37/26. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 2111b — Image Making and Allah's Creation
The Prohibition Of Making Images Of Living Beings, And The Prohibition Of Using Images That Are Not Subjected To Disrespect In Furnishings And The Like; The Angels (Peace Be Upon Them) Do Not Enter A House In Which There Is An Image Or A Dog
Hadith About Image Making and Respect for Allah's Creation
Sahih Muslim : 2111b
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 2111b
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ نُمَيْرٍ، وَأَبُو كُرَيْبٍ وَأَلْفَاظُهُمْ مُتَقَارِبَةٌ قَالُوا حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ فُضَيْلٍ، عَنْ عُمَارَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي زُرْعَةَ، قَالَ دَخَلْتُ مَعَ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ فِي دَارِ مَرْوَانَ فَرَأَى فِيهَا تَصَاوِيرَ فَقَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " قَالَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّنْ ذَهَبَ يَخْلُقُ خَلْقًا كَخَلْقِي فَلْيَخْلُقُوا ذَرَّةً أَوْ لِيَخْلُقُوا حَبَّةً أَوْ لِيَخْلُقُوا شَعِيرَةً " . وَحَدَّثَنِيهِ زُهَيْرُ بْنُ حَرْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنْ عُمَارَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي زُرْعَةَ، قَالَ دَخَلْتُ أَنَا وَأَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ دَارًا تُبْنَى بِالْمَدِينَةِ لِسَعِيدٍ أَوْ لِمَرْوَانَ . قَالَ فَرَأَى مُصَوِّرًا يُصَوِّرُ فِي الدَّارِ فَقَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِمِثْلِهِ وَلَمْ يَذْكُرْ " أَوْ لِيَخْلُقُوا شَعِيرَةً " .
Abu Zur'a reported: I visited the house of Marwan in the company of Abu Huraira and he found pictures there. whereupon he said: I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: Allah, the Glorious and Exalted, said: Who is a more wrongdoer than one who tries to create creation like Mine creation. Let him create an atom or a grain of wheat or that of barley. This hadith has been transmitted on the authority of Abu Zur'a and he said: Abu Huraira went to the house of Sa'ld or Marwan which they had built in Medina and he (Abu Huraira) saw a painter who had been painting pictures in his house, whereupon he told that Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) had said like this, but he made no mention of the words:" Let him create the grain of barley."
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2111a, bIn-book reference : Book 37, Hadith 155USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 24, Hadith 5275
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 2111b
The core topic of this Hadith is image making. It gives a strong warning to anyone who tries to create creation like Allah's creation. Abu Huraira saw pictures in a house and then narrated the words of Allah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم. The message is simple: human skill is limited, while creation belongs to Allah alone. The Hadith challenges the maker of images to create even an atom, a grain of wheat, or barley. This makes the point very clear. A person may draw or paint, but he cannot give true life or create the smallest living reality. For users searching for hadith about pictures, image making in Islam, or creating like Allah, this narration teaches humility before Allah and care in matters linked to pictures and portrayals.
What we learn from this hadith
- Creating like Allah is impossible for human beings.
- The Hadith warns against image making that claims or imitates creation.
- Even the smallest created things show Allah's power.
- Abu Huraira used the Hadith as advice when he saw pictures.
