Those who make these images will be tortured on the Day of Resurrection. It will be said to them: Bring to life what you have created

Explanation

Those who make images in the form of sculptures, paintings, or photographs, for human beings or animals will be tortured on the Day of Resurrection for their action. This applies to the images which are treated with respect or disrespect because image-making implies emulating the creation of Allah, the Almighty. The makers of images will be asked to create souls into the images as they created their structures, based on the fact that since they emulated Allah’s creation in form, then they should give them life. They shall be asked to do so as a sort of mocking and censuring their action. Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Anyone makes an image in this world will be ordered to breathe life into it on the Day of Resurrection, and he will not be able to breathe it.” [Al-Bukhāri and Muslim] Another reporion reads: “Anyone makes an image, Allah will torture him until he breathes life into it.” [Al-Bukhāri] Al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy upon him) said: “Scholars stated that making images of animate beings is extremely prohibited and is a major sin, because it is subject to the severe threat mentioned in these Hadīths. Whether or not the images are made in a way to be treated with disrespect, image making is prohibited in all cases, because it involves imitating the creation of Allah, the Almighty.”

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