Praise be to Allah.
The texts of sharee’ah indicate that it is haraam to make images and that the image makers are cursed, and they state that they will be the most severely punished of people on the Day of Resurrection.
Al-Bukhari (5347) narrated that Abu Juhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) cursed the image makers.
Al-Bukhari (2225) and Muslim (2110) narrated that Sa’eed ibn Abi’l-Hasan said: A man came to Ibn ‘Abbaas and said: I am a man who makes these images; advise me about that. He said to him: I heard the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) say: “Every image maker will be in Hell, and for every image that he made, a soul will be created which will punish him in Hell.” Ibn ‘Abbaas said: If you must do that, then make (images of) trees and inanimate things.
According to another version: “Whoever makes an image in this world will be commanded to breathe the soul into it on the Day of Resurrection, and he will not be able to do that.”
And it was narrated that ‘Abd-Allah ibn Mas’ood (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I heard the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) say: “The people who will be most severely punished on the Day of Resurrection will be the image-makers.” Narrated by al-Bukhari (5950) and Muslim (2109).
The scholars of the Standing Committee for Issuing Fatwas said:
Whatever is images of animate beings such as insects and other living beings is not permissible, even if it is drawn on a blackboard or on paper, and even if the purpose of it is to help in teaching, because it is not essential and because of the general meaning of the evidence concerning that. Whatever is not an animate being, it is permissible to draw it for teaching and other purposes. End quote.
Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah, 1/685.
They also said:
What is prohibited is making images of animate beings, whether that is engraving or painting on walls or fabric or paper or woven cloth, and whether it is done with a feather or a pen or other equipment, whether the thing is drawn as it is or whether some imaginary element is introduced, so it is made smaller or larger or more beautiful or more ugly, or it is drawn as a stick figure. End quote.
Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah, 1/696
Shaykh Muhammad ibn Ibraaheem (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
One of the most serious of evils is making images of animate beings and keeping them and using them. There is no difference between that which is three dimensional and that which is on paper, whether it is produced by machines or otherwise. This meaning was mentioned by al-Nawawi in Sharh Saheeh Muslim, and he mentioned that it is the view of the four imams. The hadeeths which emphatically warned against that are well known. End quote.
Fataawa Rasaa’il Muhammad ibn Ibraaheem, 13/173.
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said:
Making images of animate beings, whether they are human or otherwise, is undoubtedly haraam and is a major sin, because it is proven that the one who does that is cursed by the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him). This is clear, whether they are three-dimensional or drawn by hand. End quote.
Majmoo’ Fataawa wa Rasaa’il Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (2/288).
Thus it is clear that drawing animate beings is a major sin, and whatever is like that, it is not permissible to do it for fun. Fun cannot be by doing that which Allah has forbidden. Rather what the believer has to do is refrain from doing it, in obedience to Allah and His Messenger (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him).
If you must draw, then as Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him) said, draw trees and things that are not animate beings.
And Allah knows best.
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