Section 4: Venerating Memorial Statues and Monuments

Statues are solid figures in the likeness of human beings or animals, or anything that has a soul. Monuments are symbols and stones where the polytheists make sacrifices. Memorial monuments are statues erected in open places to keep alive the remembrance of some notable or important persons. The Prophet had warned against making images of beings with souls, particularly, notable people amongst mankind such as scholars, kings, devout persons, role models and leaders, whether these images are made as drawings upon plaques, or paper, or walls, or clothing, or by means of capture, using photographic equipments common today, or by means of sculpturing or building an image in the form of a statue. Also the Prophet 5 prohibited the hanging of pictures upon walls and its likes, and the erection of statues and monuments. Amongst these are memorial monuments, because they are a means to polytheism. The first time polytheism occurred on the earth was as a result of the erection of images and busts. The people of Nuh S' had some pious men. When these people passed away, the Shaytan inspired them to erect statues in their assembly hall and to give them the names of these men. They did so, but these things were not worshipped until this generation passed away and the knowledge (of the origin of the statues) was lost, then they became worshipped.17 “And they said: ‘You shall not leave your gods, nor shall you leave Wadd, nor Suwa‘, nor Yaghuth, nor Ya'uq, nor Nasr (names of 17 Reported by al-Bukhari is=l!rl!i These are the names of the men, in whose images these idols were made, in order to immortalize them and honor them. Take a look at what these memorial monuments have led to; association of partners with Allah and opposition to Allah’s Messengers! This was what led to their destruction with the deluge and their repugnance before Allah and His creatures.18 This shows the evil inherent in making images and erecting statues. For this reason, the Prophet jfe cursed those who make images and informed us that they are amongst the most severely punished people on the Day of Judgment, and he ordered the erasing of picture. And informed that angels do not enter homes in which there are pictures. All these he did because of the evils inherent therein and its graveness upon the belief of the Ummah (nation of Muslims). Verily, the first occurrence of polytheism upon the earth was as a result of the erection of statues. Whether these pictures and statues are erected in assembly halls, or open parks, or gardens, they are unlawful in the Shari 'ah, because they are a means to polytheism and a destruction of the belief (of If the disbelievers are today doing these things because they have no belief system to protect, it is not permissible for the Muslims to imitate them and partake with them in this act, so that they may safeguard their belief, which is the source of their strength and success. It should not be said that people have gone beyond this stage and have come to know Tawhid and polytheism (so they cannot worship these images) because the Shaytan looks to the future generations and awaits the period when ignorance becomes prevalent amongst them, as he did with the people of Nuh, when the scholars had passed away and ignorance became prevalent. Also, there is no guaranty upon a living person that he cannot fall into temptation as Ibrahim SftH had mentioned: “...And keep me and my sons away from worshipping idols. ” He feared temptation upon his soul. Some scholars said: 'Who can feel safe from temptation after Ibrahim?' 18 The polytheism of the people of Ibrahim ssb was in the worship of statues and their devotion to them. The polytheism of the children of Israel was in their worship of the graven calf which the Samiri made from gold, and the polytheism of the Christians is in their worship of the crucifix which they believe to be in the image of the Messiah -te?.