Answered by: Maulana Syed Johir Miah
Question
On Snapchat there is bitmojis where you create a character of your choice – this includes choosing the eyes, hair, hair color, etc. Is this allowed in Islam or is it classed as depicting images?
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
There are Ahadith that have forbidden the drawing of pictures, and also the serious threats in Ahadith that mention a person will be commanded to bring to picture to life on the day of Judgement.
Abdullah Bin Masood ( رضى الله عنه ) said,” I heard the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم ) saying,
إنَّ أشَدَّ النّاسِ عَذابًا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ يَوْمَ القِيامَةِ المُصَوِّرُونَ
“The most severely punished of people on the Day of Resurrection will be the image-makers”.
Aisha (رضى الله عنه ) relates that the Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه وسلم ) said,
“The makers of these images will be punished on the Day of Resurrection, and they will be told, ‘Give life to that which you have created.”
Pictures of inanimate objects are permissible whether digital or in print.
As for digital photos or videos of animate objects, it will be best to exercise precaution and abstain from pictures or videos of living things, due to the differences of opinion amongst the scholars.
However, an exception is made in cases of necessity; such as photos of passport and photos used in other identification documents such as a driver’s license.[1]
The prohibition which has been given is with regards to drawing animate objects which represent animal life. Hence, if you draw a human or animal figure and leave out its eyes etc., then this will not be permissible, because the figure still represents life, seeing that a human being can live without an eye, mouth, or nose.
So, it will not be permissible for you to draw a human or animal figure in such a manner that it represents life in the figure. Drawing these without the head is permissible as life does not exist without the head.
With respect to drawing impressions of a face in inanimate objects, this will not be allowed, since by doing so, you will be trying to put a type of human life in an object that does not have it, and this is strictly prohibited.
It is impermissible to draw or design any picture of an animate object, including a cartoon character[2], whether for education or any other purpose.
This is the strictest view of the jurists and the safest view.
Furthermore, merely removing a single facial feature, such as the eyes, will not suffice [3]. However, if all the facial features of the cartoon character including the nose, the mouth, and the eyes are removed, then it will no longer be considered a picture.
Only Allah knows best
Written by Maulana Syed Johir Miah
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
[1] Aap Ke Masail Or Unke Hal, Pages 465/468, Volume 8, Maktaba Dihwanawee
[2] وظاهر كلام النووى في شرح مسلم: الإجماع على تحريم تصوير الحيوان، وقال: سواء صنعه لما يمتهن أو لغيره، فصنعته حرام بكل حال؛ لأن فيه مضاهاة لخلق الله تعالى وسواء كان في ثوب أو بساط أو درهم وإناء أو حائط وغيرها، اه. فينبغى أن يكون حراما لا مكروها إن ثبت الإجماع أو قطعية الدليل.
Raddul Muhtar, 647/1, Darul Fikr, Beirut, Lebanon, 1412 H.
Tanbeehul Ghafileen Min A’malil Jahileen, 194/1, Darul Fikr, Beirut, Lebanon.
Al-Bahrur Rai’q, 29/2, Darul Kutub Al-Ilsami.
[3] وَقَيَّدَ بِالرَّأْسِ لِأَنَّهُ لَا اعْتِبَارَ بِإِزَالَةِ الْحَاجِبِينَ أَوْ الْعَيْنَيْنِ لِأَنَّهَا تُعْبَدُ بِدُونِهَا Raddul Muhtar, 648