The Quran forbids worshipping paintings/statues, not making them!

The Quran forbids worshipping paintings/statues, not making them!

Everything the Quran doesn’t forbid, is allowed, in principle (al-Maida [5] 87).

“…Are you going to teach God about your religion?…” (al-Hujurat [49] 16).

There’s no information in the Quran that paintings or statues are forbidden. The source of prohibition about paintings and statues in the Islamic culture is found in various narrations and traditional understanding, but not the Quran. Similarly, the notions that those who paint pictures would be the most likely to be punished on the day of resurrection, or that angels would not enter houses where paintings are, aren’t stated in the Quran.

To understand this matter in a correct way in the Quran, the word tamathil تَمَاث۪يلَ which means paintings or sculpture is very important.

“(İbrahim)…What are these statues (tamathil التَّمَاث۪يلُ ) to which you are devoted?…” (al-Anbiya [21] 52).

“They made for him (Sulaiman) whatever he wished: sanctuaries, statues (tamathil تَمَاث۪يلَ ), bowls like pools, and heavy cauldrons…” (Saba [34] 13).

Even the word tamathil تَمَاث۪يلَ (singular timthal) was used in al-Anbiya [21] 52 as a term meaning idol, but the same word was used in Saba [34] 13 as a statue, without worshipping it. In other words, every statue wasn’t used in the Quran as an idol. Therefore, the Quran mentioned the topic about paintings and statues and related that one of the Prophets was allowed to make statues. The Quran doesn’t say that paintings and statues are forbidden.

Even though there’s no prohibition about paintings and statues in the Quran, there are some principles which have to be followed, such as in music, art and entertainment:

 The paintings or statues shouldn’t bear association to Allah (Shirk) (az-Zumar [39] 65).
 The work shouldn’t be shameful and disgraceful (an-Nahl [16] 90).
 The works shouldn’t include insulting and disrespecting content (Enam [6] 108).

In conclusion, the result is, that the Quran forbids to worship paintings or statues, but doesn’t forbid making them.

The Byzantine currency, which is referred to with various names, is known in Arabic as Dinar (Denarius). The Prophet Muhammad used this Byzantine currency, in which reliefs of Emperor Heraclius (Ruling: 610-643) was used (Al Imran [3] 75). However, these reliefs weren’t defined as an idol and weren’t forbidden by the Quran!