Fatwa ID: 01798

Answered by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Question:

Drawing pictures

Answer:

There are two scenarios to the aforementioned question. The first is drawing animated pictures. Saaiduna Ibn Umar  has reported that the Prophet of Allah  has said, "Those who draw pictures will be punished on the Day of Resurrection; and it will be said to them: “Breathe soul into what you have created.” (Sahih Bukhari p.880 v.2)

The second scenario is to draw non-living pictures. Saaiduna Ibn Abbas has said, I heard the Prophet of Allah saying, “Every painter will go to Hell, and for every portrait he has made, there will be appointed one who will chastise him in Hell.” Saaiduna Ibn Abbas said: If you have to do it, draw pictures of trees and other inanimate things. (Sahih Bukhari p.296 v.1)

Drawing an outline of the human body, without detailed features or drawing a particular part of a human body is permissible as long as one is doing it for a valid purpose.

Imam Haskafi in his Durrul Mukhtar has said: “ If an animal is so small that the details of their limbs are not apparent to someone who looks down at them standing while they are on the ground, as Halabi has mentioned, (or with their head or face cut off) or with an organ effaced out that the body cannot live without.” (Raddul Muhtar p.418 v.2)

With regards to your question it will be permissible to draw an outline of a human body and cover the head with a scarf without the eyes showing.

Only Allah Knows Best

Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham