1) Alhamdulilah! I’m a software programmer and I wanted to know the permissibility of simulating physics.
Can I program a software application which simulate physics of non-living things of course (like box/ball falling/rolling with velocities, friction, the effect of wind on trees, cloth simulation, vehicle simulation, swinging pendulum etc displayed on screen)
And also would the earnings by creating such software be Halaal or not?
2) Regarding the word “animated objects” used in many ahadees, what exactly come under “animated objects”. Is it just living things – creatures like animals, humans, etc or also trees, falling boxes, robots comes under it?
3) And also, is it permissible to study/learn/research about AI (Artificial Intelligence), etc subjects?
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
Assalaamu `alaykum waRahmatullahi Wabarakatuh
1) It is permissible to program a software application which simulates physics of non-living objects.
2) The word animate objects refer to creatures with a soul. In Saheeh al-Bukhari and Saheeh Muslim there is an incident narrated from Saeed bin Abi al-Husain where he says,
حدثنا عبد الله بن عبد الوهاب حدثنا يزيد بن زريع أخبرنا عوف عن سعيد بن أبي الحسن قال : كنت عند ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما إذ أتاه رجل فقال يا أبا عباس إني إنسان إنما معيشتي من صنعة يدي وإني أصنع هذه التصاوير . فقال ابن عباس لا أحدثك إلا ما سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم يقول سمعته يقول ( من صور صورة فإن الله معذبه حتى ينفخ فيها الروح وليس بنافخ فيها أبدا ) . فربا الرجل ربوة شديدة واصفر وجهه فقال ويحك إن أبيت إلا أن تصنع فعليك بهذا الشجر كل شيء ليس فيه روح
قال أبو عبد الله سمع سعيد بن أبي عروبة من النضر بن أنس هذا الواحد(أخرجه البخاري في صحيحه– (2 / 775 دار ابن كثير ، اليمامة – بيروت( و مسلم في صحيحه– (6 / 161 دار الجيل بيروت)
“I was with Ibn Abbaas when a person came to him and asked, ‘Oh Ibn Abbaas, I am a person whose livelihood is attained from manual work. I also draw pictures.’ Ibn Abbaas replied, ‘Whoever makes a picture, Allah will punish him and force him to blow life into that picture but he will never be able to blow any life into it.’ The person and his face turned pale, Ibn Abbaas (May Allah Ta’ala be pleased with him) turned to him and said, ‘If you really have to draw then draw a tree or anything which has no soul.” (Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim)
عمدة القاري شرح صحيح البخاري – (18 / 162)
وفيه إباحة تصوير ما لا روح له كالشجر ونحوه وهو قول جمهور الفقهاء وأهل الحديث فإنهم استدلوا على ذلك بقول ابن عباس فعليك بهذا الشجر إلى آخر
معاني الآثار – (9 / 53
وخالفهم في ذلك آخرون , فقالوا : ما لم يكن له من ذلك روح , فلا بأس بتصويره , وما كان له روح , فهو المنهي عن تصويره
3) Artificial Intelligence (AI) focuses on creating computer programmes that can emulate human behavior and intelligence and can form decisions on its own without the input of any third party. There is no problem in studying, learning and researching this science.
And Allah knows best
Wassalamu Alaikum
Ml. Ismail Moosa,
Student Darul Iftaa
Checked and Approved by:
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Darul Iftaa, Madrassah In’aamiyyah