Is Painting Nature Permissible?

Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat

 

Question

I like to paint nature (trees, water, mountains,..), but someone told me it’s not Islamically good to paint nature. 

Would you please let me know what I should do?

Answer

Wa ‘alaykum assalam wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh.

I pray you are well.

It is perfectly permissible to paint nature scenes. The prohibition refers to detailed images of living beings – with some exceptions, such as for children’s educational purposes. 

Abdullah b. ‘Abbas, when asked about drawing advised someone who wanted to engage in it to draw trees and things which don’t have a soul. (Muslim)

Imbue your painting with worship by taking time to appreciate and reflect on the beauty of Allah’s creation, and praise and thank Him for it. You’ll be rewarded endlessly for it.

May Allah grant you the best of both worlds.

[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim

 

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat began his studies in Arabic Grammar and Morphology in 2005. After graduating with a degree in English and History, he moved to Damascus in 2007, where, for 18 months, he studied with many erudite scholars. In late 2008 he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continued his studies for the next six years in Sacred Law (fiqh), legal theory (Usul al-fiqh), theology, hadith methodology, hadith commentary, and Logic. He was also given licenses of mastery in the science of Quranic recital. He was able to study an extensive curriculum of Quranic sciences, tafsir, Arabic grammar, and Arabic eloquence.