PICTURES AND PORTRAITS OF THE AWLIYA?

PICTURES AND PORTRAITS OF THE AWLIYA?

    QUESTION

    As-Salam Alaykum Sidi,

    What is the ruling on putting up the photos of our Shaykhs as I see many Tijani murids do? Isn't it Haram and condemned in the Hadith of the Prophet (SAW)?

    ANSWER

    Salams,

    Many Ulama stated that only 3 dimensional "images" are not allowed.

    As for pictures, particularly HALF ones and less than Life-Size ones; they are fine, particularly when there is no fear of them being worshipped.

    One should not keep them in Mosques or places of worship though. Even in homes, they should not be in the direction of the Qiblah at least.

    Even a permissible matter becomes impermissible when you OVER-DO it.

    Shaykh Hassan Cisse (RA) went to a Zawiyah/Mosque in New York once and when he saw pictures of himself and Shaykh Ibrahim hanging there, he ordered them to be removed!!!

    There is no harm in a photo itself. It is how you deal with it. We all see images in the mirror. But no one ever prohibited the mirror.

    Also note that Hanging pictures of the Shaykhs is NOT NOT NOT a requirement of the Tariqah. None of our Shaykh ever ordered it or even encouraged it. It is simply done by some Murids out of love and yearning.

    In a world FILLED with Vulgar and Materialistic images EVERYWHERE; seeing the pictures of the Awliya-Allah soothes the hearts indeed. They remind us of greater purposes in life. Of greater people. Our Rodel Models. The Iman of the Sahabah was so strong because they SAW the image of the Prophet (SAW).

    Our children need to to grow up looking at the pictures of Allah's Friends, rather than movie stars, rock stars and sports stars.

    As the Prophet (SAW) said:

    "The Wali is the one when you see him, he reminds you of Allah"

    (Musnad Ahmad).

    But ultimately, the image of the SHAYKH is in the heart and mind.

    Shaykh Ibrahim (RA) wrote:

    فصورة إبراهيم تبقى تذكرا

    إذا اب للمولى الكريم و تفكرا

    And the Picture of Ibrahim will remain as a Reminder

    After he returns to his Generous Lord and is remembered

 

     حياتي رموز كلها و إشارات

    و يعطى العبد ما الكل حيرا

    Indeed, my entire life is just Symbols and Pointers

    And indeed, I was granted that which baffled everyone!

 

     
Was-Salam

Servant of the Tijani Door

Fakhruddin al-Tijani al-Ibrahimi

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1. Vessel of Spiritual Flood, Translation of Goran Faydah by Shaykh Balarabe Haroon Jega - (Translated by Khalifah Awwal Baba Taofiq)

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5. Kano Conferences (Majlis Kano) and the khutba titled (Hadiqat al-Anwar fii ma ihtawa alayhi qawaaid al-Islam minal hikam wal asrar) - (Translated by Sayyidah Bilqis Grillo)

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