Fatwa ID: 08595
Written by Maulana Nuski Cassim
Question:
I am writing to seek guidance on the permissibility of creating 3D characters for an educational Islamic video game under the Hanafi school of thought.
Background and Purpose of the Project- I am the founder of An Nur Studios, a non-profit initiative dedicated to creating historically accurate, Islamic video games that serve as a means of education, da’wah, and revival. Our project is not intended for mere entertainment but is aimed at filling a crucial gap in Islamic media representation while providing a halal alternative to mainstream gaming content that often promotes values contrary to Islam. In today’s world, video games are a dominant form of media, shaping the values, beliefs, and perceptions of millions, particularly the youth. Many young Muslims spend countless hours immersed in games that glorify violence, immoral behavior, and even anti-Islamic themes. This has led to a psychological detachment from their faith, as they grow up absorbing secular ideologies while having no access to engaging Islamic narratives that align with their values.
We believe that high-quality, interactive storytelling can be a powerful tool for shaping morality, reinforcing Islamic identity, and educating both Muslims and non-Muslims about our rich history. Research in psychology shows that interactive experiences like video games can enhance cognitive engagement, memory retention, and emotional connection to a subject, making them a highly effective means of learning and identity reinforcement.
The Need for Islamic Representation in Media- Muslims are often either misrepresented or completely absent in mainstream gaming and media. When Islam is portrayed, it is frequently in a negative or inaccurate manner. This affects the self-perception of Muslim youth, leading them to either assimilate into secular ideologies or develop identity struggles. Yusha Evans once emphasized that “the next battlefield is media,” as media has the power to influence people’s perceptions of truth, morality, and identity. And we are aware certain agendas out there are out for us.
By developing Islamic video games, we aim to:
1. Provide an alternative to mainstream games that conflict with Islamic values.
2. Revive Islamic history by making it accessible and engaging for young audiences.
3. Strengthen the identity of Muslim youth, preventing them from being absorbed into secular narratives.
4. Serve as an educational tool for both Muslims and non-Muslims to learn about Islamic history, ethics, and values.
Ethical Measures and Islamic Compliance- We recognise the importance of adhering to Islamic principles in all aspects of development. To ensure that our work remains within halal guidelines, we are implementing the following measures:
1. No music – We will replace traditional game soundtracks with halal soundscapes, ambient sounds, and possibly voice-based compositions.
2. No awrah exposure – All characters, especially female characters, will be modestly dressed in accordance with Islamic teachings.
3. No glorification of haram elements – Unlike many games that promote violence, theft, or immorality, our narratives will be centred on Islamic ethics and moral decision-making.
4. No portrayal of religious figures (sahaba, prophets) .
5. Players will be subconsciously be taught morals like justice, charity giving, and so on.
At An Nur Studios, we aim to showcase the beauty of Islam through visually stunning and immersive environments that highlight Islamic architecture, culture, and history. Our games will feature meticulously designed mosques, bustling Islamic cities, and landmarks that reflect the grandeur of past Muslim civilizations. From the golden domes of Al-Andalus to the majestic streets of Baghdad during the Islamic Golden Age, players will experience the rich heritage of Islam in a way that books alone cannot capture.
Our planned titles will rekindle a love for Islamic history among Muslims, particularly the youth who may feel disconnected from their past. Through games like Muslim Explorers, players will follow in the footsteps of figures like Ibn Battuta and Zheng, experiencing their legendary journeys firsthand. Titles like The Islamic Golden Age will celebrate the scientists, scholars, and pioneers who shaped the world.The Conquests of Spain and The Rise of the Ottomans will bring to life the political and military strategies that expanded and protected Muslim lands. By making history interactive and engaging, we hope to inspire pride in Muslim heritage and provide non-Muslims with an authentic glimpse into the beauty of our civilization.
Seeking a Fatwa on 3D Character Creation- Given these precautions, I would like to seek clarification on the permissibility of creating 3D characters for such an educational, non-profit, Islamic video game.
Key Questions:
1. Is the creation of 3D characters permissible under the Hanafi school, given that the purpose is educational and not for idle entertainment?
2. Would such character models fall under the category of digital art, which some scholars have permitted?
3. Are there specific conditions or restrictions that should be observed to ensure compliance with Islamic rulings?
Our ultimate goal is to create a project that benefits the Ummah while remaining within the boundaries of Islamic teachings. Given the impact of media on the Muslim youth, we believe this initiative has the potential to strengthen their connection to Islam while countering the negative portrayals that dominate mainstream gaming.
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
إِنَّ أَشَدَّ النَّاسِ عَذَابًا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ الْمُصَوِّرُونَ
The Prophet ﷺ famously said, “The most severely punished of people on the Day of Resurrection will be the picture makers.” – [صحيح البخاري، رقم الحديث: ٥٩٥٠]
The discussion surrounding 2D images and their permissibility or impermissibility are many. However, the discussion concerning 3D images, and their renditions, is something more contemporary.
How are 3D images or characters rendered?
The Creation Process- 3D character model creation involves several stages, from the initial concept to the final rendered model. It requires artistic skills, technical knowledge, and attention to detail.
Concept and Design- The process starts with creating a concept for the character. Our 2D artists develop sketches, mood boards, and reference images to define the character’s appearance, personality, and style. This phase is crucial for establishing the character’s visual identity and personality.
Modelling- In this stage, the 3D model of the character is created by using specialized software such as Autodesk Maya, 3DS Max, Blender, or ZBrush. Our 3D Artists use polygons, vertices, and edges to sculpt and shape the character, bringing the concept to life in three dimensions.
Texturing and Shading- Textures and materials are applied to the 3D model to add surface details like color, patterns, and fine features. Artists use digital painting techniques or apply pre-made textures to create the desired look. Shaders and material settings are adjusted to control how light interacts with the character’s surface, affecting properties such as reflectivity and roughness.
Rigging- Rigging is the process of creating a digital skeleton inside the 3D model, which allows the character model to be posed and animated realistically. Rigging artists add bones and joints to the character and create a control system for animators to manipulate the model.
Animation- Once rigged, the character model can be animated. Our animators use keyframes or motion-capture data to define the character’s movements, expressions, and actions. This step brings the character to life and enables it to be integrated into the context of the story or project.
Lighting- In the lighting phase, artists set up a virtual environment for the scene. They position light sources, adjust their intensity and color, and add other lighting effects to create the desired atmosphere and mood.
Rendering- Rendering converts the 3D scene, including the character model and the environment, into a final 2D image or video. The rendering software calculates the lighting, shadows, reflections, and other visual effects to produce the final output.
Post-Processing- After rendering, artists may apply post-processing effects to enhance the result. This can include color grading, adding depth of field, motion blur, and other final changes to improve the overall visual quality.
[See: https://insights.encora.com/insights/a-peek-into-the-world-of-3d-character-modeling]
Some of the main reasons [‘illal] behind the prohibition of images are the following:
- Competing in the creation of Allah ﷻ.
- A means to idol worship.
- Has permanence.
- Blocking the means to shirk.
The drawings and renditions of today are, for the most part, free and empty of these underlying reasons behind the prohibition of taswir—the intent of glorification and competing with Allah’s exclusive ability to create is never the motive. Some considerations: The world has evolved a great deal, and we have seen a drastic shift from physical to digital—whether it may be at the workplace, school or even communication between people.
When sifting through the many ahadith found on this topic, we can see that the Prophet ﷺ provided concessions when it came to taswir, such as:
- Drawings on cushions.
- Drawings on clothing.
- Toys for girls to play with.
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَوْفٍ، حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ أَبِي مَرْيَمَ، أَخْبَرَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ أَيُّوبَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي عُمَارَةُ بْنُ غَزِيَّةَ، أَنَّ مُحَمَّدَ بْنَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، حَدَّثَهُ عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، رضى الله عنها قَالَتْ قَدِمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم مِنْ غَزْوَةِ تَبُوكَ أَوْ خَيْبَرَ وَفِي سَهْوَتِهَا سِتْرٌ فَهَبَّتْ رِيحٌ فَكَشَفَتْ نَاحِيَةَ السِّتْرِ عَنْ بَنَاتٍ لِعَائِشَةَ لُعَبٍ فَقَالَ ” مَا هَذَا يَا عَائِشَةُ ” . قَالَتْ بَنَاتِي وَرَأَى بَيْنَهُنَّ فَرَسًا لَهُ جَنَاحَانِ مِنْ رِقَاعٍ فَقَالَ ” مَا هَذَا الَّذِي أَرَى وَسْطَهُنَّ ” . قَالَتْ فَرَسٌ . قَالَ ” وَمَا هَذَا الَّذِي عَلَيْهِ ” . قَالَتْ جَنَاحَانِ . قَالَ ” فَرَسٌ لَهُ جَنَاحَانِ ” . قَالَتْ أَمَا سَمِعْتَ أَنَّ لِسُلَيْمَانَ خَيْلاً لَهَا أَجْنِحَةٌ قَالَتْ فَضَحِكَ حَتَّى رَأَيْتُ نَوَاجِذَهُ
Aishah (ra) narrated that when the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) arrived after the expedition to Tabuk or Khaybar (the narrator is doubtful), the draught raised an end of a curtain which was hung in front of her storeroom, revealing some dolls which belonged to her.
He ﷺ asked: What is this? She replied: My dolls. Among them he saw a horse with wings made of rags, and asked: What is this I see among them? She replied: A horse. He asked: What is this that it has on it? She replied: Two wings. He asked: A horse with two wings? She replied: Have you not heard that Solomon had horses with wings? She said: Thereupon the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) laughed so heartily that I could see his molar teeth. – [سنن أبي داود، رقم الحديث: ٤٩٣٢]
From the hadith of ‘Aishah (ra) we can deduce that toys or images—whether 2D or 3D—that serve a purpose such as education or other [halal] benefits are permissible to make use of—as there is no real difference between teaching/educating children through means of toys or 3D renditions.
Given the fact that 3D images and characters are not actual drawings but rather pixelated [free of shadows] and further corroborated by the purpose and intent of education, the endeavour will be permissible. This will be the case for both video games or TV shows.
References:
- الحكم يتعلق بسببه ويثبت بعلته ويوجب عند شرطه
[أصول الشاشي، صفحة ٣٥٣، دار الكتاب العربي]
وتكره التصاوير في البيوت لما روي عن رسول الله (ص) عن سيدنا جبريل أنه قال: لا ندخل بيتا فيه كلب أو صورة. ولأن إمساكها تشبه بعبدة الأوثان إلا إذا كانت على البسط أو الوسائد الصغار التي تلقى على الأرض ليجلس عليها فلا تكره لأن دوسها بالأرجل إهانة لها فإمساكها في موضع الإهانة لا يكون تشبها بعبدة الأصنام إلا أن يسجد عليها يكره لحصول معنى التشبه. ويكره على الستور وعلى الأزر المضروبة على الحائط وعلى الوسائد الكبار وعلى السقف لما فيه من تعظيمها
[بدائع الصنائع، ج. ٥، صفحة ١٢٦، دار الكتب العلمية]
العادة محكمة
يعني أن العادة عامة أو خاصة تجعل حكما لإثبات حكم شرعي
[المجموعة للقواعد الفقهية، صفحة ٦١، مكتبة البشرى]
أم الصور المجسمة على المخاد والوسائد والستائر والبسط والفرش والبطائن فلا مانع منها، لأنها ممتهِنة.
[الفقه الاسلامي وأدلته، ج.٤، صفحة ٢٦٧٥، دار الفكر]
Only Allah knows best.
Written by Maulana Nuski Cassim
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
