**They made for him (i.e. Solomon) what he pleased of fortresses and images, and bowls (large) as watering-troughs and cooking-pots that will not move from their place; give thanks, O family of Dawood! and very few of My servants are grateful.
**
[34:13]
This Verse is evidence that image making was permissible at the time of Prophet Solomon (peace be upon him).
However, this ruling has been abrogated in Islam by the following, and similar, Hadith.
Narrated Ibn `Umar:
The Prophet (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said, “The painters of these pictures will be punished on the Day of Resurrection, and it will be said to them, 'Make alive what you have created.”
[Sahih Al-Bukhaari Hadith No. 7558]
The exception are those things with which children play as is evident from the following Hadith
'A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported that Allah’s Apostle (sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) married her when she was seven years old, and he was taken to his house as a bride when she was nine, and her dolls were with her; and when he (the Holy Prophet) died she was eighteen years old.
[Sahih Muslim Hadith No. 1422]
The above Hadith has mention of dolls which young girls have a need to play with. Thus, they are an exception to the general rule of pictures and statues being forbidden.
Allah also mentions in this Verse that very few of His slaves are thankful.
Being thankful means to recognize a blessing which has been bestowed on one, and then to use it in the obedience of Allah.
And denying a blessing is to use it in those acts which constitute disobedience of Allah.
But, unfortunately, very few are thankful because goodness occurs in this world less than evilness and obedience occurs less than disobedience.
**And in this Verse is an admonition. When Allah says that very few of His slaves are thankful, we need to keep that in mind and make sure that we are from among the few who are thankful to Him. **
And the more thankful we are to Him, the more blessings He will bestow upon us.
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