Answered by Shaykh Yūsuf Badāt
Question:
I am a local artist. My Hindu neighbour asked me to help her make an outline of their god Ganesh as she is not very artistic and is not able to do it. I am not sure if this is allowed, islamically. It has no features and will not be used for worship. She will be using it as a ceremony banner she said. I thought I will help her outline it, and if she is paying, I will donate that money to a charity. Will that be okay?
Answer:
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم
In the name of Allāh, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
Jazāk Allāh Khayr/ Thank you for contacting Mathābah.
Islamicaly, drawing objects or outlines of false gods that are venerated in general, such as in the ceremony you have described, is makrūh taḥrīmī (prohibitively disliked). – (See: Jawāhir Al-Fiqh, Page 449-452, Vol 2, Maktabah Dār Al-‘Ulūm Karachi)[1]
“Cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression. Be mindful of Allāh” – (Qur’ān 5:2)[2]
Only Allāh knows best.
[1] كبيع الحديد من اهل الفتنة وبيع الاجر والحطب ممن يتخذها كنيسة او بيعة اذا علم فتكره – جواهر الفقه ج٢/ص٤٤٩-٤٥٢
[2] وَتَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْبِرِّ وَالتَّقْوَىٰ ۖ وَلَا تَعَاوَنُوا عَلَى الْإِثْمِ وَالْعُدْوَانِ ۚ وَاتَّقُوا اللّهَ – المائدة ٢
