The Muslim man with a 'forbidden' job

CAIRO – 25 July 2017: A Muslim sculptor in Lebanon has a rather interesting job; he creates statues of saints for Christians, an act that has garnered criticism from the local Muslims who fear he is creating objects for idol worship.

Mohammad Lahham fled the war in Syria with his family five years ago, abandoning the leather shop he had, to start anew in Beirut. And start anew he did; Lahham had to learn how to create sculptors through telephone from his brother.

In an interview conducted with BBC Capital, Lahham states that he does not feel as if what he is doing is forbidden; he feels the statues are not for worship, rather they are for show.

He also says that he is passionate about this job, working less for the money and more for the spirit of it. Sculpting comes easily to him, and working on these statues is a reward in itself.

To Lahham, breaking this taboo has allowed him to come closer to the Christian community.

What could be so wrong about that?