Opposition to depictions of Mohammed ` ` rooted in the tradition of idol worship , '' professor says . The Muslim disapproval of depicting prophets extends to Jesus and Moses , he says . A central tenet of Islam is that Mohammed was a man , not God , and that portraying him could lead to revering him in lieu of Allah . ` In globalization contexts , non - Muslims and critics of Islam have been free to depict Mohammed .
Opposition to depictions of Mohammed ` ` rooted in the tradition of idol worship , '' professor says . The Muslim disapproval of depicting prophets extends to Jesus and Moses , he says . In globalization contexts , non - Muslims and critics of Islam have been free to depict Mohammed .