Why limit art?

P

Persona

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My understanding is that Islam believes that God is not human, so images of human beings are not considered appropriate in art. The other day, I went to an exhibit of Islamic art - & I must say, there were some beautiful, spiritual pieces!

And I am beginning to believe God is spirit (love), & not limited to a person. Still, how we resonate to God is often through loving others. Some of the most inspiring art is about people - their expressions of happiness, sadness, silliness, consentration...
I can see how pictures of Jesus or Buddha could distract from spirituality, & even inspire prejudice (ie "white images of Jesus").

Yet, as long as you don't worship images of people, but just enjoy them as a form of resonating to love (within & for others), isn't that GOoD?
 
Hi,

Some might say pork is tasty, yet we still do not eat it. The point is, Muslims are not supposed to do art (even though many do) from religious stand point. The Noble Qur'an does not specifically mention it, but it is in the Holy Bible (OT). And in Islam, we are instructed to believe the Bible as the earlier Revelation of Allah SWT. A lot of times, Muslims will still follow OT laws even if they are not mentioned in the Qur'an. I think the reason why Muslims are discouraged from making statues and arts of living things is to avoid confusing people and avoid encouraging object worship.
 
Amica said:
Hi,

Some might say pork is tasty, yet we still do not eat it. The point is, Muslims are not supposed to do art (even though many do) from religious stand point. The Noble Qur'an does not specifically mention it, but it is in the Holy Bible (OT). And in Islam, we are instructed to believe the Bible as the earlier Revelation of Allah SWT. A lot of times, Muslims will still follow OT laws even if they are not mentioned in the Qur'an. I think the reason why Muslims are discouraged from making statues and arts of living things is to avoid confusing people and avoid encouraging object worship.
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I think the OT is talking about images as idols and not just art. Art like anything else can be positive or negative. there must be a reason why God gave this talent on some people.
 
Hi Koranist,

I like art, but that is beside the point. Allah SWT created pigs too, yet we do not eat them--He forbade us from eating pork. Get my point?
 
Amica said:
Hi Koranist,

I like art, but that is beside the point. Allah SWT created pigs too, yet we do not eat them--He forbade us from eating pork. Get my point?
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where did he forbid you from eating pork ?
 
No offense NiceCupofTea, but I can see the reason why you left Islam. Here is the ayat (verse):
"Forbidden to you (for food) are: dead meat, blood, the flesh of swine, and that on which hath been invoked the name of other than Allah." [Al-Qur’an 5:3]
 
Amica said:
No offense NiceCupofTea, but I can see the reason why you left Islam. Here is the ayat (verse):
"Forbidden to you (for food) are: dead meat, blood, the flesh of swine, and that on which hath been invoked the name of other than Allah." [Al-Qur’an 5:3]
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Wouldn't all meat be dead?
It's interesting that the Sufis and certain Islamic peoples even though they have read the same book, are very immersed in the Arts, while others forbid them?

Is that the case or have I misunderstood?
 
Amica said:
No offense NiceCupofTea, but I can see the reason why you left Islam.
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can you really ?

Here is the ayat (verse):
"Forbidden to you (for food) are: dead meat, blood, the flesh of swine, and that on which hath been invoked the name of other than Allah." [Al-Qur’an 5:3]
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thanks for that.
 
I disagree with the Muslim prohibition of any pictures, but I must admit I see a lot of idol worship in Christianity and Buddhism. So I think we must at least consider the idea that Islam may have a point here.

But this certainly does not justify attacking people who draw pictures of Mohammed. Both of these issues must be considered.

Neither issue exists in a vacuum, separated from the other.
 
Nick the Pilot said:
I disagree with the Muslim prohibition of any pictures, but I must admit I see a lot of idol worship in Christianity and Buddhism. So I think we must at least consider the idea that Islam may have a point here.

But this certainly does not justify attacking people who draw pictures of Mohammed. Both of these issues must be considered.

Neither issue exists in a vacuum, separated from the other.
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the real meaning of idolatry is far more subtle than bowing down to an image or statue IMO.

people idolise all sorts of things, belief systems, pop stars, themselves etc
 
Nick the Pilot said:
I disagree with the Muslim prohibition of any pictures, but I must admit I see a lot of idol worship in Christianity and Buddhism. So I think we must at least consider the idea that Islam may have a point here.

But this certainly does not justify attacking people who draw pictures of Mohammed. Both of these issues must be considered.

Neither issue exists in a vacuum, separated from the other.
Click to expand...

Attachment to the insistance on a lack of images is just as idolatrous as mistaking mere images for what they are meant to represent is idolatrous. Both involve the delusion that images are more than exactly what they are: images, shadows, representations.
 
seattlegal said:
Attachment to the insistance on a lack of images is just as idolatrous as mistaking mere images for what they are meant to represent is idolatrous. Both involve the delusion that images are more than exactly what they are: images, shadows, representations.
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I found this Hadith regarding the Kaaba and idolatry on wiki:


Narrated 'Abis bin Rabia: Umar came near the Black Stone and kissed it and said, "No doubt, I know that you are a stone and can neither benefit anyone nor harm anyone. Had I not seen God's Apostle kissing you, I would not have kissed you."
—al-Bukhari, Muhammad ibn Ismail, Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 2, Book 26, Number 667.​
 
NiceCupOfTea said:
the real meaning of idolatry is far more subtle than bowing down to an image or statue IMO.

people idolise all sorts of things, belief systems, pop stars, themselves etc
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The football god...NFL sunday...

or for you other football fans...you know exactly how you worship...them are big stadiums...
 
NiceCupofTea--

The "dead meat" as translated in the English version is really referring to something like road kill, or something that died of its own. In order to eat meat, before it is slaughtered there has to be intention for it to be killed in the name of God SWT (if you were ever a Muslim, you would know this).
 
NiceCupofTea FYI :) : Not meant as an offense "if you were ever a Muslim, you would know this," but rather a statement about the fact that even non-practicing Muslims know about it. As I remember (and I may be wrong?), one time you mentioned that you left Islam for Christianity because of "too many rules." Of course, eating halal meat is one of the rules and if the rules restricted your life so much to drive you to leave Islam, you should probably know about the dietary laws in Islam (regardless whether you were religious or not)--as those fall into the "basics" of the faith's practice.

Of course, if I confused you with someone else, my sincere apologies.
 
Amica said:
NiceCupofTea FYI :) : Not meant as an offense "if you were ever a Muslim, you would know this,"
but rather a statement about the fact that even non-practicing Muslims know about it. As I remember (and I may be wrong?), one time you mentioned that you left Islam for Christianity because of "too many rules." Of course, eating halal meat is one of the rules and if the rules restricted your life so much to drive you to leave Islam, you should probably know about the dietary laws in Islam (regardless whether you were religious or not)--as those fall into the "basics" of the faith's practice.

Of course, if I confused you with someone else, my sincere apologies.
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i know pork is haraam i just wanted to know what source you would use to show that.
 
Right :D Nice way getting out of it. Sorry, I have a hard time believing that that was your intention. Slip ups happen, no?:rolleyes:
 
May I just add again: "We could even point them out to you if We wished, and then you could identify them by their marks, but you will know them anyway by the tone of their speech. Allah knows everything you (people) do." (Qur'an 47:29-30)
 
Amica said:
Right :D Nice way getting out of it. Sorry, I have a hard time believing that that was your intention. Slip ups happen, no?:rolleyes:
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you can believe what u like.

everything ok with u Amica ? u seem a bit touchy at the moment.
 
Thanks for the comments.
It's good to get different perspectives.

NiceCupOfTea said:
the real meaning of idolatry is far more subtle than bowing down to an image or statue IMO.

people idolise all sorts of things, belief systems, pop stars, themselves etc
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True.
Our god is that which we worship - what's most important to us.
For very few, it's really God (the principle of goodness desired above all).
Based on the most worshiped/popular topic in music, tv, film, commercials, I'd say most worship sex/romance.
 
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