Question
Reference number: 782275 | Qur’an and Interpretation | March 25, 2019
What is the ruling on hanging a painting which symbolizes Virgin Mary and her son Jesus in a Muslim’s house?
Answer
Praise Be to Allah and Peace Be Upon His Messenger.
One of the six pillars of Faith is to believe in prophets. Thus, Muslims believe in the Prophethood of Jesus, and they believe that Jesus is Allah’s servant and messenger. Allah says: “The Messiah [‘Isa (Jesus)], son of Maryam (Mary), was no more than a Messenger; many were the Messengers that passed away before him. His mother [Maryam (Mary)] was a Ṣiddiqah [i.e. she believed in the Words of Allah and His Books (See Verse 66:12)]. They both used to eat food (as any other human being, while Allah does not eat). Look how We make the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) clear to them; yet look how they are deluded away (from the truth). However, attributing the drawings in the painting to them (Mary and Jesus) is not lawful as this is falsified. Such paintings are usually hanged in churches, and this is particular to the People of the Book. Thus, as Muslims, we should stay far from doing things which are not part of our beliefs.