muslims and nude artwork

[mollykins]

What do muslims think of nude artwork?

[Mamyalynne]

Have you asked a Muslim? Maybe there are some reading and will answer, interesting question.

[Davethedog]

Man or woman?

Woman are without doubt frowned on, not sure about men.

[chelle7272]

We had an exhibition where I work which included some paintings of women breastfeeding or with their breasts showing. There are quite a number of muslim residents and we did receive a few complaints from some of them, interestingly they did not complain about pictures where breastfeeding was taking place, only the ones they considered unnecessary nudity.

[naomi24]

Strictly speaking Muslims aren't allowed to draw depictions of humans or animals. That doesn't necessarily mean none of them like nude artwork, so you'd have to ask them individually.

[mollykins]

mama i don't know any Muslims.

Would the race of the person make any difference aswell?

HHhhmmm interesting.

Naomi, something to do with it's Allahs creation? Are sculptures even worse because they're 3d and more lifelike?

[saxy_jag]

I used to provide learning support to a young muslim man taking an IT course. Someone once hacked into his college computer account and accessed a number of 'naughty' websites. As it happened, I was able to provide him with an alibi because he'd been in a tutorial with me at the time they said. But as he pointed out to his accuser, there wouldn't have been much point him accessing the sites, because a) his faith prohibited him looking at any such images(he was very devout) and b) he was totally blind and couldn't have seen them anyway!

[naomi24]

Molly, as far as I can ascertain very strictly speaking Muslims are forbidden from making images of people or living creatures. However, these days it is permissible to draw pictures to aid education or communication - but not pictures of naked bodies. Statues are forbidden.

This from an Islamic website: The intent of the law prohibiting images was that in pagan times, it was a direct means and way to shirk (associating other beings with Allah).

[mollykins]

Aaaahhh thanks.

[beso]

Nothing. Muslims don't think.

[boxtops]

Muslims are prohibited from drawing images of living things (apart from trees, flowers etc.) - and some will go to the extent of not wanting to be photographed as that is an image. The idea goes back to the fact that if you make an image of a person or beast, you can (if you were that way inclined) start to worship it - think of he statements in the Bible about not worshipping graven images, or the people worshipping the Golden Calf before Moses was given the Ten Commandments. You will find huge variance in individual Muslims as to whether they stick to this ancient rule - but generally, public nudity (or pictures of it) would not be approved as Muslims are exhorted to be modest, nudity is only permissible between husbands and wives (or in situations like hospitals).

[oldexpat]

As the boyfriend of a Muslim women I would suggest to you that their in the falseness of the naked flesh is of a sin. Only the bearers of the skin and the familly can see it. A pertrail of such that is forcast doesn't really count though.

[pastafreak]

Here is an interesting article that looks at idolatry in Islam........in a nutshell-the ban on depictions of the human body is explained thus- "That’s the door Islamic tradition took by way of the Hadith—the reports of the sayings and deeds of Muhammad and other early Muslims. The Hadith don’t explicitly prohibit images of the Prophet anymore than the Koran does, but the Hadith do forbid the depiction of any living beings, human or animal. The prohibition is related to idolatry. Images of living things would tempt idolatry, which would be blasphemous. The pragmatic, if drastic, short-cut to purity is an outright ban on all such depictions. "

http://middleeast.abo...ianism/f/me080322.htm


(oldexpat's remark makes no sense whatsoever...can anyone translate,please? )

[naomi24]

I agree Pasta. Oldexpat's post is confusing. So as a boyfriend of a Muslim woman, do you see her naked flesh or not, oldexpat - and what does that have to do with drawing images?

[jomifl]

If portrayals or images of people is forbidden in islam why do so many devout muslims parade with pictures of mullahs and suicide bombers. Perhaps they haven't read the koran or have misinterpreted it..

[McMouse]

We used to employ an elderly muslim book-keeper and one day we organised a strip-o-gram for a guys 21st birthday. The book-keeper was shocked and admitted that in 40 odd years of marriage he had never seen his wife naked. So I suspect nude artwork is probably off limits.

[naomi24]

jomifl, some of the stricter Muslims say that photographing living creatures is forbidden unless it is absolutely vital. Others say it's acceptable, so I suppose they're the ones you see carrying banners with pictures of mad mullahs or suicide bombers.

I did read one interesting piece of advice to a woman who needed a passport photo. She was told she could remove her head covering as she would be required to do for the picture - but she must wear a wig to cover her hair!

[beso]

The whole concept is really quite bizarre. A religious belief that it is bad to create an image of something. Ostensibly it is based upon the danger tha once an image has been made that people might worship it instead of God. Australian aboriginees also share a dislike for images of dead people.

Images were very novel once. The first time someone found a rock and realised that looked like something I am sure they were impressed.

But we now live in an age where images are part of every day life. A child can make one. Images are a fantastic technology that underpins who we are as humankind. The antiquated concept of avoiding them for fear of worship is ridiculous.

Better we address the real problem. Worship. Worship of any kind is a fundamentally flawed concept based upon the total surrender of one's own moral judgement. It is a very dangerous philosophy that underlies much of what is wrong on the planet.

[naomi24]

Yes, I know Elieeee. i just hope she bought a sexy wig!