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A teacher wrote:-

I have a question for you regarding Islam. As you know, I'm now teaching in the new Cardiff Steiner school. I have 3 Muslim children in my class. I have been teaching the Alphabet, which in Steiner schools is taught with stories and pictures. For the letter A, I told a story about an Angel. Afterwards I had the children draw an angel, and draw the letter A in the picture, so that the angel makes the form of the letter A. One of the Muslim children was told off by her dad when she got home, for drawing a picture of an angel. He said this was idolatry or something, and forbidden in Islam. I am not happy that a child was told off for doing something that I had asked her to do - the parents should discuss with me rather than tell the child off, but also, I have seen numerous examples of Islamic art (particularly Persian art) where Angels are depicted, and they are depicted as winged beings. I know that it is forbidden to depict God or Muhammad, but is it written anywhere that Angels should not be drawn? If so, how come they are illustrated in Persian art?

What is your opinion?

Comment:-

The parent should not have told off the child as it was not his/her fault, but the parent may have merely meant to emphasise the fact that it is forbidden.

In strict circles depicting any of the creatures made by God is not so much forbidden but warned against because of the danger of Idolatry. If it is not idolatry (i.e. by the person or someone else worships or idolises it or forms some kind of attachment to it) then it is a case of dishonouring, trivialisation or distortion of God's creation, and by association, God. It is the intention or inner state that makes the sin.

In Islam worship and adoration should be confined to Allah. This allows all other attachments, obsessions and sources of inner compulsion and slavery to dissolve. Clearly, therefore, the more other things are honoured the more dilute does Islam, Surrender to Allah become. That is why Islamic Art is mainly of calligraphic and geometrical and concerned with the patterns underlying creation.

However, it is not explicitly forbidden in the Quran but warned against in a Hadith, though it can easily be seen as compatible with Quranic teachings. On the other hand obsessiveness with this or any other idea is also a form of idolatry. Unfortunately, many Muslims adhere to relatively less important matters while ignoring or flouting the more important ones.

Whereas one or two instances may not be harmful, things have a habit of escalating and gradually, unobtrusively desensitising and causing more profound changes. Human creations are not like God's creations - they are not alive - and the difference between them in ones mind should not be allowed to fade. It could be argued that those who surround themselves with human artefacts are affected by these to become less adapted to reality, both inner and outer. An artificial culture creates an artificial way of life that replaces the natural. This must inevitably lead to inner conflict, disease and degeneration. An acquired Persona or mask imprisons and traps the Essence, the nature as made by Allah.

But there are all kinds of Muslims. Different Muslims know, understand or practice Islam to different degrees and many have loosened their ties with Islam to various degrees. That is why this and other rules are not obeyed. In fact, in some countries hysterical crowds carry pictures of their leaders in procession. This can certainly be construed as idolatry.

Teacher:-

Another question I have, is what is the place of the 4 Archangels in Islam? They are quite important in Steiner schools as Archetypes, representing different qualities, and corresponding to the 4 seasons. Autumn is the time of Archangel Michael, and in Steiner schools a lot is generally done about Michael and his sword, including in some schools, actually forging a sword of iron. The archangelic festivals could be another possible point of conflict with the Muslim children.

Comment:-

The above remarks also apply here. I would suggest that you do not use these to promote your ideas of what they represent.

Archangels are Spiritual agents of Allah and their characteristics could certainly represent some fundamental Archetypes deep in the human soul. The Quran mentions Gabriel and Michael and not much about them, probably because their transcendental nature is too high for ordinary mortals to understand without fantasy and distortion. About Gabriel we know that he is the one through whom the Word of God came to the Prophets.

However, you will have to discuss this with the parents pointing out what your school requires, and what your notion of Archangels imply and are used for. This might allow them to discriminate between different ideas connected with words rather than having attachment to words. But it is obviously not a good educational practice to confuse small children who are not able to discriminate or to mislead them.

Teacher:-

You might be interested in the reply I got from contacting an Islamic website, on the question of Angels. A spokesman wrote:-

"I find there is no harm done in teaching our children letters of the alphabets with the aid of pictures. It is a proven fact that young children learn much better with drawings, pictures or any visual aid to speed up their mental growth. Children learn their vocabulary quite quickly through the use of pictures, cartoons rather than just seeing a book of words that they can't read yet. In my opinion of using pictures and cartoons for helping young kids to develop their reading and writing skills are a good teaching method to use.

As for the question on idol-worship, drawing pictures like an Angel or any objects cannot be considered as a form of idol-worship unless the picture does overtake the mind to forget about worshipping God. God is the artist of human beings, and He is the architect of all the universes creating each universe with perfection.

The Quran tells us:-

"The creation of the heavens and the earth is even more awesome than the creation of the human being, but most people do not know." 40:57

"Thus, He completed the seven universes in two days, and set up the laws for every universe. And We adorned the lowest universe with lamps, and placed guards around it. Such is the design of the Almighty, the Omniscient." 41:12

"The Initiator of the heavens and the earth. How can He have a son, when He never had a mate? He created all things, and He is fully aware of all things." 6:101

"He is the One GOD; the Creator, the Initiator, the Designer. To Him belong the most beautiful names. Glorifying Him is everything in the heavens and the earth. He is the Almighty, Most Wise." 59:24

So as you can see there is nothing wrong with us drawing pictures like a house plan or an angel, people etc, so as long as we do not start worshipping them, in other words not let our minds become so involve in something that makes us forget to observe the contact prayers and fulfil our obligations to God."

Comment:-

Yes that is an enlightened view, though at a rather superficial level.

The fact remains that the Prophet warned against it because of the possibility of distraction and the effects and consequences of doing so. The same verses that are being interpreted as allowing this can be interpreted as disallowing it.

The site you contacted belongs to "Submitters", what is called a "Quran only" sect. This is a modern heresy, a continuation of the departure from Islam, that rejects the Hadith and wishes to ignore all mention of Muhammad in the Quran on the grounds that he is long dead. In fact, they do not submit to God and His Word as they falsely claim. They tend to follow an American called Rashad Khalifa whom they regard as a Prophet. Most Muslims do not accept this sect as Muslim, but they deceive the unwary.

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