(CNN)
Violence over depictions of the Prophet Mohammed may mystify many non-Muslims, but it speaks to a central tenet of Islam: the worship of God alone.
The prohibition began as an attempt to ward off idol worship, which was widespread in Islam’s Arabian birthplace. But in recent years, that prohibition has taken on a deadly edge.
A central tenet of Islam is that Mohammed was a man, not God, and that portraying him could lead to revering him in lieu of Allah.
“It’s all rooted in the notion of idol worship,” Akbar Ahmed, who chairs the Islamic Studies department at American University told CNN. “In Islam, the notion of God versus any depiction of God or any sacred figure is very strong.”
Islamic Architecture- inscription of Attributes of Allah and Muhammad but no images
Categories: Arab World, Asia, Intra-Religious Tolerance, Islam, Religion
