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Fatwa CenterDrawing according to the Maaliki School of Jurisprudence
Question
Salam. I know there is currently a fatwa on maliki position of drawing. But can i get an elaboration. is graphic CGI (computer) of animals/human haram in maliki school?Thanks
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
The Maliki jurists spoke about making images of humans, animals, and others. An-Nafrawi says in Al-Fawakih Ad-Dawani ‘ala Risalat Al-Qayrawani:
“To conclude, as can be deduced from the statement of Ibn Rushd and others, is that the statues fall into three categories:
- The forbidden statues: are those that are in the form of a complete animal [i.e. with all its limbs] and have a shadow, they applied to it what is mentioned in the Hadeeth: “The one who makes that image will be punished on the Day of Resurrection, and it will be said to him: ‘Give life to what you have created.”
- The permissible statues: are those other than the image of an animal, such as the image of trees, fruits, and clouds, which Allah has created, and which are not animals.
- The disliked statues (images): is what the author mentioned about the images of animals drawn in beds and walls and everything that is not humiliated. As for images drawn on despised things, then they are not disliked, but it is more appropriate to avoid them.” [End of quote]
Ad-Dardeer said in Ash-Sharh al-Kabeer:
“To sum up, it is forbidden to make images of a human being or something else, if it includes all its limbs and it lasts [for a long time] according to the consensus. The same thing applies if it does not last according to the most preponderant opinion, like making an image of it with watermelon peels. It is forbidden to look at it, because looking at what is forbidden is forbidden, unlike the one that lacks an organ, it is permissible to look at it, and something that does not have a shadow, such as what is engraved on a wall or on paper; it is disliked if it is not despised; otherwise, it is contrary to what is more appropriate, such as what is drawn on a bed.” [End of quote]
The meaning of the picture being drawn in what is despised is when it is drawn on a mat, a rug, or the like of what one lays on, or walks on.
‘Ileesh said in Manh Al-Jaleel:
“The one that does not have a shadow is disliked if it is drawn in what is not despised such as a wall and paper, and if it is drawn in what is despised, such as a mat and a rug, then it is contrary to what is more appropriate.”
Based on the aforementioned statements of the Maliki jurists, drawing a picture of a human being or animal on a computer screen is disliked, and not forbidden. Because it is nothing more than drawing an image on a screen.
For more benefit on making images, please refer to Fatawa 88456, 4549, 63235, 89555 and 88306.
Allah Knows best.
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