The questioner asks: Is it permissible to draw living beings, such as animals and humans, on paper and shape them with colors? And is this included in the generality of the Holy Hadith in which Allah the Exalted said:
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The questioner : Is it permissible to draw living beings, such as animals and humans, on paper and shape them with colors? And is this included in the generality of the Holy Hadith in which Allah the Exalted said: Riyad as-Salihin 1683?
The Shaykh : Yes, it is included in this Hadith. But creation is of two kinds: physical creation and descriptive creation.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : This applies to three-dimensional images, while descriptive creation, which is not physical, applies to drawn images. Both are included in this Hadith, for creating the description is like creating the body, even though the body is greater because it combines both matters: physical creation and descriptive creation. This indicates the generality that image-making is forbidden by hand, whether it is three-dimensional or colored. The generality of the Prophet’s (peace and blessings be upon him) cursing of the image-makers indicates that there is no difference between three-dimensional images and colored images where the image is not formed except by coloring alone. Then, this is the most cautious course.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : It is better for the believer to stay away from doubtful matters. But someone might say: Is not the most cautious course to follow what the text indicates, rather than following the stricter view? We say: It is true that the most cautious course is to follow what the text indicates, not to follow the stricter view. But when a general term is found that can encompass both, the most cautious course is to take its generality.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : This applies exactly to the Hadiths regarding image-making.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Therefore, it is not permissible for a person to draw an image of anything that has a soul, whether a human or another animal, because it falls under the cursing of the image-makers.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : This is a message from a listener, K M K. He says: I present to your excellence the following, hoping for your guidance. May Allah reward you with good. And it is:
Who is more an oppressor than him who goes to create like My creation? Let him make an ant or a grain of corn or a grain of barley.
ومن أظلم ممن ذهب يخلق كخلقي فليخلقوا ذرة أو ليخلقوا حبة أو ليخلقوا شعيرةThe Shaykh : Yes, it is included in this Hadith. But creation is of two kinds: physical creation and descriptive creation.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : This applies to three-dimensional images, while descriptive creation, which is not physical, applies to drawn images. Both are included in this Hadith, for creating the description is like creating the body, even though the body is greater because it combines both matters: physical creation and descriptive creation. This indicates the generality that image-making is forbidden by hand, whether it is three-dimensional or colored. The generality of the Prophet’s (peace and blessings be upon him) cursing of the image-makers indicates that there is no difference between three-dimensional images and colored images where the image is not formed except by coloring alone. Then, this is the most cautious course.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : It is better for the believer to stay away from doubtful matters. But someone might say: Is not the most cautious course to follow what the text indicates, rather than following the stricter view? We say: It is true that the most cautious course is to follow what the text indicates, not to follow the stricter view. But when a general term is found that can encompass both, the most cautious course is to take its generality.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : This applies exactly to the Hadiths regarding image-making.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Therefore, it is not permissible for a person to draw an image of anything that has a soul, whether a human or another animal, because it falls under the cursing of the image-makers.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : This is a message from a listener, K M K. He says: I present to your excellence the following, hoping for your guidance. May Allah reward you with good. And it is: