Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
From previous answers, I understand the conditions and permissibility of pictures that are directly used to educate students, such as a diagram of the eye or heart. My question regards the permissibility of pictures of animate objects that are used to adorn children’s picture-books or textbooks and serve the secondary educational purpose of making the text more interesting. Is it permissible to buy such books? Is it permissible to make such books? What is the superior position on this matter?
Walaikum assalam wa rahmatullah,
I pray this finds you in the best of health and spirits.
Such pictures are permitted without dislike, as they serve both purposes underlying the permission of dolls and toys of animate objects: [1] education; and [2] keeping childrens’ attention and keeping them engaged. However, as good educators tell us, too many pictures “dumb-down” knowledge and hamper rather than assist education in the long run.
And Allah alone gives success.
Faraz Rabbani