Is it haram to draw a living thing?

Here is a passage from a gallery's web page about their display:

http://www.lacma.org/islamic_art/intro.h ...

"Unlike a popular misunderstanding, however, figural photos is a vital facet of Islamic art. Suchpictures take place mainly in secular and also specifically courtly arts as well as appear in a widerange of media as well as in most periods as well as locations where Islam thrived. It is necessary tokeep in mind, however, that representational photos is virtually usually restricted to an exclusivecontext. Figurative fine art is excluded from the design of religious monoliths. This lack may beassociateded with an Islamic loathing towards anything that may be mistaken for idolizers oridolatry, which are clearly prohibited by the Qur'an."

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I asked as soon as regarding why therewere no pictures in cathedrals and therepeated response I acquired was that theywished to lower everything that candistract the worshippers from theirprayers.So indeed go on and attractanimals, plants as well as folks, merely noimages of exactly what you assume Godlooks like according to the Immams Iasked.