Painting and Sculpture: Can Muslims Restore Christian Religious Paintings for a Living?

Practical Laws of Islam as per the teachings of Imam Khamenei

Painting and Sculpture: Can Muslims Restore Christian Religious Paintings for a Living?

English:

Question #1222:

A married couple of famous painters make a living of restoring paintings. Most of these paintings depict Christian society; some of them portray the crucifix, Mary and Jesus Christ (a.s.) Some companies and institutions or even some people on behalf of Churches refer to them for this purpose. Is it permissible for them to carry out the required restoration work on such paintings and get paid for it, knowing that it is their only way of making living and they are devout Muslims?

Answer #1222:

There is no harm in the mere restoring of such paintings, even if they depict Christian society or portray Jesus Christ and Mary (a.s.). Nor is there any harm in taking fees for such work or taking up such a profession and earning a living from it unless it contributes to promoting falsehoods or misleading ideas or leads to other vile deeds.

-Imam Khamenei, Practical Laws of Islam, Importance and Conditions of Painting and Sculpture