no depicting the Prophet!

For some odd reason, it remains common "wisdom" among many Muslims to claim that the Prophet Muhammad cannot be depicted-- ever. I'd like to know where this silly injunction began, because if it's a binding injunction, then many Muslims throughout the ages have been cavalierly ignoring it.

"Show me your evidence!" challenges my Muslim interlocutor, a.k.a. Empty Chair.

Well-- how about this?


"Not convincing! The artist didn't portray the Prophet's face!" crows Empty Chair.

Ah-- moving the goalposts, are we, Empty Chair? So it's kosher to depict the Prophet's body? Does this mean a filmmaker can safely do a film about the life of Muhammad without ever showing the Prophet's face? Tell you what-- let's leave that question aside and concentrate on the Prophet's face, shall we?

"You'll never find such a work of art!" challenges my interlocutor.

Oh? How about these--?


"D'oh!"


"Double d'oh!"


"Triple d'oh!"


"Quadruple d'oh!"


"Quintuple d'oh!"


"Sextuple d'oh!"


"Septuple d'oh!"


"Octuple d'oh!"


"Nonuple d'oh!"

My main source for these beautiful pictures is here. It's amazing what five minutes' research can produce. Can we please shut up about not depicting Muhammad, now?

An earlier post on this topic is here.





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