Question:
What is the ruling for drawing or sketching comics of the companions?
Answer:
Alhamdulillah, praise and thanks to Allah SWT for the countless blessings He has blessed us all with. Blessings and salutations to the prophet Muhammad PBUH, his family, companions and all those that follow his teachings.
The companions of the Prophet PBUH act as the Prophet PBUH’s replacement in spreading and upholding Islam. They are among the best of generations that have been directly nurtured by the Prophet PBUH. Their good deeds are praised by Allah SWT and the Prophet PBUH. Allah SWT states in the Quran:
مُّحَمَّدٌ رَّسُولُ اللَّـهِ ۚ وَالَّذِينَ مَعَهُ أَشِدَّاءُ عَلَى الْكُفَّارِ رُحَمَاءُ بَيْنَهُمْ ۖ تَرَاهُمْ رُكَّعًا سُجَّدًا يَبْتَغُونَ فَضْلًا مِّنَ اللَّـهِ وَرِضْوَانًا
“Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah; and those with him are forceful against the disbelievers, merciful among themselves. You see them bowing and prostrating [in prayer], seeking bounty from Allah and [His] pleasure.”
Surah al-Fath (29)
Syeikh Dr Wahbah al-Zuhaili said:
“This verse meant the companions and scholars, where the Prophet PBUH said: ‘My companions are like the stars, as long as you see them, you will be guided.’” Refer Tafsir al-Munir (3/495)
Syeikh al-Maraghi said:
“After Allah SWT states that He has sent Messengers with guidance and brought Islam as evidence that Islam is higher than any other religions, Allah SWT explains about the Messengers themselves and what has been sent to them. Their attributes are all in the form of praises to them. It is also mentioned about the people that come after them, who will lead mankind, have authority over countries and the world. Their characteristics are:
- Hard on whoever that is the enemy of the religion and loving and caring among themselves
- They make prayer and sincerity to Allah as a habit and a normal thing for them every day
- They hope for rewards and blessings from Allah SWT
- They can be distinguished easily for there is a light on their faces. And their khusyu’ and khudu’ is known by the people that are fatonah
- It is stated in Injil that they are among the people that plant trees. They invite to goodness and prevent evil.”
Refer Tafsir al-Maraghi (26/115)
What can be understood from this verse is that the companions of the Prophet PBUH are special people in the eyes of Allah SWT and the Prophet PBUH. Another verse that shows the special place of the companions is:
وَالسَّابِقُونَ الْأَوَّلُونَ مِنَ الْمُهَاجِرِينَ وَالْأَنصَارِ وَالَّذِينَ اتَّبَعُوهُم بِإِحْسَانٍ رَّضِيَ اللَّـهُ عَنْهُمْ وَرَضُوا عَنْهُ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي تَحْتَهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا أَبَدًا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ
“And the first forerunners [in the faith] among the Muhajireen and the Ansar and those who followed them with good conduct - Allah is pleased with them and they are pleased with Him, and He has prepared for them gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever. That is the great attainment.”
Surah al-Taubah (100)
This verse clearly states that the companions are among the people that Allah SWT is pleased with, and their place is ready in Heaven where there are many rewards await them.
Ibnu Kathir said:
“Allah SWT states He is pleased with the early Muslims from the Muhajirin and Ansar and anyone that follows in their good deeds. Allah SWT is pleased with them and has prepared a place for them in Heaven and the rewards are everlasting.” Refer Tafsir al-Quran al-‘Azim (2/467)
These exceptional people are called Radhiallahu ‘anhum, which means Allah SWT is pleased with them and they will attain Heaven in the Day of Judgement. The Prophet PBUH said:
اللَّهَ اللَّهَ فِي أَصْحَابِي اللَّهَ اللَّهَ فِي أَصْحَابِي لَا تَتَّخِذُوهُمْ غَرَضًا بَعْدِي فَمَنْ أَحَبَّهُمْ فَبِحُبِّي أَحَبَّهُمْ وَمَنْ أَبْغَضَهُمْ فَبِبُغْضِي أَبْغَضَهُمْ وَمَنْ آذَاهُمْ فَقَدْ آذَانِي وَمَنْ آذَانِي فَقَدْ آذَى اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ وَمَنْ آذَى اللَّهَ فَيُوشِكُ أَنْ يَأْخُذَهُ
"(Fear) Allah! (Fear) Allah regarding my Companions! Do not make them objects of insults after me. Whoever loves them, it is out of love of me that he loves them. And whoever hates them, it is out of hatred for me that he hates them. And whoever harms them, he has harmed me, and whoever harms me, he has offended Allah, and whoever offends Allah, [then] he shall soon be punished."
Imam Ahmad (20578) in Musnad and Sunan Ibnu Hibban (7256)
The hadith states how the Prophet PBUH said that whoever harms the companions is the same as if they have harmed the Prophet PBUH. This is evidence that the companions are people that are special to the Prophet PBUH. Thus, there are no differing opinions that learning about companions is a specific field of knowledge. It is great knowledge and the people who study sirah wrote books about the companions.
According to Syeikh Nuruddin al-Itr, the companions of the Prophet PBUH is defined as:
مَنْ لَقِيَ النَّبِي صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّم مُؤْمِنًا بِهِ ومَاتَ عَلَى الإْسلاَم
“Whoever that met with the Prophet PBUH, pronounce his belief in Allah and the Prophet PBUH and died as a believer.” Refer Minhaj al-Naqd Fi Ulum al-Hadis (pg. 116)
The Ruling of Drawing Pictures or Cartoons
The original ruling for this problem can be found in a hadith of the Prophet PBUH:
مَنْ صَوَّرَ صُورَةً فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ مُعَذِّبُهُ حَتَّى يَنْفُخَ فِيهَا الرُّوحَ وَلَيْسَ بِنَافِخٍ فِيهَا أَبَدًا
“Whoever makes pictures, will be punished by Allah till he puts life in it, and he will never be able to put life in it.”
Sahih al-Bukhari (2225)
In another narration, it states:
كُلُّ مُصَوِّرٍ فِى النَّارِ يَجْعَلُ لَهُ بِكُلِّ صُورَةٍ صَوَّرَهَا نَفْسًا فَتُعَذِّبُهُ فِى جَهَنَّمَ
“All the painters who make pictures would be in the fire of Hell. The soul will be breathed in every picture prepared by him and it shall punish him in the Hell,”
Sahih Muslim (3945) and Imam Ahmad in his Musnad
Right after that, Ibnu Abbas said:
إِنْ كُنْتَ لَا بُدَّ فَاعِلًا فَاصْنَعْ الشَّجَرَ وَمَا لَا نَفْسَ لَهُ
“If you have to do it at all, then paint the pictures of trees and lifeless things;”
It should be understood that paintings or drawings other than living things, such as the drawings of trees, the ocean, and mountains are permissible.
The prohibition by Prophet PBUH is the drawing that could lead to the makings of idols that has matter and has shadows or anything that resemble a living creature and is worshipped. Through qiyas (analogical deduction), it also includes the drawing of any living creatures, for it can turn into a form of worship just like when the Christians draw the picture of Prophet Jesus AS and his disciples (hawariyyun) and it makes them believe that it is really the picture of the Prophet Jesus AS and his disciples.
Al-‘Aini said:
“Drawing any living creature (carving of idols) is prohibited, for it is worshipped in the times of the Jahiliyyah. It is prohibited even if it has no shadow or do not consist of matter (referring to drawings and paintings), to close the doors of misdeeds.” Refer ‘Umdah al-Qari Syarh Sahih al-Bukhari (18/162)
The paintings of living creature that is placed at a place of honor, such as at a high place. This is told by Aisyah R.Anha:
قَدِمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مِنْ سَفَرٍ وَقَدْ سَتَرْتُ بِقِرَامٍ لِي عَلَى سَهْوَةٍ لِي فِيهَا تَمَاثِيلُ فَلَمَّا رَآهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ هَتَكَهُ وَقَالَ أَشَدُّ النَّاسِ عَذَابًا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ الَّذِينَ يُضَاهُونَ بِخَلْقِ اللَّهِ قَالَتْ فَجَعَلْنَاهُ وِسَادَةً أَوْ وِسَادَتَيْنِ
“Allah's Messenger PBUH returned from a journey when I had placed a curtain of mine having pictures over (the door of) a chamber of mine. When Allah's Messenger PBUH saw it, he tore it and said, "The people who will receive the severest punishment on the Day of Resurrection will be those who try to make the like of Allah's creations." So we turned it (i.e., the curtain) into one or two cushions.”
Sahih al-Bukhari (5498)
All these prohibitions are in the form of Sad al-Zari’ah (closing the doors of misdeeds) in fear that it could be an object of worship and harming our belief.
However, if the drawings are for the purpose that does not contradict the syara’, for example for the purpose of learning or education or dakwah, then it is permissible.
Citing the opinion of Syeikh Dr Yusuf al-Qaradhawi, he said: “Regarding the ruling for drawing living creatures, such as humans and animals, there is a khilaf between the scholars. Jumhur said that it is prohibited while some scholars said that it is permissible. Whatever it is, the usage of drawings in mass media for the purpose of dakwah and education is not included in what is prohibited and they are indeed encouraged by syara’, (especially) if it is the important medium in delivering dakwah or beneficial knowledge to mankind. It is not prohibited like the pictures or drawings that boost immoral behaviours, tyranny and inappropriate images.”
Next, he gave several justifications for his opinion and the summary of them are as follows:
- Cartoons are not a perfect picture or a real depiction of a living creature and it has its own characteristics.
- The usage of it is in dakwah and education (tarbiyyah) for young children, where they are highly receptive towards it. It is only right for us to make use of this medium of education to educate our children with the knowledge that they should know from an early age, such as akidah and others.
- This method of education has been used by mankind for a long time as a medium for learning and education and looking at the trend nowadays, it has become a norm for children to watch cartoons or animated programs on television. If there is no initiative for a replacement to a more Islamic and informative program, it would be a great loss for Muslims’ community.
Hence, cartoons or drawings for this purpose is not prohibited, for it is not for worship but as a form of education and dakwah for children especially when it can benefit the ummah as a whole.
The Ruling of Drawing or Sketching Comics of the Companions of the Prophet PBUH
Regarding the drawing of comics that involves the companions, there is no specific evidence that prohibits it. However, this has been explained by some of the world’s fatwa authority bodies. One of them is Syeikh ‘Atiyah Saqar, who is a former Chairman of Lajnah Fatwa at al-Azhar al-Syarif. He stated that the act is prohibited for the following reasons:
- Drawings or sketches will not always resemble the original. There will be deception if the illustration is not the same as the fact.
- The inability to truly depict an individual in terms of his character and behavior adapted to the drawings, sketches or the acting is something that can hurt a person if there is any flaw or inadequacy in the picture or acting.
- They are qudwah (example) to others. Any type of deception or misrepresentation of them in terms of drawing or acting would result in a negative view on them.
- If paintings, sketches or acting are not a true depiction of how they really are, it may have a negative impact on those who watch it. Someone that adore and love the companions originally, may change his opinion of the companions if there is a flaw or inadequacy in the drawings or acting of the cartoon when in truth we must love them and make them as an example in our life.
This fatwa supports the fatwa issued by the previous authority body. Some of the bodies are:
- Fatwa Syeikh Hasanain Makhluf Rahimahullah dated May 5, 1950, through al-Fatawa al-Islamiyyah, Volume 4, page 1297 which also states its prohibition.
- Lajnah al-Fatwa Al-Azhar in June 1968.
- Islamic Research Institute in February 1972.
- Islamic Research Institute 8th Congress in October 1977.
- Council of the Islamic Research Institute in April 1978.
- Egypt’s Dar al-Ifta’ in August 1980.
He further states:
“The prohibition is in accordance with Islamic legal maxim (preventing harm is prioritized than taking its benefits). When a custom needs a solution outside of what is usual or the norm, then the harm is greater than the benefits. Furthermore, there are also other reasons for the prohibition as stated in Egypt’s Dar al-Ifta’: Indeed, Allah SWT has protected the Messengers and Prophets from being imitated or impersonated by the shaytan. The same as Allah SWT has protected the Messengers and Prophets from being imitated or acted by humans.
The same is prohibited for the imitation or impersonation of the usul (lineage) and furu’ (offspring), wives and companions of the Prophet PBUH. Regarding the wisdom from the life of the prophets, how can we take lessons from the acting of a mere human, compared to the character of the prophet? Who would accept the acting of an idiot, gambler, drunkard, and immoral people? They would be the one to act the character of the prophets and companions?” Refer Ahasin al-Kalam fi al-Fatawa wa al-Ahkam(1/156-158)
If even the acting is prohibited, for they will never be able to depict the character of the companions, then we don’t have to mention about drawings or sketches of companions that come from the imagination and assumption of the painter with little information. The companions are a figure of authority and example to mankind. If the drawing does not truly depict them, then they will be misrepresented.
Conclusion
From the discussion above, we could conclude that it is not permissible to draw comics involving the companions. This is to protect the authority and the noble characters of the companions, even for a good purpose of dakwah and education. We recommend the following if one has to draw comics of the companions:
- The drawing must not be complete
- The drawing does not depict the face of the companions
- Dialogues and the storyline must be in accordance with a sahih and final reference. There must be no additions or adjustments that would lead to misrepresentation or deception.
Wallahua’lam.