Ruling on 3D animations in video games

20-8-2017 | IslamWeb

Question:

Given that this website follows the opinion that not all types of images are haram, my question is: what about video game animations that are cartoony, they still have a 3D model, but it is cartoony, and their facial features are 2D.

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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.

In principle, the images that are prohibited (haraam) are those which have complete features of a living being. However, for the preponderant benefit, we adopt the opinion that it is permissible to draw and produce animations that are purposeful for the children; for teaching them and entertaining them and other such considerable objectives.

The Kuwaiti Fiqh Encyclopedia reads, “Most scholars exempted from the prohibition of photography and the making of statues the manufacturing of girls' toys; this is the view of the Maaliki, Shaafi'i and Hanbali Schools. Al-Qaadhi 'Iyaadh quoted its permissibility from most scholars. An-Nawawi is of the same view, as he said in Sharh Muslim, ‘Exempted from the prohibition on making images that have a shadow and using them are things that are used as toys for girls because of the concession that was narrated concerning that.’”

The concession is that ‘Aa’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, used to play with girls’ toys (dolls and the like) when she was with the Prophet . [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]

There is no difference concerning this concession between the technique of three-dimensional images or others. So since the images that have a shadow are permissible for the benefit of teaching and entertaining children, then this permissibility applies to electronic images – three-dimensional and others – with greater reason.

For more benefit, please refer to fatwas 310936 and 235513.

Allah knows best.