It would really help if someone could answer this question who is very familiar with Maliki.
I’m very confused regarding the permissibility of drawing animated objects, and Maliki’s perceptions regarding the hadith that speak against it, especially with some of the hadith that I've looked at:
Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) said: The Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu ’alayhi wa sallam) visited me after returning from a journey, and I had a shelf with a thin cloth curtain hanging over it and on which there were portraits. When he saw it, the colour of his face changed (because of anger) and he said, "O Aishah! the most grievous torment from Allah on the Day of Resurrection will be for those who imitate (Allah) in the act of His creation.'' `Aishah said: We tore it into pieces and made a cushion or two cushions out of that. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Some muslims who condone drawing sentient beings try and use the rationalisation that it was forbidden during the time of the Prophet PBUH, because people back then were more suspectable to idolizing the 2D images. They also claim that the word “image” is used in context of 3D sculptures (yet, they dismiss how the hadith strictly specifies 2D portraits on a cloth).
They also claim that this hadith is related to the one bellow, in the sense that it’s exclusive to the people who INTEND to challenge Allah with their work.
Some say that if the prophet REALLY cursed the image maker (the one who imitates Allah’s work) in the context that I am using, then he’s also cursing those who draw rocks, or plants. And so this adds to the rhetoric they use regarding its exclusivity to challenging Allah.
“Allah says: ‘Who does a greater wrong than one who aspires to creates as I create – a grain of corn, a seed, or a barleycorn?” [Sahîh al-Bukhârî (7559) and Sahîh Muslim (2111) – The wording accords with al-Bukhârî]
However, in the hadith provided prior to this, the Prophet PBUH didn’t know the intention behind the maker of the portraits. There is no specification going on here. He simply saw the pictures, and instantly disapproved.
Even a muslim who made images of sentient beings for the sake of a living was told not to:
While I was with Ibn 'Abbas a man came and said, "O father of 'Abbas! My sustenance is from my manual profession and I make these pictures." Ibn 'Abbas said, "I will tell you only what I heard from Allah's Apostle . I heard him saying, 'Whoever makes a picture will be punished by Allah till he puts life in it, and he will never be able to put life in it.' " Hearing this, that man heaved a sigh and his face turned pale. Ibn 'Abbas said to him, "What a pity! If you insist on making pictures I advise you to make pictures of trees and any other unanimated objects."
Does the arabic word in these hadiths that are translated into “image maker” have a specific roots to animated beings? Or does it literally stand for a maker of ANY image, regardless of whether it’s animate/inanimate?
Also, the main thing I wish to understand here is why or how Maliki came to have the opinion that it’s ok to draw people/animals if these hadiths are so clear. I’m curios as to why these serious and very clear cut hadiths have been so dissected.
