Ruling on caricatures

Praise be to Allah.

The drawings mentioned are not permissible. They are among the widespread evils which must be given up because of the general meaning of the saheeh ahaadeeth which indicate that it is haraam to make images of any animate being, whether by machine, by hand or by any other means. 

For example, al-Bukhaari narrated in his Saheeh that Abu Juhayfah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) forbade the price of a dog and the price of blood, and he forbade (the actions of) the woman who does tattoos and woman who has that done, and the one who consumes riba and the one who pays it, and he cursed the image-maker.  

It is also narrated in al-Saheehayn that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The people who will be most severely punished on the Day of Resurrection will be the image-makers.” And he (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The makers of these images will be punished on the Day of Resurrection and it will be said to them: ‘Give life to that which you have created’.”  

And there are many other sound ahaadeeth on this topic. No exception is made to that except cases where pictures are necessary, because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “while He has explained to you in detail what is forbidden to you, except under compulsion of necessity” [al-An’aam 6:119].  

I ask Allaah to enable the Muslims to adhere to the laws of their Lord and to adhere to the Sunnah of their Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), and to avoid that which is contrary to that, for He is the best One to be asked. End quote.