In 1999, Islamic art expert Wijdan Ali wrote a scholarly overview of the Muslim tradition of depicting Mohammed. In that essay, Ali demonstrates that the prohibition against depicting Mohammed did not arise until as late as the 16th or 17th century, despite the media's recent false claims that it has always been forbidden for Muslims to draw Mohammed. Until comparatively recently in Islamic history, it was perfectly common to show Mohammed, either in full, or with his face hidden. Even after the 17th century, up to modern times, Islamic depictions of Mohammed (especially in Shi'ite areas) continued to be produced.

Mohammed Image Archive



Mohammed, along with Buraq and Gabriel, visit Hell, and see a demon punishing "shameless women" who had exposed their hair to strangers. For this crime of inciting lust in men, the women are strung up by their hair and burned for eternity. Persian, 15th century.




Next, Mohammed sees women strung up by hooks thrust through their tongues by a green demon. Their crimes were to "mock" their husbands and to leave their homes without permission. Persian, 15th century.




Further on, Mohammed sees a red demon that is torturing women by hanging them up by hooks through their breasts, as they are engulfed in flames. The women are being punished for giving birth to illegitimate children whom they falsely claimed were fathered by their husbands. Persian, 15th century.

got thru the first page and i can't take anymore

Of course not every muslim would agree to this, far from it, but it's **** like this that makes people say "**** islam" and hate on the religion. It's unfortunate, because all it does is depict them as terrible, when I'm sure the bible isn't much better.

yeh, the muslims in my neighbourhood are always doing this

Agreed, to a point. I didn't specifically seek out these pictures btw, I just did a google search for 'images' and it threw up this website. Here's a 12th century Christian image of hell to even things up:



ps I don't want to tard the thread up with religious debate.

The whole depiction of muhammad thing is (of course) more complicated than you're making it out to be: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Depictions_of_Muhammad . Different sects of Islam have different rules, and the rules are changing with time.

I don't think I've seen much media that incorrectly said that the Qu'ran says this or that it was otherwise part of extremely early Islam. I have seen them consistently attribute the belief to Muslims in general instead of clarifying that it is just some sects of Muslims.

That is so ****ing cool.

There is so little darkness left in the developed world. So sad. One might have thought that now that we have eradicated most natural dangers and needn't fear the night, we'd embrace the darkness, but instead we beat it back into corners.


So cool that you were able to go to the setting of Final Fantasy X.

i dont get what you are trying to say...

That people should turn off the ****ing streetlights and enjoy the stars.

Every time I hear, watch or read about this guy it upsets me so much how the photograph was misinterpreted and the negative criticism he received.

http://www.pieterhugo.com/the-hyena-other-men/

http://www.michaelstevenson.com/cont...ria_index2.htm

I owned the book these pictures came from, it was a present from a friend traveling overseas who picked it up the day it was released, pretty much coincidentally (he only knew I like and used to dabble in unorthodox portrait photography). It was stolen by an old roommate and I'll always wonder if the guy knew how valuable it was considering it had a very limited printing or if he just thought, "hey, cool, black guys with hyenas."

http://www.amazon.com/Hyena-Other-Me.../dp/3791339605

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hyena-Other-.../dp/3791339605

p.s. apologies if this has already been discussed

p.p.s. oops...

That's what I get for grunching.

Some satellite images from NASA...



Astronaut Jeff Williams captured the moment the Cleveland Volcano in Alaska erupted in 2006.




The Bahamas




Lake Nasser, Egypt




Mount Everest (8840m) and nearby Mount Makalu (8462m) on a rare cloudless day. The Himalayan peaks are the same heights reached by commercial planes, so can only be viewed from above from space.

Awesome link

Stuff like this freaks me out.

Why? This was standard stuff in science classes in public school.

Yes, I already knew that we are but a small spec of dirt in the universe. But thinking deeply about that and the meaning of it scares me. Not the fact that I have never thought about it before. In reality, I try not to think about it because it bothers me so.

Some pretty deep ones, read at least the 1st:

Those pictures only say a 192 words and therefore are at least 4808 short.

I guess I kinda see it differently. With how small we are and how big everything is around us it just screams to me that there is tons of life out there. The thing that scares me is that I wont be around to see what else is out there.

It sounds like it gives you some kind of existential crisis/anxiety when you see it tho which I understand.

omfg.. so amazing

touche'