Compelled to draw humans and animals

Reference: Fataawa Mu’aasirah – Page 424;
Fataawa al-‘Aqeedah – Page 418

Question: You said in the previous fatwa [that]: “If a student is faced with a difficult situation and is compelled [to draw], then let him draw an animal which does not have a head.” However, [in doing so] the student may fail if he does not draw the head; So what should he do?

Response: If this is the case, then the student is compelled to do this, so the sin will be upon the one who ordered him to do that. I do, however, hope those who are [in a position of] responsibility do not allow the matter to reach this level – where they compel the servants of Allaah [from the students] to be disobedient to Allaah [by drawing living beings, complete with facial features].


Translation originally published on 6 September, 2013.

Graduate of the Islaamic University of Madeenah, having completed the Arabic Language programme at the Institute of Arabic Language before progressing to the Faculty of Sharee'ah, from which he graduated in 2004. He currently resides in Birmingham, UK.

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