Pictures of silhouettes, limbs of a person and pictures with no face

· 6 Muharram 1442 AH1 min readEnglish

Question

I draw and paint for a hobby but I am confused on this topic Islamically due to many different opinions. Is it permissible to:

1. Draw a full body picture without the eyes, nose and mouth?

2. Draw a limb on its own. (e.g. a hand holding a flower). But it is connected to the end of the paper. Does it have to be drawn severed?

3. Draw a full body with an umbrella covering the head?

4. Draw silhouettes of living creatures e.g. humans, birds, etc. (If this is not permissible then can I draw birds as a 'm' shape in the distance?)

Answer

1. The entire head must be removed.

2. It should not be a female's hand.

3. It is permissible if the head is entirely covered by the umbrella.

4. The silhouettes should be without the head. As long as there is no head.

Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) has sounded severe warnings regarding pictures. Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said, “The people to be inflicted with the worst punishment will be the picture makers.” Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) has cursed the one who receives interest, the one who gives interest, the tattooist, the tattooed and the picture maker. The hadeeth also explains that the angels of mercy do not enter a home in which there is a picture of an animate object.

And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.

Answered by
Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)
Questions about this ruling, answered only from the archive with sources.

Where scholars differ, it’s safer to take the more cautious view.

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