Art

Art is a diverse range of human activities in creating visual, auditory or performing artifacts (artworks), expressing the author's imaginative, conceptual ideas, or technical skill, intended to be appreciated for their beauty or emotional power. In their most general form these activities include the production of works of art, the criticism of art, the study of the history of art, and the aesthetic dissemination of art.
The three classical branches of art are painting, sculpture and architecture.

197133

Art . Ghadir Khumm

Is it permissible to request a painting from someone I know, such as an artwork of Imam Ali raising his hand during Ghadir Khum, or would that be deemed sinful?

Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi, Sayyed Mohammad al-Musawi is originally from Iraq and heads up the World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League in London. Other than being involved in various humanitarian projects, he frequently responds to... Answered 8 months ago

Such paintings are never real pictures of the Imam (AS) but just imaginations of the painters. In some cultures like Turkey, Iran, Iraq etc they use such paintings to remember the Imam, while in many other Muslim cultures like in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh etc, they don't use it. I personally don't use such paintings for many reasons including not trusting the details of the paintings and to avoid misunderstandings among Muslims from different cultural backgrounds. Those who use such paintings are not doing a sinful act but trying to remember the Imam (AS) in their own cultural eye.

Wassalam.

197226

Makeup . Clothing . Hijab . Art . Social Media

Is it permissible in Islam for a Hijabi influencer to engage in activities such as doing makeup, taking aesthetic photos for social media collaborations, and teaching makeup and modest clothing styling?

Muslim Hijabi female is allowed to engage in every lawful activity which helps people provided it does not contain or promote or encourage harmful (sinful) acts in her behaviour or the behaviour of others.

Wassalam.

188464

Islam . Shi'a . Art

Is there any connection between Leonardo da Vinci's "Last Supper" painting and Islam or Shi'ism?

Sura Al-Ma'ida سورة المائدة has mentioned the request of the disciples of Jesus to get a table of food from the sky. ( Verse 112, 113, 114 and 115 ). Allah Has Granted them what they asked.for. We can not say whether what is known among Nazaratenes as Last Supper is the same table of food which was granted by Allah, or another. Some scholars say that is the same. After all, the Quranic fact is clear that the disciples of Jesus have requested a table of food from the sky and Allah Has Granted them what they requested.

Wassalam.

151571

School . Music . Art . Employment

Is it allowed to work or study at a school that teaches subjects like music and art, provided we do not engage in those activities? For instance, can one work as a school secretary or office assistant?

If the job involves any support or service for sinful activity, then you must avoid it.

Wassalam.

184835

Sin . Art . Business Ethics

Is it permissible to resell story books that include elements such as romance, arts, pictures, and sci-fi?

It depends on the content of the book. If the book does not contain any harmful material, then it is permissible to sell it, but if it does contain any type of harmful material, like immorality, doubts about real Religion, criminal tricks etc, then it will not be permissible to sell it.

Wassalam.

175121

Art . Sunni-Shi'a . Calligraphy

What is the view of calligraphy in Shia ideology? Are there any narrations that mention this art form? Is there any validity to the claim that the pen was considered God's "first creation"?

Amina Inloes, Amina Inloes is originally from the US and has a PhD in Islamic Studies from the University of Exeter on Shi'a hadith. She is the program leader for the MA Islamic Studies program at the... Answer updated 1 year ago

There are some narrations attributed to Ahl al-Bayt (A) about beautifying handwriting, which I will paste below (even if, given my dismal handwriting, it is somewhat hypocritical). Calligraphy can be seen in the light of this ethos. Most Shi'a value calligraphy as an art.

The pen - Shi'i narrations usually say that the first creation is the light of the Prophet (S). The idea that the pen was the first thing created is also mentioned in some narrations (although I am not sure offhand if they also appear in Shi'i sources). Shi'i narrations also describe the pen as being created of light and as an angel. Some people (especially with a philosophical perspective) may try to combine all these views (that is, it is all essentially the same thing that was created; for instance, it was the active intellect), although in my view it's fine to treat them as separate things, and to say the light of the Prophet (S) was created first.

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Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘Split the nib of your pen, thicken its blade, slant it to the right and you will beautify your handwriting.’

Imam Ali (AS) said to his scribe Ubaydullah b. Abd Rafi, ‘Put cotton flake in the inkpot, keep the nib of your pen long, leave space between lines and join up the letters because this is most suited to creating beautiful handwriting.’

The Prophet (SAWA) said, ‘Good handwriting increases the clarity of truth.’

The Prophet (SAWA), regarding Allah’s verse “or some vestige of [divine] knowledge”, said that this means handwriting.’

Ata’ b. Yasar narrates, ‘The Prophet (SAWA) was asked about handwriting and he said, ‘It was (first) taught by a prophet and those who were with him learned it.’

Imam Ali (AS) said, ‘Handwriting is the hand’s tongue.’

[reproduced from The Scale of Wisdom: A Compendium of Shi'i Hadith]

123222

Food . Meat . Human . Art

If food photography is permissible, are pictures of meat as food allowed? Are food pictures showing part of a human permissible such as their arms and hands?

Mateen Charbonneau, Sheikh Mateen Joshua Charbonneau achieved a certificate from Harvard University in Islamic Studies. He undertook Howza classes under esteemed scholars since 2013 and has been teaching at Imam Mahdi... Answered 2 years ago

Yes

165603

Drawing . Art

Is it allowed to create stop motion animations using toys like Lego, given that it doesn't involve drawing but only captures camera pictures and object movements?

Yes it is allowed if it does involve drawings of living beings.

Wassalam.

158744

Conversion to Islam . Employment . Clothing . Art

Is it permissible to work at a skateboard shop that sells clothes, shoes, skateboards, and accessories, considering that some of the items have pictures of animate beings?

Yes it is permissible to work in skateboard shop but you should avoid selling sinful pictures.
Wassalam.

157481

Husband . Wife . Sexual . Art

Can a married couple take intimate pictures to share with each other, as long as both partners agree to it?

Married couple are allowed to enjoy themselves together including taking intimate pictures for themselves, provided that such pictures should never be seen by others. They can see their own intimate pictures but not pictures of others.

‘Wassalam.

147339

Drawing . Art . Islam . Sunni-Shi'a

What are the rules for drawing and art in Shia Islam?

Drawing is allowed as far as it does not contain drawing of full human beings or full animals. Drawing should also keep the morals of Islam.

Wassalam.

126962

Scholars . Mosque . Art . Shi'a

Inside some mosques and centres one can see placed pictures of respected Shi'a scholars. What is the reason behind this and is there scholarly consensus on its permissibility?

Majority of our Shia Masjids all over the world do not place pictures of scholars or founders of the mosque, but in some places there are pictures of respected scholars where the culture of that area allows placing pictures. Those who place picture for respected Scholars do so to express gratitude to the great services rendered by them to the community. We don't have any authentic evidence against placing pictures in Masjid as far as it is not for worshiping it and it is just a picture and not a statue. The pictures should not be in the direction of Qibla, means should not be faced by people while performing Namaz because it Is Makrouh (disliked) to face a picture while performing Namaz.

Wassalam.