Q: These questions are from a high school student:
1. What is the ruling regarding drawing animate objects and why did Allah specifically create us from clay and clay is a flowing thing so why are we not allowed to also create?
2. Regarding the hadeeth, it has never been said that it was never changed. Only the Quraan is intact, so how would you know if all the hadeeth have not been changed?
3. Regarding taraweeh, they say that people only started reading it after the passing of Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam), so it's not a must. Is it considered as a bidah?
A:
1. Drawing and taking pictures of animate objects are haraam.
Because Allah Ta`ala commanded us. You are neither the creator nor do you have the right to command. Remain in your lane.
2. The hadeeth is the explanation of the Quraan Shareef, and the Quraan Shareef cannot be understood without the explanation given in the hadeeth. There is consensus among all the scholars and experts that the Quraan Shareef is not just the word, but it is also the meaning and explanation that go with it. Hence, when Allah Ta`ala has undertaken the responsibility of preserving the Quraan Shareef, it means that He has undertaken the responsibility of preserving the wording and the explanation that goes with it.
This information has come with such a sound chain of narrators that logically it cannot be contested. It is just like how you are the son of your parents and you are certain about being the child of your parents. If someone says that you are illegitimate because you do not have any evidence nor did you witness the birth or the consummation or intimacy of your parents, you will not want to entertain this type of a discussion. If someone says that I do believe in the Ka`bah, but the Ka`bah is not what you see in Makkah, rather it is in your town, you will reject this type of a statement because the understanding of the Ka`bah being in a certain spot has come to you with a chain of narrators and people that cannot be contested.
3. Just as the taraweeh was commenced by the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu anhum) with their consensus, so is the second azaan of the jumuah. A practice that was commenced by the khulafaa-e-raashideen and there was consensus on it by the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu anhum) comes under the definition of sunnah. It is better for people like you to take up formal studies and understand deen in its correct perspective rather than listening to scattered statements and confusing your mind.
And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
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