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Date of the Prophet's death

Question

1. What is the date of the death of the Prophet Muhammad ?
2. Does the Qur'an allow the depiction of human beings in any form or is it only human representations of God that are forbidden?

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

The trustworthy historians and scholars of Islam state that the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) died late morning on Monday, 12 Rabi' Al-Awwal in the year 11 A.H. corresponding to 8 June, 632 C.E. His age was, 63. He died after having fully completed his mission and taught the Ummah how to live happily in the way that pleases Allaah The Almighty  may  Allaah  exalt  his  mention.

As for depicting the Companions of the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) if it means representing them by drawing painting or portraits, then this is unlawful. For details about pictures and paintings, please read Fatawa: 83249 and 82040.

If you mean representing them by acting, then it is forbidden to represent the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) or any of the Prophets in this manner. In fact, the Messengers and Prophets should be kept away from being represented by people who are inferior to them. The actors might even be disbelievers or dissolute and the Prophets are deemed far above being represented by such people. Some scholars believe that the Companions of the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) can be represented by actors, but others prohibit that categorically. A third group of scholars permit playing roles representing all the Companions except the four Caliphs. Nevertheless, those who forbid any acting of the roles of the companions believe that such acting can depict them in a wrong way or dissolute people may represent them, which is disliked.

Allaah Knows best.

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