The trure Artisit

1. Gazing intentionally at pictures (of living things) to derive pleasure, is haraam. If the gaze falls on such pictures unintentionally it will not be sinful. (Someone asked:)“What if the picture is viewed from an artistic point of view?”Hadhrat Thaanwi rahmatullah alayh replied:

 “Forget about artistic achievement or value of a picture-maker. It is unlawful to look at somethings created by even theTrue Artist, Allah Ta’ala.Gazing at females and young lads is haraam. The Fuqaha have well-understood the danger of such viewing ostensibly for the sake of art. The Fuqaha have ruled that it is not permissible to look at wine to derive mental pleasure.”

2. Q. What is the Shar’i status of a Muslim who  claims that photos of people and animals are halaal?

A. Hadhrat Maulana Yusuf Ludhyaanvi (rahmatullah alayh) answers this question succinctly, saying:  “Pictures are haraam. Undoubtedly they are haraam. It is Qat’i (absolutely) haraam. It may not be  made lawful by any interpretation. No one’s interpretation can transform a haraam into halaal. It is the incumbent obligation of the (Islamic) government to abstain from printing currency notes with pictures. It is the compulsory obligation of Muslims to demand that the government  refrains from this sin.” 

3. MAULANA BINNURI ON HARAM METHODS

Commenting on the employment of haraam methods ostensibly for the sake of the Deen and Tabligh, Hadhrat Maulana Yusuf Binnuri (rahmatullah alayh) said:

   “With regards to methods for Tabligh and Da’wat, I wish to present a principle. Allah Ta’ala has not obliged us to  produce  uprighteous Muslims by any means whatsoever. Yes, we have the obligation of harnessing all lawful ways of Tableegh which are within the scope of our acquisition and ability as best as we are able to.

    Just as Islam has commanded us with the duty of Tabligh, it has also  shown us the honourable ways and etiquettes of discharging this obligation. We are obliged  only to execute the duty of Tabligh within the confines of  these ways. If we are successful  in our efforts of Tabligh  whilst observing  the lawful  ways and means, then we have achieved the objective. However, assuming that we cannot accomplish the objective by employing these lawful methods, then we are not obliged to resort to unlawful methods to call people to the Deen, and to cast aside the  rules and etiquettes of  Tableegh. It is not permissible to adopt  any methods whether permissible or not.

    If we manage to  reform even one person  by employing the lawful means of the Shariah, then  the mission of our Tableegh is achieved and successful. On the contrary, if we convert a hundred people by the utilization of unlawful means, then this ‘success’ has  no value by Allah Ta’ala. Tableegh which is executed by trampling on the ahkaam of the Deen is not Deen. It is the propagation of something other than the Deen.

   Films (as well as pictures, videos, television, etc.) are by themselves in conflict with the laws of Islam. Thus, we are not obliged to utilize such  methods for Tableegh. If we do not adhere to this method (i. the lawful method), then today we shall utilize films to satisfy the whims of people. Tomorrow we shall  begin to make use of  semi-nude women for the objective of Tableegh. This will be followed by functions of singing and music to draw people  towards the Deen. In this manner, in the name of Tableegh we shall be guilty of trampling on  the laws of the Deen.”

  (Hadhrat Maulana Yusuf Binnuri –rahmatullah alayh – presented the above naseehat in 1977 when he was requested to give a talk on television. The narrator of this naseehat is Maulana Muhammad Taqi Sahib who had accompanied Maulana Binnuri on the journey on that occasion. Maulana Muhammad Taqi had also commented as follows:  “This was  Maulana Binnuri’s last address to the Council. On reflection, it will be understood that this was the final naseehat of  Maulana Binniri to all workers  of Da’wat and the Deen. It is most befitting to impress this naseehat on the tablet of the heart.”

4. A belief of kufr

To believe that sin is obedience (or permissible) is tantamount to kufr. (E.g. believing pictures of animate objects and television to be halaal is kufr). - Hakeemul Ummat HAdhrat Thaanwi Rahmatullah alayh