What is the ruling of pictures according to the Quran and Sunnah?
And the people of Moses made in his absence, out of their ornaments, the image of a calf (for worship). It had a sound (as if it was mooing). Did they not see that it could neither speak to them nor guide them to the way? They took it for worship and they were Dthalimun (wrong-doers). [Noble Quran 7:148]
And indeed We bestowed aforetime on Ibrahim (Abraham) his (portion of) guidance, and We were Well-Acquainted with him (as to his Belief in the Oneness of Allah, etc.). [Noble Quran 21:51]
When he said to his father and his people: "What are these images, to which you are devoted?" [Noble Quran 21:52]
They said: "We found our fathers worshipping them." [Noble Quran 21:53]
He said: "Indeed you and your fathers have been in manifest error." [Noble Quran 21:54]
Narrated Said bin Abu Al-Hasan: While I was with Ibn 'Abbas a man came and said, "O father of 'Abbas! My sustenance is from my manual profession and I make these pictures." Ibn 'Abbas said, "I will tell you only what I heard from Allah's Apostle (Peace and blessings be upon him). I heard him saying, 'Whoever makes a picture will be punished by Allah till he puts life in it, and he will never be able to put life in it.' "Hearing this, that man heaved a sigh and his face turned pale. Ibn 'Abbas said to him, "What a pity! If you insist on making pictures I advise you to make pictures of trees and any other unanimated objects." [Bukhari 3:428]
