Asalamu ‘Alaykum. I’ve always been told that depicting the prophets (peace be upon them) or the Sahaba (may ALLAH n’es pleased with them) is haram, but I was unable to find any ayah or Hadith to support this. Is there anything in the Quran or sunnah that can be used as evidence to suggest depicting them is haram? Jazakum allahu khayran.

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

The prohibition of this is derived from the Sharia texts stating that the Prophets and Messengers must be honored, respected and not belittled. These texts – and there are many of them – indicate that it is forbidden to represent the best of Allah’s creation among His Prophets and Messengers in series. Because representing them degrades them and lowers their high status in the nation by adopting their names, impersonating their stances, and impersonating their personalities.

It is enough to quote the decision of the Islamic Fiqh Council of the Muslim World League held in Makkah on Muharram 26, 1432 AH, corresponding to January 01, 2011, on the subject of portraying the Prophets and Companions, which reads:

The Fiqh Council noted:

Some film production companies continued to prepare films and series in which the person of the Prophets and Companions are represented, so it issued a statement confirming the decision of the Academy in its eighth session held in 1405 AH issued in this regard which includes the prohibition of depicting the Prophet Muhammad and all other Messengers and Prophets (may Allah exalt their mention) and the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, and the necessity of preventing this. Given the continuation of some film production companies in producing films and series that portray the Prophets and their Companions, the Council confirms its previous decision which is prohibiting the production of these films and series, promoting them, advertising for them, acquiring them, watching them, contributing to them, and showing them on channels, because that may be a reason to disparage them and degrade their dignity and honor, and a pretext to ridicule them ...” [End of quote]

Allah knows best.