Portraying prophet from Persian art to South Park

Times Online ^ | 03/05/06 | Anthony Browne and Ruth Gledhill

[Pikamax]

Portraying prophet from Persian art to South Park By Anthony Browne and Ruth Gledhill

DESPITE the outcry, the Danish cartoons of Muhammad are just the latest in a long line of depictions of the Muslim prophet, both in the West and in Islamic countries. From Ottoman religious icons to market stalls in Iran, from the US Supreme Court building to the South Park cartoon, Muhammad has been frequently portrayed in flattering and unflattering lights.

Many painters, including William Blake, Gustave Doré, Auguste Rodin and Salvador Dalí, have depicted Muhammad in illustrations of Dante’s Inferno, where the Muslim prophet ends up in Hell with his entrails hanging out.

Depictions of Muhammad were common during the Ottoman Empire, when the taboo on portraying him was less strong, although often his face was left blank. The Boston Museum of Fine Arts has a 16th-century picture of Muhammad in a mosque, wearing long sleeves to hide his arms and hands. A 14th-century Persian miniature shows the angel Gabriel speaking to Muhammad, whose face is shown.

Medieval Islamic pictures often echo Christian iconography. The University of California has a 14th-century Turkish painting of Muhammad in his mother’s arms, just as there are pictures of the Virgin Mary holding the infant Christ.

The taboo is stronger in Sunni Islam than Shia and even today in Iran, which is mainly Shia, pictures of Muhammad can been bought illegally in markets.

Even in the holiest Muslim city of Mecca, Muhammad has been depicted. Edinburgh University has a 14th-century miniature of him rededicating the black stone at Kaaba holy place in Mecca to illustrate a History of the World by Rashid al-Din.

In Islam, as in other religions, different communities will place different interpretations on the hadith, the sayings of the Prophet, which deal with depictions of him.

Muhammad is recorded in the hadith, one of the four arms of Sharia, or Islamic law, as having said: “And who is more unjust than those who try to create the likeness of My creation?” He also said: “Angels do not enter a house in which there is a dog or a picture.”

Taken with the Koran’s injunctions on respect for the Prophet, these sayings mean, in strict Islamic interpretation, that any representation of any living thing is forbidden. Essential illustrations in academic textbooks might, for example, show a cow but with the head missing.

Technically, the rulings also forbid photographs of family members in the home, video cameras and mobile picture phones. The rulings remain the subject of intense debate in Islamic scholarly circles.

Just as many young British Muslims photograph their friends and family on their mobile phones, so the Prophet has appeared in art throughout the centuries, most often in cultures where it was a mark of respect to hang pictures of a reigning monarch or other leader in homes and galleries.

Imam Ibrahim Mogra, of the Muslim Council of Britain, said: “This would happen where the hadith prohibiting it might be overlooked, or merely interpreted differently. For example, some scholars might argue that the intention of the hadith was to prevent worship of the image and that it was permissible to have an image where the aim was not to worship but to show respect.”

He said that the debate continued in Muslim families today. “Some are very strict about it and will not have photographs taken except for official documents such as a driving licence or a passport.

“Others will say it is OK to have photographs taken because they do not intend to worship the pictures. In this country, most people take a relaxed view about photographs.”

Among modern depictions, the US Supreme Court in Washington has a stone frieze of Muhammad as an example of an ancient lawmaker. Muhammad was put to less serious use by a German food company in 1928, which used him for advertising bouillon.

In the past 20 years, many books on Islam in France have shown pictures of Muhammad, even on their cover, in a more sympathetic light.

In 2001, the satirical television cartoon South Park included an episode called Super Best Friends in which Muhammad and the founders of the other world religions acted as superheroes. Although not deliberately blasphemous, there can be few portrayals of Muhammad less respectful than this all-singing, all-dancing version.

[Tanniker Smith]

I don't remember that episode of South Park being a musical episode. I just remember that the Aquaman character was called Sea-Man. (This is "South Park" after all.)

[Cvengr]

I wonder if Disney will pull Aladin off the shelves.

[Andy from Beaverton]

http://www.ee.bilkent.edu.tr/~history/topkapi.html

VII- Ottomans : religious painting

The Ottoman studio not only dealt with the splendors of everyday life and glories of the blood and State, self-satisfiedly accepting their position as the pivot on which the destinies of Europe and Asia turned, but with Koran illuminations, prayer books, mystical works and poems, history, law, theology, education and mosques as well. The works of Nakkas Osman and other Siyer-i Nebi illustrations are presented here.

	Birth of the Prophet Muhammad Siyer-i Nebi: The Life of the Prophet. Istanbul, 1594. Hazine 1221, folio 223b
	Muhammad on Mount Hira' Siyer-i Nebi: The Life of the Prophet. Istanbul, 1595. Hazine 1222, folio 158b
	Prophet Muhammad appearing at the Ka'ba to rid the populace of an unwanted dragon Siyer-i Nebi: The Life of the Prophet. Nakkas Osman, 1595. Hazine 1222, folio 123a
	The Prophet and his companions advancing on Mecca, attended by the angels Gabriel, Michael, Israfil and Azrail. Siyer-i Nebi: The Life of the Prophet 1595. Hazine 1223, folio 298a
	Muhammad at the Ka'ba Siyer-i Nebi: The Life of the Prophet. Istanbul, 1595. Hazine 1222, folio 151b
	Mourning of the Death of Muhammad Siyer-i Nebi: The Life of the Prophet. Istanbul, 1595. Hazine 1222, folio 414a
	Shaykh Baha'al-Din Veled preaching in Balkh Jami' al-Siyar, 1600. Hazine

[peyton randolph]

there can be few portrayals of Muhammad less respectful than this all-singing, all-dancing version.

This assumes that the murderous pedophile deserves respect. Imagine the outcry if someone built a religion with Ted Bundy as its leading prophet.

[Mr. Blonde]

Moses, how do you kill a giant stone Abraham Lincoln?

Uh, a giant stone John Wilkes Booth?

ha ha. I love that episode.

[Andy from Beaverton]

The television cartoon South Park aired an episode on July 4, 2001 called Super Best Friends. In it, the founders of the world's great religions -- including Mohammed -- team up for super-hero action. Mohammed (seen here) is depicted repeatedly throughout the show. The entire episode can be viewed online here.

[Cvengr]

Aljazeerah doesn't mind cartooning Muslim culture.

Why shouldn't the rest of the world?

[bboop]

I wonder if any prophet-led Muzzies will take on Art Museums.

[DogBarkTree]

I know South Park can do a better job than this with Mohamed. Time to give him more lines.

[Andy from Beaverton]

I know South Park can do a better job than this with Mohamed.
This was pre 9/11

[EveningStar]

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[dighton]

Got stick figures?

[GSlob]

"less respectful"? A few centuries ago he was on occasion referred to as "Mahound".

[Meadow Muffin]

I wonder why it is ok for the Rag head press to portray Israel and America in a very anti religious way yet find it offensive when he western press shows a cartoon of the main rag head?

[Always Right]

The radical islams WANT to be offended. They are hell bent on a Jihad and will rationalize one no matter how much liberal winnies try to kiss their butts.

[peyton randolph]

[BunnySlippers]

[hole_n_one]

[dighton]

Ha!

Remembering your boxing classic.