Pictures of animate objects
Question:-
In this day and age, a lot of learned families keep baby’s clothing which have pictures of animate objects thereon, whilst many keep dolls and teddies. I have recently noticed that they are also making cakes and shaping animals using icing, to decorate the cake.
Is there a book available that doesn’t just talk about drawing animate things but also discusses the above scenarios?
Otherwise, please could you comment on this. I feel that it is necessary!
Answer:-
The mercy of Allah Ta’ala encompasses the entire creation, whether humans, jinn, animals, birds, fish etc. Allah Ta’ala further sent his messenger, Muhammad Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam, as a mercy unto mankind. Allah Ta’ala states in the Quraan Sharif, “And We have not sent you (O Muhammad Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam) except as a mercy unto mankind.” [Re:- Surah Ambiya, Verse 107]
Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam once passed by a woman that was weaving a cloth and repeatedly showing affection towards her little infant. Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam said (to the Sahaabah), “Did you see her showing affection towards her child?” The Sahaabah Radiallahu Anhum replied in the positive. Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam said, “Allah Ta’ala is more merciful (towards His creation) than this woman is towards her infant.”
This clearly indicates towards Allah’s excessive love for His creation. When Allah Ta’ala possesses such intense love for His creation, then every command of Allah Ta’ala is to the benefit of man and every prohibition is to protect man from harm. We have thus been prohibited from all forms of picture-making and photography, as the harms of photography are known to Allah Ta’ala. We have quoted a few narrations below indicating that photography is Haraam:
عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: يُعَذَّبُ الْمُصَوِّرُونَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَيُقَالُ لَهُمْ: أَحْيُوا مَا خَلَقْتُمْ (مصنف ابن ابي شيبة)
Ibn Umar Radiallahu Anhu narrates that Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam is reported to have said, “Picture-makers will be punished on the day of Qiyaamah and it will be said to them, ‘Give life to what you have created’.”
It is recorded in another narration,
عن مسروق، عن عبد الله، قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: «إن أشد الناس عذابا يوم القيامة المصورون (مصنف ابن ابي شيبة)
Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam is reported to have said, “The severest punishment to be meted out to people on the day of Qiyaamah will be for picture-makers.”
عن أبي معاوية، إن من أشد أهل النار، يوم القيامة، عذابا المصورون (صحيح مسلم)
Abu Mu’awaiya Radiallahu Anhu narrates that verily from amongst the most severe of punishments to be meted out to the dwellers of the fire of Jahannam on the day of Qiyaamah, will be for the picture-makers.
These narrations are quite explicit and clear that those involved in picture-making, in whichever form it may be (whether in digital form on a phone, or painting a picture of cartoon characters on outfits etc.), will be severely punished on the day of Qiyaamah. The Ulama have written that any sin for which some form of punishment has been mentioned in the Quraan or Hadith, is considered as major sin. It will, therefore, not be permissible to purchase, sell, or wear items that comprise of pictures particularly when the primary objective of purchasing the garment is the picture.
The new trend nowadays is that cakes are decorated with forms of different animate designs on them (such as the pictures of animals, etc.), which are generally for commercial purposes. Again, the end result is a picture of an animate object which is impermissible. Yes, there is no harm in selling plain cakes (that are free of animate objects, or any other impermissible design or decoration such as a cross etc.) for consumption. Similarly, many of the toddler and baby garments available on the market are designed with cartoon characters and pictures. The sale and purchase of such items too, is not permitted as the objective of purchasing such clothing is generally the character printed on the garment, more than the garment itself. Had the garment been the objective, then one would have purchased a plain garment to clothe the child. Similarly, purchasing and selling dolls and teddies, or keeping them in one’s home is not permitted. Also, many scholars have prohibited the usage of toys in the form of animate objects. [Re:- Al-Mawsoo’at-ul-Fiqhiyyah Pg.112 Vol.12 / Pg. 260 Vol.7]
These pictures (of animate objects in their different forms) prevent the angels from entering our homes.
In conclusion, all forms of picture making is Haraam and impermissible. There is absolutely no difference in digital pictures, or pictures sketched by hand. Both are equal in terms of impermissibility.
واعلم أن فعلَ التصوير حرامٌ مطلقًا – أي تصوير الحيوان – سواء كانت صغيرة أو كبيرة، مجسمة أو مسطحة، ممتهنة أو موقرة (فيض الباري ص111 ج6)
However, if there is an extremely small picture on the clothing that a person standing will not be able to see, if (the picture) is placed on the floor, then concession has been granted for wearing such clothing. It won’t be necessary to remove such a picture as it does not prevent the angels from entering the home. [Kitaab-un-Nawaazil Pg.518 Vol.16 / Jawaahir-ul-Fiqh Pg. 258 Vol.7] We hope that the above article clarifies all aspects discussed in your query.
ALLAH TA’ALA KNOWS BEST!
ANSWERED BY:
Mufti Mohammed Desai
Date: 17 Rajab 1443 / 19 February 2022