24/19. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 1751 — Image Making and Private Conversations
What Has Been Related About Imagemakers
Hadith Warning Against Image Making and Secret Listening
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 1751
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 1751
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، عَنْ أَيُّوبَ، عَنْ عِكْرِمَةَ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " مَنْ صَوَّرَ صُورَةً عَذَّبَهُ اللَّهُ حَتَّى يَنْفُخَ فِيهَا يَعْنِي الرُّوحَ وَلَيْسَ بِنَافِخٍ فِيهَا وَمَنِ اسْتَمَعَ إِلَى حَدِيثِ قَوْمٍ وَهُمْ يَفِرُّونَ بِهِ مِنْهُ صُبَّ فِي أُذُنِهِ الآنُكُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ " . قَالَ وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ وَأَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ وَأَبِي جُحَيْفَةَ وَعَائِشَةَ وَابْنِ عُمَرَ . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى حَدِيثُ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ .
Ibn 'Abbas Narrated from:
The Messenger Of Allah (ﷺ) Said: "Whoever Fashions An Image, He Will Be Punished By Allah Until He Breathes Into It - Meaning The Soul - And He Cannot Breath (A Soul) Into It. And Whoever Listens To A People'S Conversation, While They Have Gone Away From Him For It, Then He Will Have Lead Poured Into His Ears On The Day Of Judgement." He Said: There Are Narrations On This Topic From 'Abdullah Bin Mas'Ud, Abu Hurairah, Abu Juhaifah, 'Aishah, And Ibn 'Umar. [Abu 'Eisa Said:] The Hadith Of Ibn 'Abbas Is A Hasan Sahih Hadith.
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1751In-book reference : Book 24, Hadith 32English translation : Vol. 3, Book 22, Hadith 1751
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 1751
This Hadith brings two warnings together. Ibn Abbas narrates that whoever fashions an image will be punished until he breathes a soul into it, and he cannot do that. The same narration also warns against listening to people's conversation when they have gone away from him for it; on the Day of Judgement, lead will be poured into his ears. The explanation should keep both parts separate and not mix them. One part is about image making, and the other is about secretly listening to private talk. For search terms like image making punishment hadith and listening to private conversation hadith, this narration gives strong wording on both matters.
What we learn from this hadith
- Fashioning an image is warned against in strong terms.
- The text says the image maker cannot breathe a soul into it.
- Secretly listening to people who avoid being heard is also warned against.
- The two warnings should be understood as separate points in one narration.
