Depicting the Prophet Muhammad in Islamic Law Will Surprise You

In the wake of the Charlie Hebdo attack, discussions about whether Islam bans images of the Prophet Muhammad have become heated and widespread. Some Muslims assert a strict prohibition, while others, both Muslim and non-Muslim, argue for a more nuanced interpretation.

Many debates have centered on verses from the Quran and sayings of the Prophet (Hadith), yet neither provides a definitive answer. To truly understand the issue, one must delve into Islamic law, which reveals a more complex picture.

Ibn Qudama (d. 1223), a notable Sunni theologian, discussed the legality of images in his medieval law book. He argued that images are not inherently prohibited; their permissibility depends on what they depict and their context. This early source suggests that a blanket ban on images is not supported by Islamic law.

A century later, Ibn Taymiyya (d. 1328), influential in today’s Wahhabi and Salafi movements, issued legal opinions warning against using images for seeking intercession or favors from God. However, even his conservative views did not explicitly ban images, focusing instead on their misuse in religious practices.

Moving forward, Muhammad ‘Abduh (d. 1905), a reformist jurist in Egypt, argued that images and paintings preserve Islamic cultural heritage and knowledge. He emphasized that as long as images are not used in idolatry, depicting people, plants, and trees is not forbidden. His stance highlighted the educational and cultural benefits of images, rejecting a blanket prohibition.

The 19th century saw the rise of mass media, which brought new anxieties about images. This led to legal controls over prophetic representations, such as a 1926 fatwa from al-Azhar University banning a Turkish film about Muhammad. In contrast, Moustapha Akkad’s 1976 film “The Message,” which never shows Muhammad on screen, received mixed responses from different Sunni clerical bodies, showing the diversity of opinion within Sunni Islam.

In the late 20th century, legal opinions on images of Muhammad became more varied. In 2000, Taha Jaber al-Alwani, a respected scholar, argued that there are no firm prohibitions on images in Islam and praised the depiction of Muhammad in the Supreme Court of the United States. However, post-9/11 geopolitics and events like the Danish cartoons of 2005 intensified debates, with some Saudi scholars declaring images of prophets disrespectful and caricatures blasphemous.

Today, legal opinions on images of Muhammad vary, often along sectarian lines. Salafi scholars maintain a strict prohibition, while Shi’i scholars like Ayatollah al-Sistani accept respectful depictions. This divergence reflects broader sectarian differences but also highlights that views on images have evolved with contemporary circumstances.

The notion of an absolute ban on images of the Prophet Muhammad is a recent development, influenced by modern media and geopolitical events. Historical and contemporary Islamic jurisprudence shows a more nuanced and complex landscape, where the legality of images depends on context, usage, and evolving interpretations within the Muslim world.

If you live in the West and are not a Muslim, you might not be concerned about whether Islam bans depictions of the Prophet Muhammad. However, understanding this issue is important as it reflects the recent retrogress in Islam.

Many might find it surprising that Islam was once considered a religion of tolerance toward other faiths. The laws it introduced for women were progressive for their time. It modernized Sharia law, did not expect non-Muslims to obey it, decriminalized homosexuality, and acknowledged and respected other cultures. All this was happening while Europe was enduring the Dark Ages and slaughtering the masses into Christianity.

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