Sculpture, Classical Painting, and Abstract Art
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Q4: What is the Islamic position on sculpture, classical painting, and abstract art?
A4: The basis for the prohibition of image-making lies in it being the depiction of living beings, whether it is sculpture or coloring on a wall, cloth, or paper, or weaving, and whether it is done with a brush, pen, or machine, and whether it depicts the object as it is or involves imagination that shrinks, enlarges, beautifies, distorts, or turns it into lines representing the skeletal structure. The crux of the prohibition is that what is depicted is from among living beings, even if it is like the imaginary images made for those representing the ancient Pharaohs, the leaders of the Crusades and their soldiers, and like the image of 'Isa and Maryam standing in the churches, and so on. This is due to the generality of the texts, what they contain of likening [creations to Allah], and because it is a means to shirk (associating partners with Allah). And success is from Allah. May Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
A4: The basis for the prohibition of image-making lies in it being the depiction of living beings, whether it is sculpture or coloring on a wall, cloth, or paper, or weaving, and whether it is done with a brush, pen, or machine, and whether it depicts the object as it is or involves imagination that shrinks, enlarges, beautifies, distorts, or turns it into lines representing the skeletal structure. The crux of the prohibition is that what is depicted is from among living beings, even if it is like the imaginary images made for those representing the ancient Pharaohs, the leaders of the Crusades and their soldiers, and like the image of 'Isa and Maryam standing in the churches, and so on. This is due to the generality of the texts, what they contain of likening [creations to Allah], and because it is a means to shirk (associating partners with Allah). And success is from Allah. May Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.