Is the animation & intro tune in reference permissible?

Question

Assalamu 'alaykum warahmatullahi wa barakatuh

Respected Mufti Sahib,

I pray you are well.

We had a query that we would like to present to yourself to be able to make a decision of how to move forward with our planned work.

Query 1:

We have partnered with a technology partner who has created some cartoons for kids that they would like to share with us for our audience. The cartoons are all of inanimate objects such as a musalla carpet, topi/hat, telescope etc. They have been animated to move around the screen as they "speak" to teach children various Islamic lessons. A sample of the cartoon has been sent together with this query.

Would it be permissible to create and share these kinds of cartoons for children?

Query 2:

The cartoon makers have not used any musical instruments; however, you will hear, at the beginning of the video a theme tune is played which has some clicking sounds created by the snapping of fingers. Along with that there are other sounds in the video to add to the ambiance of the video.

Could you please advise us as to the permissibility of these kinds of sounds to be used in the videos?

If you can kindly let Me know your views on these two questions as soon as it is conveniently possible it would be highly appreciated.

May Allah grant lots of Barakah in all that you do.

Ps I am attaching small clips from the videos to illustrate each of the points

Jazak Allah khayra for your time

https://youtu.be/YnMN6DEdXeE

Bilal Yusuf Pandor · Accepted Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh. There are two parts to your query. 1. Is the animation in reference permissible? 2. Is the intro/theme tune permissible? The animation in reference only makes use of non-living objects and will therefore be permissible.[1] However, the theme tune makes use of clicking of fingers as well as other sounds which, although not produced via musical instruments, aims to mimic the sounds produced from musical instruments. The original form of all sounds is merely vibrations. Therefore, simply listening to a beautiful melodious voice which is free from any impermissible content is Mubah (permissible). However, Shari’ah has rendered certain sounds impermissible, sounds that incite one’s desires.[2] This impermissibility is not based on how the sounds are created; rather what sound is created. Shari’ah has made the sounds generated from musical instruments Haram because of the musical sounds and not because of the instrument itself. Nevertheless, Shariah still prohibits musical instruments as they are the cause behind these sounds. Accordingly, the sounds present in the theme tune mimic actual musical sounds and will therefore be impermissible. If you wish to continue working with the animation company, you should advise them to remove these sounds from the theme tune and suffice on vocal nasheeds only. And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best Bilal Yusuf Pandor Student Darul Iftaa Lusaka, Zambia Checked and Approved by, Mufti Ebrahim Desai كتاب النوازل (16/526-528) [1] تصویر دیکھنے کا شرعی حکم جو صورتیں فواحش پر مشتمل ہوں، یا شرک وبت پرستی پر مبنی ہوں، اُن کوقصداً دیکھنا تمام ائمہ کے نزدیک منع ہے؛ لیکن جو صورتیں مذکورہ منکرات سے خالی ہوں، اُن پر نظر ڈالنے کے بارے میں مالکیہ اور شافعیہ کا مذہب یہ ہے کہ اگر وہ تصاویر محرمہ نہ ہوں؛ بلکہ مباح الاستعمال ہوں، جیسے سرکٹی یا ذلیل جگہ بنی ہوئی تصویریں، تو اُن کی طرف نظر کرنا درست ہے۔ جب کہ حنابلہ کا مذہب یہ ہے کہ کامل بنی ہوئی تصویروں کو دیکھنا بھی درست ہے (جب کہ اُن میں کوئی منکر نہ ہو) البتہ حنفیہ سے اس بارے میں کوئی خاص جزئیہ نظر سے نہیں گذرا، بظاہر یہی رائے اَنسب معلوم ہوتی ہے کہ جس چیز کو اِصالۃً دیکھنا جائز ہے، اُس کی تصویر کو دیکھنا بھی جائز ہو۔

Question

Answer

References

Related rulings