting the episode of the Black Stone, (2) the 15th century illustration in a copy of a manuscript by Al-Biruni, depicting the Prophet preaching the Qur'ân in Mecca, and (3) the 16th century Ottoman illustration depicting the Prophet at the Kaaba. These art works were performed by some early Muslims who were creative and rich in culture. The article of Wikipedia on the Prophet Muhammed can be viewed from the following web-link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad

The Quran does not prohibit any good provision as we understand from the following:

[7:32] Say, "Who prohibited the nice things GOD has created for His creatures, and the good provisions?" Say, "Such provisions are to be enjoyed in this life by those who believe. Moreover, the good provisions will be exclusively theirs on the Day of Resurrection." We thus explain the revelations for people who know.

Displaying an image or a statue for the purpose of education or entertainment should be considered a good provision. King Solomon, a messenger of God, enjoyed the statue as good provisions:

[34:13] They made for him anything he wanted - niches, statues, deep pools, and heavy cooking pots. O family of David, work (righteousness) to show your appreciation. Only a few of My servants are appreciative.

On the other hand, displaying an image or statue or anything in a church, or a masjid or graveyard for the purpose of worshiping should be considered a bad provision. Worshiping a statue is condemned by God as understood from many verses of the Quran. One such verse states:

[6:74] Recall that Abraham said to his father Azar, "How could you worship statues as gods? I see that you and your people have gone far astray."

The Quran does not mention anywhere that making of images of the Prophet is unacceptable. We have to remember that the Prophet is human being like us:

[18:110] Say, "I am no more than a human like you, being inspired that your god is one god. Those who hope to meet their Lord shall work righteousness, and never worship any other god beside his Lord."

[3:144] Muhammad was no more than a messenger like the messengers before him. Should he die or get killed, would you turn back on your heels? Anyone who turns back on his heels, does not hurt GOD in the least. GOD rewards those who are appreciative.

If the Prophet came back to life today to preach Islam in another country, would he stop leaving Saudi Arabia because he needed a pictured passport?! What is really prohibited in the Quran?! The worshiping of the Prophet, isn't it?!

[3:79] Never would a human being whom GOD blessed with the scripture and prophethood say to the people, "Idolize me beside GOD." Instead, (he would say), "Devote yourselves absolutely to your Lord alone," according to the scripture you preach and the teachings you learn.

And what is the Quranic warning about those masjids patronizing idol worshiping?!

[9:107] There are those who abuse the masjid by practicing idol worship, dividing the believers, and providing comfort to those who oppose GOD and His messenger. They solemnly swear: "Our intentions are honorable!" GOD bears witness that they are liars.
[9:108] You shall never pray in such a masjid. A masjid that is established on the basis of righteousness from the first day is more worthy of your praying therein. In it, there are people who love to be purified. GOD loves those who purify themselves.
[9:109] Is one who establishes his building on the basis of reverencing GOD and to gain His approval better, or one who establishes his building on the brink of a crumbling cliff, that falls down with him into the fire of Hell? GOD does not guide the transgressing people.
[9:110] Such a building that they have established remains a source of doubt in their hearts, until their hearts are stilled. GOD is Omniscient, Most Wise.

Sadly, in the Muslim world, almost everything advocated or implemented in the name of Islam originates from the various hadith books, which were compiled by non-Arabs 200 years after the demise of the Prophet. The religion they observe today has nothing to do with the Islam preached by Abraham and Muhammed. Everything Muslims do is against the Quranic standard: their Shahadah, Adhan, Ablution, Salat prayers, Zakat, Hajj and all other practices. Millions of hadith followers today practice a form of idolatry that is similar to the idolatry of Meccan people during the Prophet's time. The hadith followers believe that the Prophet will intercede on their behalf. They remember and revere the Prophet and his family beside God in all aspect of their religious activities: making darwood, invoking the Prophet's name in the Adhan and the Salaat, observing Milad, visiting the Prophet's tomb at Medina during Hajj, adding the Prophet's name next to God Almighty in the Shahadah, displaying the Prophet's name next to God on the Masjid wall, houses, etc.

"The symbols of shirk by Sunni and Shia believers"

Prohibiting the use of mind has crippled the intellect of Muslims in comparison with others. The minds of Muslims have been benumbed for the centuries, neutralized by false hadiths. The teaching of the Quran gives the mind a noble place. God deems human beings who do not use their minds worse than animals as understood from this verse:

[7:179] We have committed to Hell multitudes of jinns and humans. They have minds with which they do not understand, eyes with which they do not see, and ears with which they do not hear. They are like animals; no, they are far worse - they are totally unaware.

Abraham was the father of the religion of Islam and Muhammed was the follower of the religion of Abraham. Why don't they get upset seeing the images of Abraham in the books or the websites?! Was Abraham's status, the father of Islam, lower than Muhammed, the follower of Islam?!

[22:78] You shall strive for the cause of GOD as you should strive for His cause. He has chosen you and has placed no hardship on you in practicing your religion - the religion of your father Abraham. He is the one who named you "Submitters" originally. Thus, the messenger shall serve as a witness among you, and you shall serve as witnesses among the people. Therefore, you shall observe the Contact Prayers (Salat) and give the obligatory charity (Zakat), and hold fast to GOD; He is your Lord, the best Lord and the best Supporter.

Jesus was one of the Prophets of Islam and according to the Quran, Muslims shall not make any distinction among any of God's Prophets. Why don't Muslim get upset viewing the image of Jesus but get utterly upset seeing the image of Muhammed?! Why they make distinction among God's Prophets?!

[2:136] Say, "We believe in GOD, and in what was sent down to us, and in what was sent down to Abraham, Ismail, Isaac, Jacob, and the Patriarchs; and in what was given to Moses and Jesus, and all the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction among any of them. To Him alone we are submitters."

The imaginary prohibition on the Prophet Muhammed's image gives him a godly image in the hearts of millions of Muslims who think that Muhammad was created from light! Consequently, they are making darood and praising him day and night beside God! Muslims don't get upset even seeing the images of God in books or websites! Why?! Do they have more love for the Prophet Muhammed than God Almighty?!

[3:144] Muhammad was no more than a messenger like the messengers before him. Should he die or get killed, would you turn back on your heels? Anyone who turns back on his heels, does not hurt GOD in the least. GOD rewards those who are appreciative.

[18:110] Say, "I am no more than a human like you, being inspired that your god is one god. Those who hope to meet their Lord shall work righteousness, and never worship any other god beside his Lord."

Last but not least, there is no compulsion in Islam. So, why there is a petition initiated to remove the pics from Wikipedia?!

[2:256] There shall be no compulsion in religion: the right way is now distinct from the wrong way. Anyone who denounces the devil and believes in GOD has grasped the strongest bond; one that never breaks. GOD is Hearer, Omniscient.

Thank you and may God guide us,

M. Irtaza