Question:
I have a 13 year old boy who has become a Muslim. One day I came to his room and saw that he is trying to find a way to get rid of his books that had drawings that were from his childhood. He told me that books with drawings are haram, even children’s books. And he also tore some of his photos of his past memories with his family. I am arguing with him about this. These books are useful for kids and also Islam says that you should respect books, not destroy them.
I think he has gone too far and the photos were a shared memory between him and I. Did he do the right thing (i.e photos and drawings are haram) or did he do the wrong thing (i.e photos and drawings are not haram)? My husband and I paid for all of those books and he has not read most of it. Also, if pictures are haram, does that mean any clothing with a picture on it is not allowed?
And also last year, his grandparents gave him money for his birthday with all their hearts and I am sure that this gift is halal. He was planning to get a laptop with all of his money, but now he says it is haram money, because celebrating birthdays are haram, and he says that he has to donate it. I told him that his grandparents worked hard to go give him that money and it would break their hearts if they found out.
I think what he is doing is wrong and haram. I don’t think that Islam should be very extreme and hard, but he is always breaking our heart and others as well. Do you think that he is becoming extreme in his beliefs and is the things that he is doing right or wrong?
Answer:
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ʿala Manittaba’a al Huda.
Your question is in regard to your son’s navigating his new religion. In today’s time, it is refreshing to hear about a 13-year-old child who has been gifted with such maturity and foresight. Most children his age are distracted with play and short-term aspirations. May Allah continue to increase him in knowledge and maturity. It is equally refreshing to hear from parents that are supportive of such aspirations and concerns. May Allah guide you to what is best for him and yourself.
He is young and just beginning his quest for knowledge. These are formative years during which proper guidance of a learned person are invaluable. Youthful zeal can lead to future greatness, but it needs parents and a teacher who are supportive, patient, and knowledgeable. Often, without this type of mentorship, we may express or practice Islam unwisely and incorrectly. Find a suitable person of knowledge, preferably an ālim (scholar of Islam) in your area. Perhaps, a local imam or maktab teacher from which your son can learn and spend time with. Such a person will help to temper him and continue his learning, in shā Allah.
As for the specific issues brought up, we will address them briefly. First, the Hadith contain strong words of prohibitions and warnings against pictures of animate objects (such as people and animals). For example, the wife of the Prophet ﷺ, Sayyidah `Ā’ishah (Allah be pleased with her) said, “Allah’s Messenger entered while I was veiled by a cloth with a picture on it. His face changed color (in dislike). He, then, took hold of the veil and tore it apart. He said, ‘Among the most severely punished on the Day of Judgement are those who imitate the creating of Allah.’”[i] He ﷺ also said, “The angels (e.g., the angels of mercy) do not enter a home in which there is a dog or picture.”[ii]
Thus, pictures of animate objects should be avoided whenever possible. Unfortunately, they have become pervasive in our times and are often found in books that are otherwise of benefit, e.g., educational books. Rather than destroying these books, one can cover up the pictures by placing something over them or efface the facial features.[iii] If the pictures are essential to learning or for other necessary purposes, they can be tolerated.[iv] Clothing containing such pictures serve little to no real benefit in comparison to the harms, and should not be worn. However, if the pictures consist of just outlines in which the facial features have been effaced, then there is no harm. Photographs that are hidden away in a book and not taken as a place of respect or honor are also permitted.[v]
Islam also encourages respecting the rights of ownership.[vi] Your son does not have a right to destroy or alter items, such as books or photographs, that belong to you or another even if they contain impermissible items. He may respectfully ask to have them removed from his room or destroyed, but the ultimate decision is the right of the owner(s). Likewise, he has a right to alter items that belong to him, but he must keep the wishes of his parents and close relatives in mind. Living with people of different beliefs requires mutual respect and consideration.
Gifts that are given, especially from close family like his grandparents, should be accepted and utilized in permissible means.[vii] If they or others give him a gift out of happiness for his birth, there is no harm in taking it even though the means and intent of the celebration may be disliked.
We encourage both of you to be understanding towards one another. Your words show compassion and understanding. He should reciprocate with the same while upholding the commands of our Creator. We pray that together your family continues this path and in doing so, become closer to Allah.
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Mufti Faisal bin Abdul Hameed al-Mahmudi (S1)
www.fatwa.ca
[i] الصحيح لمسلم، 2107
عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ دَخَلَ عَلَىَّ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَأَنَا مُتَسَتِّرَةٌ بِقِرَامٍ فِيهِ صُورَةٌ فَتَلَوَّنَ وَجْهُهُ ثُمَّ تَنَاوَلَ السِّتْرَ فَهَتَكَهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ “ إِنَّ مِنْ أَشَدِّ النَّاسِ عَذَابًا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ الَّذِينَ يُشَبِّهُونَ بِخَلْقِ اللَّهِ
[ii] الصحيح لمسلم، 2106
عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُتْبَةَ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ، يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا طَلْحَةَ، يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ “لاَ تَدْخُلُ الْمَلاَئِكَةُ بَيْتًا فِيهِ كَلْبٌ وَلاَ صُورَةٌ”
[iii] آپ کے مسائل اور ان کا حل، مکتبہ لدھیانوی، ج 7 ص 54
حاشية الطحطاوي على مراقي الفلاح شرح نور الإيضاح، ص362، دار الكتب العلمية بيروت
قوله: “مقطوعة الرأس” لا تزول الكراهة بوضع نحو خيط بين الرأس والجثة لأنه مثل المطوّق من الطيور كذا في الشرح ومثل القطع طلبه بنحو مغرة أو نحته أو غسله ومحو الوجه كمحو الرأس
[iv] فتاویٰ محمودیہ، دار العلوم جامعہ فاروقیہ کراچی، ج 19 ص494
[v] رد المحتار على الدر المختار، دار الفكر، ج1 ص648
الدر المختار: لَا يُكْرَهُ (لَوْ كَانَتْ تَحْتَ قَدَمَيْهِ) أَوْ مَحَلَّ جُلُوسِهِ لِأَنَّهَا مُهَانَةٌ (أَوْ فِي يَدِهِ) عِبَارَةُ الشُّمُنِّيِّ بَدَنِهِ لِأَنَّهَا مَسْتُورَةٌ بِثِيَابِهِ (أَوْ عَلَى خَاتَمِهِ) بِنَقْشٍ غَيْرِ مُسْتَبِينٍ. قَالَ فِي الْبَحْرِ وَمُفَادُهُ كَرَاهَةُ الْمُسْتَبِينِ لَا الْمُسْتَتِرِ بِكِيسٍ أَوْ صُرَّةٍ أَوْ ثَوْبٍ آخَرَ
رد المحتار: (قَوْلُهُ وَمُفَادُهُ) أَيْ مُفَادُ التَّعْلِيلِ بِأَنَّهَا مَسْتُورَةٌ (قَوْلُهُ لَا الْمُسْتَتِرُ بِكِيسٍ أَوْ صُرَّةٍ) بِأَنْ صَلَّى وَمَعَهُ صُرَّةٌ أَوْ كِيسٌ فِيهِ دَنَانِيرُ أَوْ دَرَاهِمُ فِيهَا صُوَرٌ صِغَارٌ فَلَا تُكْرَهُ لِاسْتِتَارِهَا بَحْرٌ، وَمُقْتَضَاهُ أَنَّهَا لَوْ كَانَتْ مَكْشُوفَةً تُكْرَهُ الصَّلَاةُ مَعَ أَنَّ الصَّغِيرَةَ لَا تُكْرَهُ الصَّلَاةُ مَعَهَا كَمَا يَأْتِي، لَكِنْ يُكْرَهُ كَرَاهَةَ تَنْزِيهٍ جَعْلُ الصُّورَةِ فِي الْبَيْتِ نَهْرٌ (قَوْلُهُ أَوْ ثَوْبٍ آخَرَ) بِأَنْ كَانَ فَوْقَ الثَّوْبِ الَّذِي فِيهِ صُورَةٌ ثَوْبٌ سَاتِرٌ لَهُ فَلَا تُكْرَهُ الصَّلَاةُ فِيهِ لِاسْتِتَارِهَا بِالثَّوْبِ بَحْرٌ (قَوْلُهُ لَا تَتَبَيَّنُ إلَخْ) هَذَا أَضْبَطُ مِمَّا فِي الْقُهُسْتَانِيِّ حَيْثُ قَالَ بِحَيْثُ 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
المحيط البرهاني في الفقه النعماني (5/ 309)
وصورة الحيوان إن كانت صغيرة بحيث لا تبدو للناظر من بعيد لا يكره اتخاذها والصلاة إليها؛ لأن هذا مما لا يعبد، وقد صح أنه كان على خاتم أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه ذبابتان، وكان على خاتم أبي موسى الأشعري كركيان، وكان على خاتم دانيال صلوات الله عليه صورة الأسد، وإن كانت الصورة كبيرة بحيث تبدو للناظر من بعد؛ يكره إمساكها والصلاة إليها؛ لأن إمساك الصورة تشبه بمن يعبد الصنم، والصلاة إليها يشبه تعظيمها وعبادتها فتكره، إلا إذا كانت مقطوعة الرأس، فحينئذٍ لا تكره؛ لأن بدون الرأس لا تعبد، وتفيسر قطع الرأس في هذا الباب أن يمحي رأس الصورة بخيط يخاط عليها، بحيث لا يبقي للأصل أثراً أصلاً، أو يطلي على رأسه شيئاً بحيث لا يبقي للرأس أثراً أصلاً.
[vi] كتاب القواعد الفقهية وتطبيقاتها في المذاهب الأربعة، محمد مصطفى الزحيلي، الباب الثالث القواعد الكلية في المذهب الحنفي، دار الفكر، ص 551
القاعدة: [100] لا يجوز لأحد أن يتصرف في ملك الغير بلا إذنه
[vii] آپ کے مسائل اور ان کا حل، مکتبہ لدھیانوی، ج ۱ ص ۸۰