Logos And Mascots

Question

My question is regarding drawing a mascot for a company in a way that it remains halal and doesn’t fall under the ahadith condemning picture makers.

The issue arises in how to create the mascots in a way that doesn’t emulate the creation of Allah. Most sources I’ve read state that drawing humans and animals without a face is impermissible, but drawing inanimate objects such as cars with facial features is permissible. So my questions are:

At what point is an object considered inanimate or too unlike the creation of Allah?

If it is unlike a human or animal in its resemblance (an imaginary being of some sort) then can a face be drawn on it?

Can such an object then be turned into a mascot that has a life and does things, shows emotions etc.?

Would an emoji be considered impermissible?

I would have attached pictures of the mascots that I am not sure are haram but I can’t, so I’ll just list them instead. Please check them out so you have an idea of what kind I mean. A google search should suffice.

Snoo (Reddit mascot): Most similar to what I have in mind

MnM mascot

Minions (from Despicable Me)

The Michelin Man mascot

The Pillsbury Doughboy mascot

My apologies for the long question. I hope it helps clarify the query. I would highly appreciate as urgent a response as possible.

Darul Ifta, Darul Uloom Azaadville · Accepted Answer

To make a form or picture of anything animate or to make any such feature which illustrates life in an object, be it an actual real-life object or something imaginary, will all fall within the ambit of Haraam picture making. Therefore, to depict the complete body shape of a human being or animal in such a way that it very clearly portrays a living object, would be impermissible. This is regardless of whether the head has been removed or not. Similarly, to apply human like features (such as a car with facial features) to an inanimate object would also be considered impermissible, as it would show life in something which is supposed to be lifeless. Very similar is the case of emoji’s, which distinctly portray facial features.

Therefore, the mascot which you choose may not be personified and has to be free of any humanly or animalistic shapes or features that portray animateness.

The mascots with regards to which you have queried all fall into the impermissible category, as can be understood from the above explanation.

N.B. The term ‘inanimate mascot’ in today’s world refers to an inanimate object which has been given facial features. This is impermissible.

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