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Fatwa CenterMaking 3D animations as part of one's study
Question
Assalaamu ulaykum. I am currently a 3D animation student and recently found out that it is haram to draw anything with a soul in it, what I do in my course is just move the animated characters and give them dialogue and actions, and there is rough sketching as well, but this is the only option I have right now and I already paid my tuition fee. Can you tell me if what I am doing right now in my situation is haram or not? Thank you.
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad 
is His slave and Messenger.
We have already highlighted in fatwa 82806 that it is forbidden to draw living beings, and we have clarified in fatwa 89549 that if permissible studies require drawing living beings, then the necessity should be valued according to its proper value.
The Fiqh Encyclopedia indicated that drawing or making images for the benefit of education is included in the images that are exempted from the prohibition.
The Fiqh Encyclopedia reads:
“Imaging for a benefit, such as education and others: We have not come across any jurists who dealt with this issue with the exception of what they mentioned in regard to the toys of children: that the reason for their exception from the general prohibition is training the girls in bringing up children, as stated by the majority of the jurists, or training the boys and making them happy for the sake of improved growth as stated by Al-Haleemi, and that making images is permitted for this benefit, while the reason of it being forbidden still applies, which is the fact that they are images of living beings. Making images for the purpose of education and the like is not excluded from this (i.e. being permitted for that benefit).” [End of quote]
Therefore, if drawing and making images of living beings is permissible if it is required by studies, then it is with greater reason that the permissibility becomes applicable to you moving the animated characters and giving them dialogues and actions, and so forth.
Allaah knows best.
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