Why are fine arts and drawing considered forbidden (haram) in Islam, and what is the evidence for this from the Quran and Sunnah? Does the prohibition against imitating Allah's creation apply to a Muslim monotheist artist who does not intend such imitation?

Figurative art or artistic drawings that include depictions of living beings are forbidden, and this is a grave major sin because it involves imitating Allah's creation and is a means to idolatry (shirk (definition)). An example of this is what happened with the people of Noah (peace be upon him) when they depicted righteous men to remember them, which ultimately led them to worship these figures and associate partners with Allah. Prophetic hadiths have indicated the prohibition of depicting living beings, such as: "Indeed, those who make these images will be punished on the Day of Resurrection, and it will be said to them: 'Give life to what you have created'," and "The most severely punished people on the Day of Resurrection will be those who imitate Allah's creation." There is no difference in this prohibition between a Muslim and a disbeliever. If a painter is compelled to draw, then let him depict trees and things that have no soul.