A trademark bearing the image of a human being
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Fatwa No. ( 16786 )
Praise be to Allah alone, and may peace and blessings be upon the one after whom there is no prophet. And after: The Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta has reviewed what was sent to His Eminence the Grand Mufti from His Excellency the Secretary-General of the Muslim World League, with number (1\ 399\ M) and date 23\10\ 1414 AH, attached to a letter from His Excellency containing the question submitted by Dr. K. Wafendok from the Netherlands , and referred to the Committee by the General Secretariat of the Council of Senior Scholars, with number (4766) and date 29\10\ 1414 AH. The questioner asked a question, the text of whose translation is: May I inquire and seek your advice regarding the extent to which the Islamic world would accept a trademark we intend to choose? This drawing illustrates
An image of a half-human male figure spreading his arms like the wings of a bird. The company has commercial relations with countries around the world and strives for accuracy so as not to offend Islamic countries. Does this new design raise any objection from an Islamic perspective? In my view, based on my capabilities, an objection may arise if places of worship—mosques or holy sites—are offended. Since this design is still a secret held by the company, we have placed a similar image, which does not differ much from our design. I hope you will reply to me by fax at the number mentioned.
After the Committee’s study of the inquiry, it answered as follows: It is not permissible to place the aforementioned trademark on the watch mentioned; for two reasons: First: it is an image of a human being, and depicting what has a soul, whether human or otherwise, is forbidden by the Shari'ah, due to many proofs that came in the pure Sunnah cursing the image-makers and ordering the erasure of images. Second: this trademark of a human image is in the shape of a cross, and this is one of the rites of the Christians who exalt the cross and believe in the truth of the crucifixion of 'Isa—(peace be upon him)—which is an insult to 'Isa—(peace be upon him)—and Muslims believe what came in the Noble Qur'an that Allah did not empower the Jews over 'Isa—(peace be upon him)—but rather
He preserved him and raised him to Himself in the sky, and the claim that he was killed and crucified is a denial of the Noble Qur'an, which is truth and veracity, and it is the speech of Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He. Therefore, it is not permissible for a Muslim to carry what contradicts his belief and clashes with the speech of his Lord, Glorified and Exalted is He. Nor is it permissible for a Muslim to carry the rites of the disbelievers and promote and spread them; for what is in it of their exaltation, along with their repudiation of the pure Islamic Shari'ah. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and companions.
Praise be to Allah alone, and may peace and blessings be upon the one after whom there is no prophet. And after: The Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta has reviewed what was sent to His Eminence the Grand Mufti from His Excellency the Secretary-General of the Muslim World League, with number (1\ 399\ M) and date 23\10\ 1414 AH, attached to a letter from His Excellency containing the question submitted by Dr. K. Wafendok from the Netherlands , and referred to the Committee by the General Secretariat of the Council of Senior Scholars, with number (4766) and date 29\10\ 1414 AH. The questioner asked a question, the text of whose translation is: May I inquire and seek your advice regarding the extent to which the Islamic world would accept a trademark we intend to choose? This drawing illustrates
An image of a half-human male figure spreading his arms like the wings of a bird. The company has commercial relations with countries around the world and strives for accuracy so as not to offend Islamic countries. Does this new design raise any objection from an Islamic perspective? In my view, based on my capabilities, an objection may arise if places of worship—mosques or holy sites—are offended. Since this design is still a secret held by the company, we have placed a similar image, which does not differ much from our design. I hope you will reply to me by fax at the number mentioned.
After the Committee’s study of the inquiry, it answered as follows: It is not permissible to place the aforementioned trademark on the watch mentioned; for two reasons: First: it is an image of a human being, and depicting what has a soul, whether human or otherwise, is forbidden by the Shari'ah, due to many proofs that came in the pure Sunnah cursing the image-makers and ordering the erasure of images. Second: this trademark of a human image is in the shape of a cross, and this is one of the rites of the Christians who exalt the cross and believe in the truth of the crucifixion of 'Isa—(peace be upon him)—which is an insult to 'Isa—(peace be upon him)—and Muslims believe what came in the Noble Qur'an that Allah did not empower the Jews over 'Isa—(peace be upon him)—but rather
He preserved him and raised him to Himself in the sky, and the claim that he was killed and crucified is a denial of the Noble Qur'an, which is truth and veracity, and it is the speech of Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He. Therefore, it is not permissible for a Muslim to carry what contradicts his belief and clashes with the speech of his Lord, Glorified and Exalted is He. Nor is it permissible for a Muslim to carry the rites of the disbelievers and promote and spread them; for what is in it of their exaltation, along with their repudiation of the pure Islamic Shari'ah. And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.