As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Assalamalaikum,I am a graphic designer running a design shop in India. My question is, being a designer i have to place pictures like of hero, heroines, models, hindu bhagwans etc.. in magazines / pamplet / posters. I want to ask whether it is halal / haram please reply me soon..... Jazakallah.

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Answer:

Graphic designer

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 7.834      Narrated by Muslim

We were with Masruq at the house of Yasar bin Numair. Masruq saw pictures on his terrace and said, "I heard 'Abdullah saying that he heard the Prophet (saws)  saying, "The people who will receive the severest punishment from Allah will be the picture makers.' "

Graphic designing or drawing portraits and pictures of animate objects is absolutely forbidden.

My question is, being a designer i have to place pictures like of hero, heroines, models, hindu bhagwans etc.. in magazines / pamplet / posters. i want to ask whether it is halal / haram.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 6 Anaam verse 74:

74      Lo! Ibraheem said to his ‘Abi’ (father) Azar: "Takest thou idols for gods? For I see thee and thy people in manifest error!"

Allah says in the Quran: Chapter 4 Surah An-Nisa Verse 48

Shirk (associating other deities with Allah) is the only sin that Allah does not forgive, and He forgives, whomsoever He pleases, sins other than this.  For whosoever associates any other partner with Allah, does indeed forge a big lie and commits the most heinous sin.

My dear beloved brother, In the sight of Allah Subhanah,  the most heinous of all sins is ‘shirk’ or associating,  invoking,  worshipping or sharing of any of Allah’s Attributes with anyone or anything else.    This sin of ‘shirk’ is so heinous and so monstrous,  that Allah Subhanah has declared this sin unforgiveable on the Day of Judgment,  and made Paradiseharaam for those who die while in the state of shirk.

What is absolutely and categorically prohibited in Islam, and what has been categorized as the one absolute unforgivable sin and crime of ‘shirk’.

Respected brother in Islam, it is not permissible in Shariah for the believers to make animate objects leave alone selling idols or statues!  It is also not lawful in Shariah to buy or sell or derive any benefit whatsoever from such unlawful objects.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 5 Surah Maidah verse 2 (part):

……Help ye one another in righteousness and piety but help ye not one another in sin and rancor: fear Allah: for Allah is strict in punishment.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 4 Surah Nisaa verse 19 (part):

85      Whoever recommends and helps a good cause becomes a partner therein: and whoever recommends and helps an evil cause shares in the burden (of the sin): and Allah hath power over all things.

Thus if one works for or is employed by a business which deals solely in ‘haraam’ products or services, or whose primary business is from unlawful products….for example bars serving alcohol, or gambling casinos, or prostitution dens, or interest-based commercial banks, or making idols, etc…..without an iota of a doubt, one would share an appropriate burden of the sin for dealing in and facilitating products and services which have been clearly declared as ‘haraam’ by Allah and His Messenger (saws).

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 3.267         Narrated by An Numan bin Bashir

The Prophet (saws) said "Both legal (halaal) and illegal (haraam) things are obvious, and in between them are (suspicious) doubtful matters. So whoever forsakes those doubtful things lest he may commit a sin, will definitely avoid what is clearly illegal; and whoever indulges in these (suspicious) doubtful things bravely, is likely to commit what is clearly illegal.  Sins are Allah's Hima (i.e. private pasture) and whoever pastures (his sheep) near it, is likely to get in it at any moment."

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is only ones. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brothers and well wishers in Islam,

Members of Islamhelpline