[Q 219] Islamic Ruling on Animal Images on Children’s Clothing

Question

Is it allowed for pictures of creatures and animals to be on baby’s clothing?

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

الجواب بعون الملك الوهاب اللهم هداية الحق والصواب

Answer

No! It is not permissible according to Islamic law to draw / print images of animate beings on children’s clothes.

Those who create images will be subjected to severe punishment on the Day of Resurrection. As mentioned in a sacred hadith of Sahih Bukhari:

“سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم یقول ان أشد الناس عذاباً عند اللہ المصورون”

which means, “I heard the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه واٰله وسلم saying that indeed, on the Day of Resurrection, the people who will receive the most severe punishment from Allah are the image-makers.”

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Libas, Bab Azab al-Musawwirin Yawm al-Qiyamah, Vol. 02, Pg. 880, Published in Karachi)

There is another sacred hadith regarding this matter:

“ان الذین یصنعون ھذہ الصور یعذبون یوم القیامۃ یقال لھم احیوا ما خلقتم”

which means, “Indeed, those who make these images will be punished on the Day of Resurrection. It will be said to them: Give life to what you have created.”

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Libas, Bab Azab al-Musawwirin Yawm al-Qiyamah, Vol. 02, Pg. 880, Published in Karachi)

It is also not permissible to wear clothes that have such image which is clearly visible when placed on the ground and looked at while standing on them.

In response to a similar question, Aala Hazrat Imam of Ahl-e-Sunnat Maulana Shah Imam Ahmad Raza Khan عليه رحمة الرحمٰن said: “Creating an image of a living being, which includes its face and is large enough that its details of limbs are apparent when viewed whilst standing after placing on the ground, is impermissible to wear, to make someone else wear, sell, or give in charity. Wearing such clothes in prayer will make prayer makruh tahrimi, and it becomes obligatory to repeat the prayer. … If the image on the clothes is obliterated or its head or face is completely erased, then wearing, making wear, selling, or giving it in charity, and praying in it, all become permissible. If the image is made with such permanent colors that it cannot be erased or washed away, then black ink of a similarly permanent nature should be applied over its head or face in such a manner that part of the image is obliterated. It should not be such that only the color of that body part appears black, which would not constitute obliteration or contradiction of the image.”

(Fatawa Rizwiya, Vol. 24, Pg. 567)

Parents or guardians who make their children wear such clothes will be sinful.

Note: However, fictional cartoon images for which no real animate being exists are not considered prohibited images. Therefore, it is permissible to use clothes that have such images on them.

Answered by: Arif Raza Madani (Ask Mufti Scholar)

Verified by: Mufti Sajid Attari

Translated by: Usman Attari