Picture-making in its various forms

Aug 30, 2023 | Miscellaneous

QUESTION:

1) What is the fatwa regarding digital drawings of animate objects? (Cartoons, anime, realistic portraits etc.)?
2) Can one make toys of animate objects for children? (crocheting, knitting, clay, 3D printing etc.)
3) Can one buy bedding for children that has pictures of characters on them?

ANSWER:

All forms of animate objects whether in the form of digital drawings, pictures or toys (irrespective of how they were manufactured), or animate objects printed on clothing and linen, is impermissible. The jurists have permitted a very small picture (printed on clothing) that cannot be seen except if one looks carefully.

وفي  الصحيحين  من حديث عبد الله بن مسعود، قال: سمعت النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم  يقول إن أشد الناس عذاباً يوم القيامة المصورين

وروى النسائي وابن ماجه منه قوله أن أصحاب الصور يعذبون يوم القيامة ويقال لهم أحيوا ما خلقتم

 وأخرج البخاري من حديث أبي جحيفة رضي الله عنه قال نهى رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم عن ثمن الكلب وعن ثمن الدم ونهى عن الواشمة والموشومة وأكل الربا وموكله ولعن المصور

 

لَا تَبْدُو لِلنَّاظِرِ إلَّا بِتَبَصُّرٍ بَلِيغٍ كَمَا فِي الْكَرْمَانِيِّ ، أَوْ لَا تَبْدُو لَهُ مِنْ بَعِيدٍ كَمَا فِي الْمُحِيطِ ثُمَّ قَالَ : لَكِنَّ فِي الْخِزَانَةِ : إنْ كَانَتْ الصُّورَةُ مِقْدَارَ طَيْرٍ يُكْرَهُ ، وَإِنْ كَانَتْ أَصْغَرَ فَلَا )رد المحتار ص 648 ج1)

There are a number of narrations that indicate towards the impermissibility of pictures, whether the picture is framed on the wall, or stored on one’s phone, or printed on one’s clothing, or in the form of toys, etc.. We have quoted some of them hereunder for your perusal.

(1) Abu Talha Radiallahu Anhu narrates, “Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam said, ‘The angels do not enter a house wherein there is a dog or Pictures.’ ” (Bukhari and Muslim)

(2) Abdullah Ibn Mas’ood narrates, “I heard Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam saying, ‘The picture-makers will be punished most severely by Allah.’ ” (Bukhari and Muslim)

(3) Ibn Abbas Radiallahu Anhu narrates on the authority of Mai’moonah Radiallahu Anha, “Verily, Jibraeel promised to meet me last night, but, he never met me. I take an oath by Allah that he never broke a promise with me”. Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam then realized that there was a puppy under the bed. He ordered the dog to be removed, and it was expelled. He then flushed water on the place where the dog was. During the afternoon, Jibraeel met Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam who said, “Verily, you promised to meet me last night”. Jibraeel replied, “Yes, but we do not enter a home wherein there is a dog or a picture.” (Muslim)

(4) Aisha Radiallahu Anha narrates, “Verily, Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam did not leave anything in his home which had pictures on it, but broke it”. (Bukhari)

(5) Aisha Radiallahu Anha narrates that she purchased a cushion, which had pictures on it. When Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam saw it, he stood in the entrance and did not enter. I discerned displeasure on his face. I said, “I repent to Allah and His messenger. What sin have I committed?” Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam said, “What is the cushion?” I said, “I have purchased it for you to sit and lean against.” Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam said, “Verily, the people of these pictures will be punished on the day of Qiyamah. It will be said to them, ‘Give life to that which you have created!’  And Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam said, “Verily, the angels do not enter a home wherein there are pictures.” (Bukhari and Muslim)

(6) Aisha Radiallahu Anha narrates that she had hung a curtain having pictures on it on the veranda. Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam snatched it off. (Bukhari and Muslim)

(7) Aisha Radiallahu Anha narrates, “Rasulullah said, ‘Those who will be most severely punished on the day of Qiyamah will be those who imitated the creation of Allah.’ ” (Bukhari and Muslim)

(8) Ibn Abbas Radiallahu Anhu narrates, “I heard Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam saying, ‘Every picture-maker will be in the fire. A life will be created for every picture that the picture-maker made, and he will be tortured in hell.’ ” (Bukhari and Muslim)

(9) Ibn Abbas (RA) narrates “I heard Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam saying, “Whosoever makes a picture will be punished and he will be forced to give life to the pictures, and he will not be able to do so”.  (Bukhari)

(10) Ibn Umar Radiallahu Anhu narrates that Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam said,” These people who make these pictures will be punished on the day of Qiyamah. It will be said to them, ‘Give life to that which you have created!’ ” (Bukhari)

(11) Abu Zurah Radiallahu Anhu said, “I entered a house in Madinah Sharif with Abu Hurairah Radiallahu Anhu. Abu Hurairah Radiallahu Anhu noticed a picture-maker on top of the house busy drawing pictures. On seeing him he said, ‘I heard Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam saying, that Allah Ta’ala said, “Who is more unjust than that person who imitates my creation. Let him then create a grain, and let him create an atom.’ ”  (Bukhari)

(12) Ibn Juhaifah Radiallahu Anhu narrates on the authority of his father that Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam cursed the devourer of interest, the giver of interest, the one who tattoos, the one who desires to be tattooed, and the picture-maker.  (Bukhari)

(13) Abu Hurairah Radiallahu Anhu narrates that Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam said, “On the day of Qiyamah, a neck (a beast) will emerge with two eyes, two ears and a tongue. This neck will say, “I have been appointed over three types of people, every rebellious aggressor, everyone who associated a god with Allah, and the picture-makers.” (Tirmidhi)

(14) Saeed bin Abil Hassan Radiallahu Anhu narrates, “I was with Ibn Abbas Radiallahu Anhu when a man came to him and said, “I am a person who derives a living from making pictures”. Ibn Abbas Radiallahu Anhu said, “I shall narrate to you only that which I have heard from Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam. I heard him say, “Whoever makes a picture will be punished by Allah. He (the picture-maker) will be ordered to insert life into the picture, but he will never be able to do so”. (Bukhari)

(15) Aisha (RA) narrates, when Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam became ill, some of his wives were discussing about a temple named Mariyah. Umme Salmah and Umme Habibah Radiallahu Anhuma visited Abyssinia and were describing the beauty of the temple and the pictures in that temple. Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam raised his head and said, “When a pious man among those people die, they erect a place of worship at his grave and draw pictures in it. They are worst of all creations.” (Bukhari and Muslim)

(16) Ibn Abbas Radiallahu Anhu narrates Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam said, “The severest punishment on the day of Qiyamah will be for a person who killed a prophet or was killed by a prophet, the person who killed any of his parents, the picture-makers, and an Alim who did not derive benefit from his knowledge.” (Mishkaat ul Masabeeh)

(17) Jaabir Radiallahu Anhu narrates, Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam commanded Umar Ibn Khattab Radiallahu Anhu during the period of the conquest of Makkah while he was in Bathaa, to go to the Ka’ba and destroy every picture therein. Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam did not enter the Ka’ba until every picture was eliminated.”  (Abu Dawood)

(18) Usamah bin Zaid narrates “Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam entered the Ka’ba and saw a picture in it. He then ordered me. I brought a bucket of water and destroyed the picture with water. Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam was saying, “May Allah destroy those who make pictures of that which they do not create”. (Tahaawi)

(19) Abu Zubair Radiallahu Anhu narrates, “I questioned Jaabir Radiallahu Anhu regarding pictures in the room and about a person who makes these pictures. Jaabir Radiallahu Anhu said that Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam threatened against this.” (Tahaawi)

(20) Ibn Hussain narrates, “Ali Bin Abi Taalib Radiallahu Anhu said to me, “I am sending you on that errand on which Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam sent me, i.e. you leave no picture, but destroy it; leave no high grave, but flatten it”. (Muslim)

(21) Ali Radiallahu Anhu narrates, “I prepared food and invited Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam. He came and entered. He then saw a curtain covered with pictures. Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam then went out and said, “Verily, the angels do not enter a home in which there are pictures.” (Nasaa’i)

(22) Jaabir Radiallahu Anhu narrates, “Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam forbade pictures in homes, and he forbade making of pictures”.  (Tirmidhi)

(23) Aisha Radiallahu Anha narrates, “We had a curtain on which was the picture of a bird. On entering one would be facing it. Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam said to me, “Turn it away from me, for whenever I see it, I think of the world.” (Muslim)

(24) In Syria, Hadrat Umar Radiallahu Anhu turned down an invitation because of the presence of pictures on the premises.  (Kanzul Ummal)

ALLAH TA’ALA ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST!

ANSWERED BY:

Mufti Mohammed Desai

Date:- 12 Safar 1445 / 29 August 2023

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