Fatwa ID: 08868
Written by : Maulana Ateiq-ur Rehman
Question:
Is it permissible to sell mobile wallpaper online? The wallpapers I am planning to sell are halal and do not include anything impermissible and they are made using Canva.
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
There is no issue with selling artwork that does not go against the teaching of Islam, ie.
- Does not depict any animate being, whether it be human or animal.
- Does not promote unlawful things eg. Violence, alcohol, drugs.
- Does not ridicule any religion.
There are many hadith where it is clear that we are not allowed to draw, buy, wear or adorn our houses with items with pictures of humans or animals. Below are two such examples:
Aisha رضي الله عنها narrated, I purchased a cushion with pictures on it. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم (came and) stood at the door but did not enter. I said (to him), “I repent to Allah for what (the guilt) I have done.” He said, “What is this cushion?” I said, “It is for you to sit on and recline on.” He said, “The makers of these pictures will be punished on the Day of Resurrection and it will be said to them, ‘Make alive what you have created.’ Moreover, the angels do not enter a house where there are pictures.'” (Sahih al-Bukhari )
Sa`id bin Abu Al-Hasan narrated, While I was with Ibn `Abbas a man came and said, “O father of `Abbas! My sustenance is from my manual profession and I make these pictures.” Ibn `Abbas said, “I will tell you only what I heard from Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) . I heard him saying, ‘Whoever makes a picture will be punished by Allah till he puts life in it, and he will never be able to put life in it.’ ” Hearing this, that man heaved a sigh and his face turned pale. Ibn `Abbas said to him, “What a pity! If you insist on making pictures I advise you to make pictures of trees and any other unanimated objects.” (Sahih al-Bukhari )
In answer to your question, so long as the above conditions are met, selling the wallpaper is fine. I would like to advise you, the wallpapers you design could act as form of dawah if you designed them to remind a person of Allah, the teachings of our Noble Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, then not only would this be permissible, but it can also serve and act of worship, and you will be rewarded accordingly.
References:
حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي مَالِكٌ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، زَوْجِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّهَا أَخْبَرَتْهُ أَنَّهَا اشْتَرَتْ نُمْرُقَةً فِيهَا تَصَاوِيرُ، فَلَمَّا رَآهَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم
قَامَ عَلَى الْبَابِ فَلَمْ يَدْخُلْ، فَعَرَفْتُ فِي وَجْهِهِ الْكَرَاهِيَةَ فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَتُوبُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَإِلَى رَسُولِهِ، مَاذَا أَذْنَبْتُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ” مَا بَالُ هَذِهِ النِّمْرِقَةِ ”. قَالَتْ فَقُلْتُ اشْتَرَيْتُهَا
لَكَ لِتَقْعُدَ عَلَيْهَا وَتَوَسَّدَهَا. فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ” إِنَّ أَصْحَابَ هَذِهِ الصُّوَرِ يُعَذَّبُونَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ، وَيُقَالُ لَهُمْ أَحْيُوا مَا خَلَقْتُمْ ”. وَقَالَ ” إِنَّ الْبَيْتَ الَّذِي فِيهِ الصُّوَرُ لاَ تَدْخُلُهُ الْمَلاَئِكَةُ ”.
Sahih al-Bukhari 5181
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْوَهَّابِ، حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ زُرَيْعٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا عَوْفٌ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ، قَالَ كُنْتُ عِنْدَ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ إِذْ أَتَاهُ رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ يَا أَبَا عَبَّاسٍ إِنِّي إِنْسَانٌ، إِنَّمَا مَعِيشَتِي مِنْ صَنْعَةِ يَدِي،
وَإِنِّي أَصْنَعُ هَذِهِ التَّصَاوِيرَ. فَقَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ لاَ أُحَدِّثُكَ إِلاَّ مَا سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ “ مَنْ صَوَّرَ صُورَةً فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ مُعَذِّبُهُ، حَتَّى يَنْفُخَ فِيهَا الرُّوحَ،
وَلَيْسَ بِنَافِخٍ فِيهَا أَبَدًا ”. فَرَبَا الرَّجُلُ رَبْوَةً شَدِيدَةً وَاصْفَرَّ وَجْهُهُ. فَقَالَ وَيْحَكَ إِنْ أَبَيْتَ إِلاَّ أَنْ تَصْنَعَ، فَعَلَيْكَ بِهَذَا الشَّجَرِ، كُلِّ شَىْءٍ لَيْسَ فِيهِ رُوحٌ. قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ سَمِعَ سَعِيدُ بْنُ أَبِي عَرُوبَةَ مِنَ النَّضْرِ بْنِ أَنَسٍ هَذَا الْوَاحِدَ.
Sahih al-Bukhari 2225
Only Allah (عز و جل) knows best
Written by Maulana Ateiq-ur Rehman
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
