Fatwa ID: 03583

Answered by: Maulana Nabil Khan

Question

I know drawing pictures of animate beings is haram, but I want to ask if you are playing a game and you are given a default character, and you want to change the skin tone, hairstyle, height, eye shape/colour or clothes of that character, will that be considered haram image-making or imitating Allah's creation? Please refer to the link to fully understand what I'm talking about https://youtu.be/xgCM7s_FN08

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

It is true that there are hadith that have forbid the drawing of pictures, and also the serious threats in hadith that mention a person will be commanded to bring to picture to life on Qiyamah. These are authentic hadith and true. However, the scholars differ in the application of such hadith. Many scholars of the current generation do not consider such character customization, such as in video games, to fall under this prohibition.

This is due to two reasons. Firstly, there is no reverence or idolizing of such characters and they are not kept dear in the heart or life of people. Secondly,

they are digital and temporary and not physical, nor permanently existent. For these two reasons, it is very difficult to deem it impermissible.

However, due to the difference of opinion in such a contemporary topic, it would be advised to stay away from it as much as possible. If one does engage in customization of such characters, then they should understand the shariah limits within this.

Only Allah knows best

Written by Maulana Nabil Khan

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham

Reference:

Sahih Muslim #2106