http://www.arabnews.com/?page=5§ion=0&article=88922&d=19&m=11&y=2006
Friday, 17, November, 2006 (26, Shawwal, 1427)
On Painting and Photography
Adil Salahi, Arab News
Q. You mentioned in an earlier answer that it is permissible
to paint natural scenery and people's faces. I have been quoted a Hadith that
makes painting people and animals forbidden. Could you please clarify this
confusion?
Sarah
A. The Hadith does not speak of painting as such. It uses the
term tasweer that we nowadays use primarily for photography, and we may include
under it other forms of producing a likeness. Photography was unknown at the
time of the Prophet (peace be upon him), but the word was used in the Hadith
and in the Qur'an, so we need to define its meaning at the time. Fortunately,
we do not have to look far. If we look at the different instances of its use in
the Qur'an we formulate a clear concept of its meaning, which is "to shape,
give form, fashion, etc." A Hadith that includes a clear prohibition explains
that tasweer aims at making something to look like God's creation. This is
clearly forbidden, because it includes an implicit claim of an ability similar
to that of God. Hence, the person who produces such a likeness will be told on
the Day of Judgment to give life to his production, and he will not be able to
do so.
Unfortunately, people with a restrictive tendency apply the
word as we use it today and make all types of image making forbidden. This is
not right. One Hadith makes a clear exception of what is painted on clothes and
similar material. This is not much different from a painting on a canvass. The
prohibition certainly does not apply to photography, which is nothing more than
the printing of a reflection against a lens, similar to a reflection in a mirror
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