The Deoband school of Islamic thought takes a strict stance on picture-making. According to this tradition, creating images of living beings—whether by hand or digitally—is considered prohibited. However, there are specific exceptions for children’s toys and educational content. For Western Muslims interested in digital art careers, understanding these nuances is crucial for making informed decisions.

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Key Takeaways

Topic	Summary
Deoband’s Ruling on Drawing	Drawing, painting, and digital creation of living beings is prohibited; no difference between hand-drawn and digital art
Exception for Children’s Toys	Dolls and toys designed specifically for children’s education are permissible
Educational Content Exception	Some scholars permit educational animations that teach moral lessons and avoid depiction of sacred figures
Digital Art as Career	Creating images of animate beings for income is problematic under traditional interpretations
Alternative Artistic Paths	Islamic geometric design, calligraphy, landscape art, and inanimate object illustration are permissible
Western Muslim Perspective	Young Muslims in Western countries face unique challenges balancing cultural participation with traditional teachings

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What Does Drawing Anime & Cartoons Actually Mean?

When we talk about drawing anime and cartoons, we’re discussing creating visual representations of living beings—humans, animals, and fictional creatures that possess characteristics of life. This isn’t just about sketching on paper anymore. In today’s world, this includes digital art created on tablets, computers, and through animation software.

Here’s what falls under this category:

• Hand-drawn illustrations of people and animals
• Digital paintings and character designs
• Animated cartoons and anime productions
• 3D modeling of living creatures
• Character design for video games
• Comic book and manga artwork
• Animation frames showing movement of living beings

The key word here is “living beings.” This includes anything that has life characteristics—whether real or imaginary. An anime character, even though fictional, has human-like features and is therefore considered a depiction of a living form.

Read more: The Shocking Truth About Keeping a Dog Inside the House in Islam (Halal or Haram?)

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Why This Topic Matters for You

You’re facing a real tension. If you’re a young Muslim in America, Canada, the UK, or other Western countries, you’re living in a society where visual art, animation, and digital design are everywhere. These are also booming career fields. The creative industries employ millions of people, and the skills are genuinely valuable.

But you also want to align your life with your faith. That’s where the confusion comes in.

Here’s why this matters:

• Career concerns: Many Muslims are interested in animation, graphic design, and digital art as professions. Understanding the ruling helps you make informed career choices.
• Personal hobbies: You might enjoy drawing or watching anime as entertainment. Knowing the perspective helps you decide what’s comfortable for you.
• Community guidance: Your family and community might have different opinions. Having clear information helps you navigate those conversations respectfully.
• Spiritual peace: Many Muslims want to feel confident that their choices align with their beliefs.

I’ve seen young Muslim artists struggle with guilt over their passion for anime and digital design. Some have abandoned promising careers. Others have continued without understanding the concerns. This article cuts through that confusion.

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Understanding the Deoband School’s Perspective

The Deoband school of Islamic thought originated in India in the 1800s and has become one of the most influential interpretations of Islamic law, especially among South Asian Muslims and their descendants worldwide. When you’re asking about this topic, many Muslims—particularly those from Pakistani, Indian, and Bangladeshi backgrounds—are referencing Deoband teachings.

What Deoband Scholars Actually Say

Deoband’s position is based on strict interpretation of certain teachings. Let me explain this clearly without religious jargon.

The core principle is simple: making pictures of living things is considered a major sin in this interpretation. This isn’t a suggestion or a preference—it’s presented as a firm ruling.

Here’s the reasoning behind it:

1. Historical concern about idolatry: The original teachings were issued when societies worshipped statues and images. The concern was that pictures could lead people to worship created things instead of believing in one God. This was a real problem in 7th-century Arabia.
2. The concept of “copying creation”: Deoband scholars interpret certain teachings to mean that making pictures is seen as attempting to imitate divine creative power.
3. Universal principle, changing methods: According to Deoband, even though methods of creating images have changed (from hand-drawing to photography to digital), the core principle remains the same.

Key Deoband scholars and their statements:

• Mufti Mahmud al-Hasan Gangohi: Photography has “absolutely the same ruling” as hand-drawn pictures. Both are prohibited.​
• ‘Allamah Zafar Ahmad ‘Uthmani: Just changing the name from “picture” to “photograph” or “digital image” doesn’t change the ruling. It’s like calling alcohol by a different name—the prohibition remains.​
• Mufti Shu’ayb ‘Alam: Digital pictures should be classified as pictures because “the essence and reality of picture-making are common to both” old and new methods.​

The Deoband Position on Digital Art Specifically

This is important: Deoband scholars have explicitly addressed digital technology. They don’t accept the argument that “it’s just computer code” or “I didn’t use my hands.” According to their position, the digital method doesn’t change the ruling because the result is the same—a preserved image of a living being.

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Pro Tip Box: Understanding Different Scholarly Opinions

Here’s something most people don’t realize: Even within Islam, there’s disagreement on this topic. Not all Muslim scholars agree with Deoband. Some other major schools of Islamic law have different opinions. The Maliki school, for example, takes a less strict view. Some contemporary scholars argue that non-realistic cartoons or animations created purely for entertainment and education might be permissible.

However, if you’re writing for an audience familiar with Deoband teachings, you need to know that this school holds a conservative position. It’s not the only position in Islam, but it’s an important one, particularly for South Asian Muslim communities.

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Step-by-Step Breakdown: What’s Prohibited and What’s Permitted

Let me give you practical clarity on what Deoband’s interpretation actually prohibits and permits.

Step 1: Understand What’s Clearly Prohibited

According to Deoband scholars, these are prohibited:

• Drawing, painting, or digitally creating realistic images of people
• Anime and cartoon characters (because they depict living forms with human-like features)
• Photography of people and animals (same ruling as hand-drawn pictures)
• 3D modeling of animate beings
• Animation that shows movement of living creatures
• Sculptures and statues of people and animals
• Creating these images for any reason—hobby, profession, or education
• Earning money from creating such images

The prohibition applies regardless of:

• Whether you use your hands or a computer
• Whether the creature is real or fictional
• Whether the purpose is entertainment, education, or commerce
• How realistic or cartoon-like the image is
• Whether you’re doing it as a hobby or career

Step 2: Know the Specific Exceptions

This is important because there are limited exceptions recognized by Deoband scholars.

Exception 1: Children’s Toys

Dolls and toy figurines made specifically for children’s play are permitted. The reason? There’s historical evidence that scholars recognized children’s educational needs and made an exception. These toys are designed to help children learn practical skills like housekeeping and childcare.

Exception 2: Educational Content for Children

Some contemporary Deoband-influenced scholars have suggested that educational animations designed specifically to teach children good morals and Islamic values might be permissible—with conditions. This is a narrower exception and requires careful fulfillment of conditions.

Conditions for the educational exception:

• Content must be designed specifically for children
• It must teach moral and ethical lessons
• It must not include depictions of sacred religious figures
• It must not contain music, singing, or other prohibited elements
• The educational purpose must be genuine, not just a pretext

Exception 3: Inanimate Objects

Creating images, drawings, and designs of non-living things is clearly permitted. This includes:

• Landscapes and nature scenes
• Buildings and architecture
• Plants and flowers
• Geometric patterns and abstract designs
• Still life drawings
• Islamic calligraphy and arabesque designs

Step 3: Understand the Career Implications

If you’re considering a career in animation, digital art, or graphic design, here’s the practical reality based on Deoband teachings:

Creating images of living beings for income = Not permitted

According to Deoband scholars, earning money through creating pictures of animate beings is prohibited because the core act is prohibited. You can’t make a forbidden thing permissible just by being paid to do it.

However, there are permissible career paths:

• Graphic design focused on typography, logos (without animate beings), and layout
• Web design and user interface design
• 3D architecture visualization
• Landscape and environmental design
• Islamic geometric pattern design
• Calligraphy and Arabic script design
• Product design for inanimate objects

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Expert Tips and Best Practices

I’ve studied how Muslims navigate this issue in Western countries. Here are practical insights:

Tip 1: Have a Honest Conversation with Yourself

Don’t pretend a question doesn’t exist if it bothers you. Some young Muslims ignore the teachings and feel guilty. Others strictly follow them but feel isolated from peers. The healthier approach? Understand the teaching, then make a conscious choice.

Ask yourself:

• Do I want to follow the Deoband interpretation strictly?
• Am I comfortable with a different scholarly interpretation?
• Can I find a creative path that aligns with my values?

There’s no shame in choosing any of these paths—but make it your own conscious choice, not just following habits.

Tip 2: Explore Permission for Inanimate Object Art

If you love digital art but want to follow Deoband’s teachings, shift your focus to inanimate objects. This isn’t settling—it’s genuinely creative. Some of the most stunning visual art in history focuses on non-living things:

• Architectural visualization and design
• Landscape and nature illustration
• Still life drawing
• Pattern and textile design
• Urban planning visualization
• Product design for everyday items

Tip 3: Consider Educational Purpose Carefully

If you want to work on educational animations for children, understand that this requires genuine educational purpose and careful execution. Don’t label something “educational” just to justify creating animate images. The scholars can usually tell the difference between genuine educational content and entertainment with a label slapped on it.

Tip 4: Learn Your Community’s Specific Stance

Deoband is broad. Different communities, mosques, and scholars within the Deoband tradition have slightly different applications. Talk to your local imam or scholar about how these teachings apply in your specific context.

Tip 5: Respect Both Choices

Whether your Muslim friend is a strict animator who disagrees with these rulings, or whether they refuse to draw anything living, both should be treated with respect. This isn’t a matter where there’s one obvious right answer that everyone agrees on. There’s theological disagreement among scholars, and people make different choices.

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Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake 1: Thinking “Digital” Makes a Difference

Wrong thinking: “It’s okay because I’m using software, not actually drawing by hand.”

The reality: Deoband scholars have specifically addressed this. They don’t accept that digital methods change the ruling because the result—a preserved image of a living being—is the same.

Mistake 2: Believing Cartoon Style Changes the Rule

Wrong thinking: “Anime is too stylized and unrealistic to count as real pictures.”

The reality: Deoband scholars consider all images of living beings prohibited, whether realistic or highly stylized. The cartoon style doesn’t change the classification.

Mistake 3: Confusing Different Schools of Law

Wrong thinking: “Some Muslim scholars said it’s okay, so Deoband must also allow it.”

The reality: Deoband has a historically strict position on this. Other schools of Islamic law (like Maliki) take more lenient views. Know which tradition you’re following and what that specifically teaches.

Mistake 4: Thinking You Can Hide the Purpose

Wrong thinking: “I’ll say it’s educational so it becomes permissible.”

The reality: Making something genuinely educational requires real commitment to that purpose. Labeling entertainment content as “educational” is intellectual dishonesty, and most scholars see through this.

Mistake 5: Assuming Your Parents’ Generation Agrees

Wrong thinking: “My family follows Deoband, so they definitely disapprove of animation.”

The reality: Even within the same family and tradition, people interpret and apply these teachings differently. Some families are stricter, others more lenient. Have the actual conversation rather than assuming.

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Real Examples: How This Works in Practice

Example 1: The Graphic Designer Dilemma

Situation: Amira is a 22-year-old Muslim woman in Toronto who loves graphic design. She studied it in college and has job offers from design agencies. However, most design work involves creating logos with images, brand illustrations with people or animals, and marketing materials with visual elements.

Analysis under Deoband:

• Creating logos with abstract animals = Prohibited
• Designing marketing materials with people’s images = Prohibited
• Creating font designs and pure typography = Permitted
• Designing packaging for inanimate products = Permitted

Practical solution: Amira could specialize in typography-based design, packaging design, or website layout design that doesn’t require creating images of living beings. She might also transition her skills to architectural visualization or interior design software, which is technically permitted.

Example 2: The Anime Enthusiast

Situation: Hassan is a 16-year-old Muslim who loves anime. He watches it regularly, draws anime characters, and dreams of becoming an animator. His parents, who follow Deoband teachings strictly, want him to stop.

Analysis:

• Watching anime = Arguably the lesser sin compared to creating it (though still problematic under Deoband)
• Drawing anime characters = Clearly prohibited under Deoband interpretation
• Career in animation = Not permissible under strict Deoband teachings

The conversation Hassan needs to have:
Rather than just being told “it’s forbidden,” Hassan needs to understand why it’s taught this way and then make his own choice. He might:

• Decide to strictly follow Deoband and find another career path
• Research other scholarly opinions and make an informed choice
• Pursue animation while accepting that it conflicts with one interpretation of his faith
• Find a middle path like animation of inanimate objects or motion graphics

Example 3: The Educational Animation Producer

Situation: Zainab and her team want to produce educational animations teaching Islamic history to Muslim children. They want to show historical figures and events visually.

Analysis under Deoband:
This is the most complex case because it’s the closest to the scholarly exception. However:

• If you’re depicting Prophets = Clearly prohibited, even in animation
• If you’re showing other historical Islamic figures = Still problematic under Deoband
• If you use alternative methods (flames for light, point-of-view shots, calligraphy representations) = Some scholars accept this

The execution: Zainab’s team could use creative storytelling without direct visual depiction. Many Islamic educational films do this successfully using narration, point-of-view shots (showing what the character sees), metaphorical representations, and beautiful calligraphy.

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FAQ: Your Questions Answered

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What You Actually Need to Know

The honest truth about this topic is that you’re navigating multiple tensions simultaneously:

1. Tradition vs. modernity: Your Islamic tradition has clear teachings, but you’re living in a visual, digital world where images are everywhere and image-creation is a legitimate profession.
2. Scholarly diversity: Not all Muslim scholars agree on this issue. Deoband is strict, but it’s not the only voice in Islam.
3. Personal choice: You’re not a child anymore. You have agency to make informed decisions about your faith practice.
4. Community impact: Your choices affect how your family and community perceive your commitment to your faith.

Here’s what I’ve learned from talking with many young Muslim artists: The healthier path is informed choice, not guilt-driven avoidance or shame-filled engagement.

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Final Conclusion and Action Steps

Here’s what to do with this information:

Step 1: Understand the Teaching

You now know what Deoband specifically teaches about drawing anime and digital art. It’s a prohibition based on specific religious principles. This teaching is coherent and serious.

Step 2: Clarify Your Own Position

Ask yourself honestly:

• Do I want to follow the Deoband interpretation strictly?
• Am I interested in learning about other scholarly perspectives?
• What feels right for my life and my faith?

Step 3: Have Real Conversations

• Talk to an imam or religious scholar you trust
• Talk to your family about these questions
• If you’re interested in animation, talk about what paths feel okay to you
• Be honest about your interests and concerns

Step 4: Make a Conscious Choice

Don’t just drift or follow assumptions. Make a decision that’s actually yours:

• If you’re following Deoband strictly, commit to permissible creative paths
• If you’re choosing a different approach, own that choice honestly
• If you’re uncertain, give yourself time to think

Step 5: Build Your Creative Path

Whether you’re pursuing permissible arts or making a different choice:

• Develop real skills
• Find mentors and community
• Create work you’re proud of
• Stay connected to your values

Final thought: Your Islamic tradition has beautiful artistic heritage—geometric patterns of breathtaking complexity, calligraphy that’s an art form in itself, architectural achievement that still amazes people. These traditions created stunning visual culture without depicting living things. You have access to that heritage. Whether you pursue that path or make a different choice is up to you—but make it a conscious one.

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Additional Resources for Western Muslims

For deeper learning:

• Study Islamic geometric patterns and their mathematical principles
• Explore Islamic calligraphy as an art form
• Research the history of Islamic art and why these traditions developed
• Talk to your local Islamic school or mosque about these topics
• Read works by contemporary Muslim scholars who address modern questions about art and technology

For career planning:

• Explore architecture, interior design, and landscape design (permissible fields using visual skills)
• Consider motion graphics and kinetic typography
• Look into UI/UX design and web design
• Research Islamic pattern design and geometric art as a specialty
• Talk to Muslim professionals in various creative fields about their choices

For community connections:

• Find Muslim artist communities online and in your local area
• Join Islamic learning circles that discuss fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) in depth
• Connect with other young Muslims navigating these exact questions
• Build relationships with mentors who’ve made these choices