Kitab At-Tauhid (The Oneness of Allah)

CHAPTER No: 61

(What is the punishment) for the Picture-makers

 

      Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) narrated that Allah's Messenger (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) said:

 

"Allah said: 'Who would be more unjust than the one who tries to create the like of my creatures? Let them create an atom, or let them create a grain, or let them create a barley corn.' "

(Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

They also report from `Aishah (May Allah be pleased with him) that Allah's Messenger (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) said:                         ­

 

"The people who will receive the severest punishment on the Day of Resurrection will be those who try to make the like of Allah's creation."

 

Also reported by them from Ibn Abbas (May Allah be pleased with him) that I heard Allah's Messenger (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) saying:                      ­

 

"All the picture-makers would be in the fire of Hell. A soul will be breathed in every picture prepared by him and it shall punish him in the Hell."

 

It is additionally narrated from Ibn Abbas (May Allah be pleased with him) in a Marfu' Hadith: ­

 

"Whoever makes a picture in this world will be charged with putting a soul (life) in it and he will never be able to do it."

 

Muslim reports from Abu Haiyaj (Al-Asadi) that Ali (May Allah be pleased with him) said to him:

 

"Should I not depute you on a mission on which I was sent by Allah's Messenger (May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon him)?: Deface all the pictures which 'you come across and demolish all the high graves to the level of earth."

 

Important issues of the Chapter

 

1) Intense condemnation of those who make pictures.

2) Picture-making is condemned because it constitutes not having proper regard for Allah. As in His Statement: "Who would be more unjust than the one who tries to create the like of my creatures...”

3) Declaration of the power and ability of Allah and the incapacity and weakness of those (who attempt to create). As in His Statement: "Let them create an atom or a grain or a barley corn."

4) Declaration that they (picture-makers) will get the most severe punishment (on the Day of Judgement).

5) Allah will create a soul in place of every picture and the maker of that picture will be punished by it in Hell.

6) Picture-makers will be asked to breathe life into every of their Images.

7) The command to deface all the images/pictures when found.