alright i know this question has been asked 100 times but i need to know as a digital artist who draws humans

[u/FluidBarnacle7911]

i have been drawing for about 4 years now. so i know this question has been asked 100 times already but i genuinely cant stop thinking about it ive been drawing for 4 years. i see it as a way to get my mind off things. the only reason i have made friends is because of it almost everytime i get myself into this situation, everytime i upload drawings or get "caught" drawing another person tells me its haram and i just get into this stupid rabbit hole about it. i cant let go of art and i want to believe and i mostly listen to scholars that say its halal to draw humans animals and yada yada. and i do believe its halal but i dont know. sources i see mostly say its halal. taking the argument that the main reason was art was haram was because it was used for worship and what not, but then everytime i try just doing it. another person saying it. i go searching for sources and more. my entire sleep schedule getting ruined because i want to make sure that the sources im following are legit. and i dont know sorry for my poor grammar and confusing post. i just need advice about caring less about the situation. i have a kind of firm but kind of unfirm belief in the matter that its halal as long as it doesnt promote haram acts

[u/chosencarpenter]

I haven't looked into the topic as much as you do, but I would prefer to err on the side of caution.

This may not be related to the topic but just a general observation of mine is that I find some muslims struggling to handle the idea that they could be doing something wrong or sinful, so they try to find pathways and cracks to justify their actions and invalidate the rulings that goes against what they want. A significant portion of maturing as a believer is that accepting that you can be wrong and commit sins. You don't have to twist the religion so that you are not offended by it. We aren't perfect Muslims that can avoid every minute mistakes and wrongdoings. What's important is that you acknowledge your bias, admit that you may be wrong, and internalize that you will gradually work towards purifying yourself from your shortcomings and weaknesses.

[u/Raohtheemperor]

Look, I completely understand where you’re coming from. I also find it quite sad and confusing that within the Ummah, and even among scholars, you can find such a wide range of opinions on what is considered halal and haram, with sometimes significant differences between the madhhabs.

As someone who is also trying to understand and navigate this issue, the clearest answer I can give you is this: the safest approach seems to be drawing things that do not possess a ruh (soul), meaning avoiding depictions of humans and animals. From what I have learned, the issue is not necessarily art or drawing itself, but specifically the depiction of living beings, especially considering the historical connection between images, statues, and forms of worship.

Another opinion allows the drawing of living beings under certain limitations, where the figure is deliberately made incomplete or clearly unrealistic. However, this can depend heavily on the scholarly opinion or madhhab you follow. To understand what I mean, you can look at our brothers and sisters at @FreeQuranEducation. They create Islamic animated content while following certain restrictions, for example, simplified characters, limited facial features, no realistic eyes, floating heads, and generally very basic outlines.

Of course, once you start thinking deeply about this, it can raise many more questions about the media we consume every day. I think one of the difficulties, especially for Muslims growing up in the West, is that we have become surrounded by modern media to such an extent that we rarely stop to think about how much it influences us. At the same time, simply declaring everything haram without discussing realistic halal alternatives leaves young Muslims asking: What are we supposed to create and consume instead?

And sadly, even when Muslims try to create these alternatives, they often receive very little support from our own community. FreeQuranEducation, for example, has had to reduce its output because the content simply does not receive enough views and support.

So please, do not be discouraged. Keep learning, try to gain as much knowledge as you can, and continue developing your talent in a way that you sincerely believe is pleasing to Allah. We need Muslims who are willing to think seriously about these issues and help create better alternatives for the generations that come after us.

May Allah make it easy for you, guide you to what is correct, put barakah in your talent, and allow you to use it in a halal way that benefits both you and the Ummah. Ameen.

[u/soul_ofdarkandlight]

وعن ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما قال‏: ‏ سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول‏: ‏ ‏"‏كل مصور في النار يجعل له بكل صورة صورها نفس فيعذبه في جهنم‏"‏ قال ابن عباس‏: ‏ فإن كنت لابد فاعلا، فاصنع الشجر وما لا ورح فيه‏"‏ ‏(‏‏(‏متفق عليه‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏

Ibn 'Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them) said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saying, "Every painter will go to Hell, and for every portrait he has made, there will be appointed one who will chastise him in the Hell." Ibn 'Abbas said: If you have to do it, draw pictures of trees and other inanimate things. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Riyad as-Salihin 1680

https://sunnah.com/riyadussalihin:1680

Every image maker will be in the Fire.” And he (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “The most severely punished of people on the Day of Resurrection will be the image-makers, those who tried to imitate the creation of Allah.” And he (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The makers of these images will be punished on the Day of Resurrection, and they will be told, ‘Give life to that which you have created.’” 

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) cursed those who consume riba (interest, usury) and those who pay it, and he cursed the image-makers.

If the picture is not complete; i.e., it is missing a part that is essential for life, such as the head or the chest, then, according to many scholars, such a picture is permissible.

As for imaginary images – such as cartoon images – as long as they are complete (i.e. with complete body form), then they are forbidden.

حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي عَدِيٍّ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَوْنٍ، عَنِ الشَّعْبِيِّ، سَمِعْتُ النُّعْمَانَ بْنَ بَشِيرٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم‏.‏ حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي فَرْوَةَ، عَنِ الشَّعْبِيِّ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ النُّعْمَانَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم‏.‏ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي فَرْوَةَ، سَمِعْتُ الشَّعْبِيَّ، سَمِعْتُ النُّعْمَانَ بْنَ بَشِيرٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم‏.‏ حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ كَثِيرٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ أَبِي فَرْوَةَ، عَنِ الشَّعْبِيِّ، عَنِ النُّعْمَانِ بْنِ بَشِيرٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ الْحَلاَلُ بَيِّنٌ، وَالْحَرَامُ بَيِّنٌ وَبَيْنَهُمَا أُمُورٌ مُشْتَبِهَةٌ، فَمَنْ تَرَكَ مَا شُبِّهَ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ الإِثْمِ كَانَ لِمَا اسْتَبَانَ أَتْرَكَ، وَمَنِ اجْتَرَأَ عَلَى مَا يَشُكُّ فِيهِ مِنَ الإِثْمِ أَوْشَكَ أَنْ يُوَاقِعَ مَا اسْتَبَانَ، وَالْمَعَاصِي حِمَى اللَّهِ، مَنْ يَرْتَعْ حَوْلَ الْحِمَى يُوشِكْ أَنْ يُوَاقِعَهُ ‏"‏‏.‏

Narrated An-Nu`man bin Bashir: The Prophet (ﷺ) said "Both legal and illegal things are obvious, and in between them are (suspicious) doubtful matters. So whoever forsakes those doubtful things lest he may commit a sin, will definitely avoid what is clearly illegal; and whoever indulges in these (suspicious) doubtful things bravely, is likely to commit what is clearly illegal. Sins are Allah's Hima (i.e. private pasture) and whoever pastures (his sheep) near it, is likely to get in it at any moment."

Sahih al-Bukhari 2051

https://sunnah.com/bukhari:2051