A052
Surah: 021 - Ayah: 052
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21:52
Tamathil (Statues, idols, images, pictures)
Tamathil are both statues and pictures. Pictures are of two kinds: external and internal. Thus the tamathil (21:52) which Hazrat Ibrahim has mentioned were of both kinds. There are many people who hate the external idols, but love the internal idols in which there is utter loss.
Tamathil (Spiritual pictures)
It is not idolatry if a mu'min sees a miracle in his spiritual journey and reflects upon it, rather idolatry means to consider it the desired destination and the object of worship and stop there, because the wisdom-filled way in which idolatry is condemned in the above-mentioned verse indicates that no intelligent person should stop at a secondary miracle and worship it and become deprived of the treasure of azal. This secret is hidden in the word cakifun (those who remain constantly in any place, or devote to something) (21:52).
Q396 In the proof of luminous movies your well-substantiated explanation was wonderful. However, two difficult questions arise as a result of it. That is, the word tamathil is used in two places of the wise Qur’an (21:52; 34:13) and their literal translation differs from yours. Could you present the two verses as proof and evidence of the luminous movies?
A396 God willing! Verse (21:52) is a description of the people of Abraham(c), and how they used to worship tamathil (pictures, idols) in which Azar was leading them. In addition to the external world, these tamathil were also in the internal world. In the initial stages of spirituality the most beautiful pictures which appear are not God at all, rather they are idols. Thus, Hazrat Abraham(c) condemned the two kinds of idolatry. This does not negate the existence of luminous movies, just as condemning sun worshipping does not negate the sun.
This verse has been referred 2 times.