Here is a benefit in regards to Emoticons from Shaikha Umm Abdillah al-Waadi’iyyah (may Allah preserve her)
On the authority of Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:
أَمَا يَخْشَى أَحَدُكُمْ ـ أَوْ لاَ يَخْشَى أَحَدُكُمْ ـ إِذَا رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ قَبْلَ الإِمَامِ أَنْ يَجْعَلَ اللَّهُ رَأْسَهُ رَأْسَ حِمَارٍ أَوْ يَجْعَلَ اللَّهُ صُورَتَهُ صُورَةَ حِمَارٍ
Isn’t he who raises his head before the Imam afraid that Allah may transform his head into that of a donkey or his figure (face) into that of a donkey?
And the version of Muslim:
أَنْ يَجْعَلَ اللَّهُ وَجْهَهُ وَجْهَ حِمَارٍ
That Allah make his face the face of a donkey
Shaikh at-Tuwayjiri (may Allah have mercy upon him), in his book ‘Ilaam an-Nakeer ‘ala al-Maftooneen bil-Tasweer, derived from this Hadith: “That the face enters into the generality of the picture because the Prophet (ﷺ) called the face an image in this Hadith. So this enters into the evidences for the prohibition of pictures due to [the face] being referred to as a picture, both linguistically and legislatively”. End quote.
I say (Umm Abdillah): “Allahul Mustaaan. Pictures have spread [of recent] in form of shapes and colors. Some of them are pictures of faces only. And there are some people who send faces to express [their feeling] on a subject, that he is sad or sick or happy or the likes of that. We seek refuge in Allah from Fitan. Verily they are fitan which have prevailed and intensified. And there is no might nor power except with Allah” End translation.
Shaikh Ibn ul-Uthaymeen rahimahullah mentioned that he is hesitant in allowing the drawings of heads without bodies. This basically applies to emojis.
His words are found in [Al-Qawl ul-Mufeed (2/468)] and he has said something similar in other places. This serves as further proof that the Shaikh is not supportive of this picture-taking culture which is widespread among the Muslim community. May Allah guide them to the straight path.
Translated and mentioned by
Faisal bin Abdul Qaadir bin Hassan
Abu Sulaymaan
