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?
Answer:
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,
حدثناعبداللهبنعبدالوهابحدثنايزيدبنزريعأخبرناعوفعنسعيدبنأبيالحسنقال : كنتعندابنعباسرضياللهعنهماإذأتاهرجلفقالياأباعباسإنيإنسانإنمامعيشتيمنصنعةيديوإنيأصنعهذهالتصاوير . فقالابنعباسلاأحدثكإلاماسمعترسولاللهصلىاللهعليهوسلميقولسمعتهيقول ( منصورصورةفإناللهمعذبهحتىينفخفيهاالروحوليسبنافخفيهاأبدا ) . فرباالرجلربوةشديدةواصفروجههفقالويحكإنأبيتإلاأنتصنعفعليكبهذاالشجركلشيءليسفيهروح
قالأبوعبداللهسمعسعيدبنأبيعروبةمنالنضربنأنسهذاالواحد(أخرجهالبخاريفيصحيحه– (2 / 775دارابنكثير،اليمامة – بيروت( ومسلمفيصحيحه– (6 / 161دارالجيلبيروت)
“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)
عمدةالقاريشرحصحيحالبخاري – (18 / 162)
وفيهإباحةتصويرمالاروحلهكالشجرونحوهوهوقولجمهورالفقهاءوأهلالحديثفإنهماستدلواعلىذلكبقولابنعباسفعليكبهذاالشجرإلىآخر
معانيالآثار – (9 / 53
وخالفهمفيذلكآخرون , فقالوا : مالميكنلهمنذلكروح , فلابأسبتصويره , وماكانلهروح , فهوالمنهيعنتصويره
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