Image-making of that which has no life
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Fatwa No. ( 1726 ):
Q: On the occasion of the approaching Hajj season, I have decided to print an image of the Sacred Ka'bah and the Prophet's Mosque on wristwatches to distribute them to pilgrims, to remind them of their sacred rites while they perform each act of worship, by looking at the watch for the times of prayer. Perhaps, O honorable scholar, I will thereby receive your encouragement and the necessary fatwa permitting the printing of images of the Ka'bah
the Sacred and the Prophet's Mosque on wristwatches and wall clocks, to be presented to customs during their importation, may Allah deprive us of you, with a religious guidance. May Allah protect you.
A: The original ruling regarding the depiction of inanimate objects, such as mountains, crops, trees, seas, and other non-living things, is permissibility; however, circumstances may arise or be connected to this that necessitate its prohibition. Printing an image of the Sacred Ka'bah and an image of the Prophet's Mosque on wristwatches and wall clocks falls under this category. The covering of the Ka'bah has verses from the Qur'an written on it, and the wall of the Prophet's Mosque has verses from the Qur'an and the names of Allah written on it. Printing their images on wristwatches or wall clocks entails printing the images of these verses alongside them on these watches. This exposes the verses of the Qur'an and the names of Allah the Exalted to disrespect, such as when a man has intercourse with his wife while the watch is on his hand, when he enters the place of relief while it is on his hand, when he performs certain dirty manual tasks while it is on his hand, and when he carries it with him while in a state of major ritual impurity, among other forms of disrespect that are not befitting. As for wall clocks on which an image of the Prophet's Mosque is printed, along with the verses of the Qur'an and the names of Allah the Exalted on its walls, they are exposed to various forms of the aforementioned disrespect when they are being repaired if a malfunction occurs, when moving from one house to another, and the like.
Furthermore, printing what has been mentioned on them constitutes a deviation of the Qur'an from the purpose for which it was revealed, which is to gain knowledge of the religion, to worship through its recitation, and to take heed and learn from it, turning it instead into a means of advertising to promote trade and a tool for earning and increasing wealth. It may also lead to some people using them as curtains, or carrying or hanging them for seeking blessing and protection from calamities, theft, and various types of affliction. Therefore, it is not permissible to print images of the Ka'bah and the Prophet's Mosque on watches under any circumstances, and they must be prevented from entering the Kingdom. And success is from Allah. May Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his companions.
Q: On the occasion of the approaching Hajj season, I have decided to print an image of the Sacred Ka'bah and the Prophet's Mosque on wristwatches to distribute them to pilgrims, to remind them of their sacred rites while they perform each act of worship, by looking at the watch for the times of prayer. Perhaps, O honorable scholar, I will thereby receive your encouragement and the necessary fatwa permitting the printing of images of the Ka'bah
the Sacred and the Prophet's Mosque on wristwatches and wall clocks, to be presented to customs during their importation, may Allah deprive us of you, with a religious guidance. May Allah protect you.
A: The original ruling regarding the depiction of inanimate objects, such as mountains, crops, trees, seas, and other non-living things, is permissibility; however, circumstances may arise or be connected to this that necessitate its prohibition. Printing an image of the Sacred Ka'bah and an image of the Prophet's Mosque on wristwatches and wall clocks falls under this category. The covering of the Ka'bah has verses from the Qur'an written on it, and the wall of the Prophet's Mosque has verses from the Qur'an and the names of Allah written on it. Printing their images on wristwatches or wall clocks entails printing the images of these verses alongside them on these watches. This exposes the verses of the Qur'an and the names of Allah the Exalted to disrespect, such as when a man has intercourse with his wife while the watch is on his hand, when he enters the place of relief while it is on his hand, when he performs certain dirty manual tasks while it is on his hand, and when he carries it with him while in a state of major ritual impurity, among other forms of disrespect that are not befitting. As for wall clocks on which an image of the Prophet's Mosque is printed, along with the verses of the Qur'an and the names of Allah the Exalted on its walls, they are exposed to various forms of the aforementioned disrespect when they are being repaired if a malfunction occurs, when moving from one house to another, and the like.
Furthermore, printing what has been mentioned on them constitutes a deviation of the Qur'an from the purpose for which it was revealed, which is to gain knowledge of the religion, to worship through its recitation, and to take heed and learn from it, turning it instead into a means of advertising to promote trade and a tool for earning and increasing wealth. It may also lead to some people using them as curtains, or carrying or hanging them for seeking blessing and protection from calamities, theft, and various types of affliction. Therefore, it is not permissible to print images of the Ka'bah and the Prophet's Mosque on watches under any circumstances, and they must be prevented from entering the Kingdom. And success is from Allah. May Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.