Talk:Muhammad/images

Add pbuh after mohammed (S.A) name

FAQ No. 5

Add pbuh after mohammed (S.A) name It disrespectful if we won't say pbuh or (S.A)..After taking his name.. 106.200.188.225 (talk) 22:06, 21 July 2024 (UTC)

Read the FAQ, please. - Sumanuil. _{(talk to me)} 22:43, 21 July 2024 (UTC)

Remove illustrations images

FAQ No. 1

There shouldn’t be any illustrations images on this page. Can this be removed? Calligraphic images are okay. 2605:8D80:13B1:541F:91DC:8278:4AB3:7C70 (talk) 12:49, 29 September 2024 (UTC)

See WP:NOTCENSORED. Some1 (talk) 13:53, 29 September 2024 (UTC)

And FAQ question 1. - Sumanuil. _{(talk to me)} 18:28, 29 September 2024 (UTC)

There should totally be illustrations on this page. Illustrations are a standard feature of biographies on Wikipedia. 203.211.104.189 (talk) 00:00, 30 September 2024 (UTC)

Showing FAQ 3 as a notice at the top of the main page.

So I stand with Wikipedia's neutrality, and understand that showing images is important in any encyclopedic biography, but rather than causing un-necessary topic creations on the talk pages by people who might not have looked at the FAQ, I suggest that we can show a similar notice to the one on this talk page on the main page, something along the lines of "This page contains depictions of Muhammad, and while such depictions are prohibited in Islam, Wikipedia has a neutral point of view, and if you are a Muslim who wants to hide these images, you can refer to FAQ3 on how to do so."

Also, for anyone talking about "if we do this similar notices should be added to other religions", I don't really mind, I just don't know of any others. I'm not even Muslim myself, I am just suggesting a proposal on how we could potentially mitigate this topic that is often brought up on this talk page, and I completely understand if you don't implement this, but I'm just bringing the idea to the board. Sleet827 (talk) 16:27, 15 December 2024 (UTC)

Why does it need further mitigation? It would be raised even if there were warning plastered in every location... Alssa1 (talk) 18:08, 18 December 2024 (UTC)

We don't put disclaimers in articles, if that's what you're suggesting. See the guildelineWP:NODISCLAIMERS. The bottom of every page on Wikipedia already links to the general disclaimer, which in turn links to the content disclaimer: WP:DISC. Any disclaimer we would put in the Muhammad article would be redundant with the content disclaimer. ~Anachronist (talk) 21:23, 18 December 2024 (UTC)

Request for the Removal of Muhammad (SAW)'s Depictions and terminology change due to Cultural and Ethical Concerns

FAQ No. 1

Dear Wikipedia Editors,

I would like to formally request the removal of visual depictions of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) from this article and change the statement “Muhammad was the founder of Islam”. My request is based on the following key arguments, supported by Wikipedia’s own guidelines and ethical considerations:

Drawings & Depictions issue:

1. Wikipedia’s Policy on Cultural Sensitivity

Wikipedia’s policies encourage cultural sensitivity, particularly when content is deeply offensive to a significant group. The Manual of Style for Images states:

"Consideration should be given to whether an image is offensive or disrespectful to a significant proportion of readers."

Islamic teachings overwhelmingly prohibit visual representations of Prophet Muhammad(SAW). This belief is held by over a billion Muslims worldwide, making this a case where cultural sensitivity should be applied.

2. Unnecessary Use of Controversial Images

The images included in this article are not essential for understanding Muhammad(SAW)’s life or the historical context of Islam. His teachings, contributions, and legacy are best represented through text and scholarly sources, rather than artwork that was often created centuries later by non-Muslims.

3. Precedent of Image Removal on Wikipedia

There are precedents for Wikipedia removing offensive or unnecessary images in cases where they do not add educational value. Other religious figures, such as certain depictions of Hindu and Christian deities, have been reconsidered due to concerns raised by large communities. Given that these images deeply offend Muslims globally, similar consideration should be given here.

4. Wikipedia’s Mission is Knowledge, Not Offense

Wikipedia’s goal is to be a neutral and educational platform, not to unnecessarily provoke religious groups. Since Muhammad’s teachings and historical impact are well-documented through textual sources, keeping the images contributes more to controversy than to education.

“Problems with the statement: 'Muhammad was the founder of Islam':

1. Theological Inaccuracy

Referring to Muhammad(SAW) as the “Founder of Islam” is problematic because: Islam, according to Islamic beliefs, is not a new religion founded by Muhammad but the final revelation in a long tradition of monotheistic faiths. The Quran describes Islam as a continuation of the message of previous prophets (e.g., Abraham, Moses, Jesus), not a man-made ideology.

2. Academic & Historical Perspective

Many historians and Islamic scholars prefer terms like "Prophet of Islam" or "Messenger of Islam" rather than "Founder." The term "Founder" is often applied to man-made philosophies or organizations, whereas Islam’s central doctrine is that it was revealed by God, not created by Muhammad.

3. Suggested Alternative Terminology

Instead of “Founder of Islam,” I propose using one of the following:

“Prophet of Islam” (neutral and aligns with historical context)

“Messenger of Islam” (theologically accurate)

“Central Figure of Islam” (neutral and widely acceptable)

Academic and scholarly sources to back this claim:

A. Karen Armstrong, Muhammad: A Prophet for Our Time (2006)

Armstrong, a respected historian of religion, emphasizes that Muhammad did not "create" Islam but rather restored the monotheistic faith in line with previous prophets. She states: “Muhammad saw himself not as the founder of a new faith, but as the last in a long line of prophets bringing the final revelation.”

B. John L. Esposito, Islam: The Straight Path (2015)

Esposito, a leading scholar of Islamic studies, describes Muhammad as a messenger rather than a founder: “Islam was not a new religion but the final expression of the monotheistic tradition that included Judaism and Christianity.”

C. The Quran itself (Surah Al-Ahzab 33:40)

Islamic scripture explicitly states: “Muhammad is not the father of any of your men, but he is the Messenger of Allah and the Seal of the Prophets.” This reinforces the idea that Muhammad is seen as the final prophet, not a founder of a new religion.

D. Jonathan Brown, Misquoting Muhammad (2014)

Brown explains how Western terminology often misrepresents Islamic history: “To call Muhammad the ‘founder’ of Islam imposes a secular framework on a religious reality that Muslims themselves reject.”

E. W. Montgomery Watt, Muhammad: Prophet and Statesman (1961)

A leading historian of early Islam, Watt describes Muhammad as a prophet and leader, not a creator of a new religion: “Muhammad’s mission was not to establish a new faith, but to recall the worship of the One God in its purest form.”

Request Summary

The majority of Islamic scholars and historians agree that Muhammad did not "found" Islam, but rather acted as a prophet restoring the monotheistic faith. Using "Founder" contradicts both academic sources and the self-identification of Islam as a continuation of earlier revelations. A more neutral term such as “Prophet of Islam”, “Messenger of Islam”, or “Central Figure of Islam” is more accurate and aligns with scholarly consensus.

I kindly request that the depictions of Muhammad be removed, or at the very least, hidden by default with a content warning, allowing readers to choose whether to view them. This approach maintains both historical documentation and respect for cultural beliefs.

I appreciate the efforts of Wikipedia’s editorial community and look forward to an open discussion on this matter. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Best regards,

Mohamed Azan Ramiz. Mohamed Ramiz 101 (talk) 04:20, 14 February 2025 (UTC)

FAQ #1, and we would prefer that editors write their edit requests themselves. Sumanuil. _{(talk to me)} 05:10, 14 February 2025 (UTC)

Response

@Sumanuil I cannot directly make changes to this page or provide edit requests.

Mohamed Ramiz 101 (talk) 07:10, 14 February 2025 (UTC)

What? You clearly did just that, even if you didn't write it yourself. Sumanuil. _{(talk to me)} 07:36, 14 February 2025 (UTC)

Is the changes going to be made then? 209.212.213.30 (talk) 08:38, 14 February 2025 (UTC)

Yeah, I've already read it. But I am suggesting that Muhammad SAW be described by Muslims and proper historians instead of Christian missionaries and incompetent individuals like you. Mohamed Ramiz 101 (talk) 09:08, 14 February 2025 (UTC)

We already use reliable sources. The FAQ also covers this. Sumanuil. _{(talk to me)} 09:22, 14 February 2025 (UTC)

Mohamed Ramiz 101, comment on content, not on other users. Jeppiz (talk) 11:48, 14 February 2025 (UTC)

No. Read the FAQ. The very first question. Sumanuil. _{(talk to me)} 08:58, 14 February 2025 (UTC)