Beacon Of Guidance
My question is that is it permissible to draw a picture of a human being or any living creature by hand? Our ruling based on our Fiqah in this regard is that it is not permissible because a person cannot fully capture all the expressions of one’s face when drawing a sketch by hand.
Taking a photo using a camera is a different thing altogether as everything is captured in a photo. Sometimes, various mothers bring pictures of me drawn by their children with great pride and say that “look at how beautiful this child has drawn your picture, “it’s a wonderful sketch.”
I tell them that this is wrong and they should tear it up and not draw a picture of me again. I discourage children from doing such things. Therefore, it is completely wrong to draw such sketches by hand and one should refrain from it. A photo taken by a camera is something entirely different.
That too should be for a purposeful reason. Sometimes people take pictures of their loved ones for themselves, or for a passport, visa or for an identity card. In today’s day and age, this is necessary in many cases for identity purposes. The Promised Messiah (as) stated
That the only reason he had his photograph taken was because sometimes people are able to judge someone by seeing their face and have very good observation. And so, they are able to determine whether a person is virtuous. Such pictures have a positive impact on them and it also opens the avenues of Tabligh.
So, this was the purpose for which the Promised Messiah (as) had his photograph taken. This should also be the intention when taking pictures of the Khulafa as well. Such pictures should not only be kept as decoration. Some people put such pictures up in their drawing rooms so that when non-Ahmadis guests come,
It may be an opportunity of Tabligh to them. They may ask whose picture this is and so on which can then lead to a discussion. So, it is permissible to have one’s photograph taken for a virtuous purpose. But to unnecessarily take pictures of an elderly or pious person
And to claim that by hanging this picture in their house will bring blessings, and so on, is wrong. One attains blessings through their actions; by acting upon the commandments of Allah the Almighty, by worshiping Allah the Almighty and by following the instructions of the Messenger (sa) of Allah, alright?
[Blessings are attained] by performing virtuous deeds and by fulfilling one’s due rights towards worship. It is then that homes are blessed. This is the commandment and this is also mentioned in a Hadith as well. Therefore, such blessings should be sought. As far as drawing sketches by one’s hand,
This is wrong and one should refrain from this. If one generally makes a sketch of an animal, that is fine. However, one should not draw sketches of human beings. My question is that when I talk to my friends in college about Allah the Almighty, they ask me what more will they gain
By believing in Allah when they already live in a good and peaceful country and have a good home and family? Beloved Huzoor, please advise us regarding this matter. Tell them that this world will come to an end and humankind will depart. We believe, and it is a concept in Islam,
That there is another world to come after this life. If we believe in Allah the Almighty, then we will be able to fulfil His rights and He will be pleased with us. Then, after our demise, there is a reward for that. This world is temporary, and an everlasting world is to come afterwards.
If they believe in Allah, then they will be rewarded by Him in the next world which is everlasting. Of course, those who believe in Allah the Almighty in this world, fulfil His rights and worship Him, Allah the Almighty treats them in a manner that one could never expect. Even during this very life,
Allah the Almighty treats them differently than atheists and those who do not believe in Him. We believe in Allah the Almighty because we believe that this world is not the only world, rather, we will go to another world after our demise. This is what has been conveyed by every religion.
When [we believe in this], then we will also practice good deeds. Tell them that yes, they have everything, worldly success, a life of ease and a good home, but despite that, they are susceptible to such vices that negatively affect their morals. They do not consider such things to be of consequence,
But we consider them to be vices. Nowadays, this has given rise to many movements Tell them that we do not consider all these things to be good morals. For this reason, we try to abstain from such things in accordance with the teachings of Allah the Almighty.
Even atheists, or those who do not believe in God, admit that the good morals that gradually developed in the world, from when humans lived in caves to jungles to open and more developed societies, had been developed through prophets. The fundamental teaching of all the religions that have appeared in the world
Was to believe in Allah the Almighty and to treat one another with good morals. If you reflect upon all these different religions, they all taught the same thing; which is to believe in Allah, to show good morals and to take care of one another.
It is true that after the religion’s advent, their adherents corrupted the teachings, however the fundamental teaching was the same. Atheists also affirm that the basic moral teachings were brought to the world by the prophets. And the prophets state that they were given this teaching by Allah the Almighty.
If they spoke the truth about a particular thing and spread good in the world, then it means that everything else they stated was also true. Therefore, we should believe in Allah and worship Him and also fulfil one another’s rights. This is the objective for which the Promised Messiah (as) came to fulfil.
Since people in this era are moving away from the belief in God Almighty and the moral qualities are diminishing, therefore the Promised Messiah (as) appeared so that he may draw people towards God Almighty and so that they fulfil His rights and fulfil the rights of fellow humans.
Moreover, so that they attain Allah the Almighty’s reward in this world and live with one another in peace and harmony. And in the hereafter, Allah the Almighty will also grant them reward. This is why we believe in Allah the Almighty. How can we show love and sympathy to those people
Who differ with us in doctrinal matters without being guilt of hypocrisy? You have many relations, are all of your relatives Ahmadis? No Alright, so although your relatives are not Ahmadis, you have still maintained a relationship with them, right? The reality is that you are compelled [to maintain a relationship with them].
Allah the Almighty has instructed for one to maintain relationships with one’s close relatives. He has not said that one should only maintain relationships with those relatives who follow the same religions as yours and not to maintain relationships with those relatives who don’t follow the same religion. Even with regards to one’s parents,
Allah states that if your parents oppose you in a certain matter, then that may stand as it is, however as far as matters pertaining to the religion of Allah the Almighty are concerned, one cannot conform with them. But in all other matters, one should “never say unto them any word expressive of disgust”,
One should serve them, alright? So, Allah the Almighty has taught us to maintain our relationships without displaying any hypocrisy. Why would one develop hypocrisy within one’s heart? On the one hand, we say that we shall love everyone and we shall have sympathy for all of humanity within our hearts.
The Holy Prophet (sa) has been referred to as a mercy for the entire creation. He is not referred to as a mercy for only Muslims or only for Ahmadis. When the Holy Prophet (sa) is a mercy for the entire creation and when Allah the Almighty Himself is Gracious and Merciful,
This means that these attributes of Allah the Almighty and the lofty station and the quality [of mercy] that Allah the Almighty has bestowed upon the Holy Prophet (sa), is something that should be displayed by every believer. So, there is no question of hypocrisy. Hypocrisy is a very bad thing.
Indeed, if one observes something that is bad or wrong; just as the Holy Qur’an also states that one can even say to their parents that “I cannot support you in such matters, “however I shall serve you as my parents in order to maintain our relationship.” Similarly, you can say to your friends
That “I shall serve you in the capacity of being your friend.” The Promised Messiah (as) has said that if there is a friend of ours who has drank alcohol and has fallen into a watercourse due to intoxication, then I would help him by bringing him home
And when he will come to his senses, I would quietly let him leave. This would not be considered as hypocrisy. This is service to mankind which is the very purpose of our lives. So, we should always remember that the responsibility of a believer is that they should recognise the true value of humanity.
When you recognise the true value of mankind, then you will be free of hypocrisy. You will be serving humanity with true sincerity of the heart. But when a matter pertaining to religion comes before you, you can say to the other person without any ill will, hypocrisy
Or duplicity that this is a matter of my faith and I cannot agree with you in this regard, alright? So, your question as to how we can do this is fundamentally wrong. Our very purpose is to serve mankind. On the one hand, we say that we are those who serve mankind,
And on the other hand, you ask as to how we can get rid of hypocrisy. Why would one develop any hypocrisy within their hearts in the first place? Hypocrisy is one of the greatest of vices. Hypocrisy is a trait that leads people to fall into the pit of hell-fire.
How can we possibly develop hypocrisy? It is not hypocrisy to engage in a friendly conversation with someone who has a different faith to ours. If we speak to someone in this manner it is because we consider them to be a fellow human.
If we are helping them, it is because it is our responsibility to help humankind. As a matter of fact, it is our responsibility to help all of Allah’s creations, alright? So, this is not hypocrisy. The very basis of this question is therefore wrong.