Use of religious images in Sunni Islam (woman, human, worship)

[AlwaysByChance]

Are religious images (icons) of Muslim leaders looked down upon in Sunni Islam? In Christianity, religious images of Saints and God and Jesus and Mary are often used. I know many of the Shia have religious images of the 12 Imams of Muhammad's family. Some are quite beautiful.

If this is looked down upon in Sunni Islam, why is it so?

The Shia don't seem to have any issue with religious imagery of Islamic Prophets. I've seen Shia with permanent tattoos of Muhammad or Ali on their bodies.

[Khalif]

Originally Posted by AlwaysByChance

Are religious images (icons) of Muslim leaders looked down upon in Sunni Islam?

No icon is looked down upon. It is preferred not to make or draw any image that may be used as object/subject of worship eventually. This is how idol worshiping gave birth after people had made images of saints and such figures. Islam being pure monotheism, nothing should be encouraged that one day may be turned into object or subject of worship.

Humans were not created to worship anything or other god than One True God (Allah) who created them.

[AlwaysByChance]

Originally Posted by Khalif

No icon is looked down upon. It is preferred not to make or draw any image that may be used as object/subject of worship eventually. This is how idol worshiping gave birth after people had made images of saints and such figures. Islam being pure monotheism, nothing should be encouraged that one day may be turned into object or subject of worship.

Humans were not created to worship anything or other god than One True God (Allah) who created them.

Is something like this tattoo here ok in Sunni Islam?

[Khalif]

No. It serves no real purpose in Islam. This is classic example of something (an image) leading to eventually worship of that person or text.

[fazira]

Originally Posted by AlwaysByChance

Is something like this tattoo here ok in Sunni Islam?

No, it's forbiden. But you may find some muslims having tattoos nowaday among sunnis.
My grand mother used to have some, it was cultural.

She looked like that :