I recently saw a picture in the newspaper where a shia man in iraq was holding up a painting that was said to be of Hazrat Ali (radiallahu an). Do pictures of the sahaba exist? I am very scpetical about this because if the is a painting of hazrat ali (ra) why is there not one of our beloved nabi Muhammed (sallalahu alayi wasalam)
Answer
Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) prohibited drawing pictures and making images of animate objects.
It is impossible that the Sahaba (Radhiallaahu Anhum), the Taabi?een (RA) or the Taabi?e Taabi?een will commit a prohibited act and draw the image of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam), Hadhrat Ali (Radhiallaahu Anhu) or any Sahaabi.
and Allah Ta’ala Knows Best
Mufti Ebrahim Desai