Hello, i am new here.

I am, as my profile says, a "respectful non-believer". I am only asking questions to clarify my understanding and mean no offence. (It seems that every time somebody asks a question around here, somebody brings up "terrorism". Please try to keep on-topic. Thank you.)

My question is about the term "graven images". It has been explained to me that ALL images are forbidden under Islam, and yet i know there are lots of images from muslim artists themselves over the years. And now, of course, there is television, movies, the internet, etc. Are television, at al, "graven image" devices? Of course, i know that they are not "graven" meaning carved and worshipped, but still there are those who have claimed that ALL images are prohibited. I'm confused.

Is the term "graven images" in the Quran or is it only in the Old Testament?

I am just looking for clarification about how images, in general, are interpreted. (In other words, what part of the Old and New Testaments and Quran define what an image is and how they are to be dealt with?)

Thank you.

Fulma