Question Summary:
Children watching ‘Islamic’ Cartoons

Question Detail:

 
Please can you advise me on the permissibility of children watching Islamic cartoons to learn Arabic numbers, colours, alphabets etc.
E.g. zaky (Arabic Alphabet Song with Zaky | HD: http://youtu.be/6e145BWP7ng)
These videos contain animated people etc
Please guide me in upbringing my child.

Answer :

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
The mind of a child is similar to clay. It is shaped by the upbringing provided by the parents. A positive upbringing based upon the teachings of Shari’ah will mold the child’s mind to abide by the teachings of Shari’ah.
Severe warnings and prohibitions are mentioned in the Ahadith regarding animated pictures.  Consider the following Hadith:
عن عائشة أم المؤمنين رضي الله عنها: أنها أخبرته أنها اشترت نمرقة فيها تصاوير، فلما رآها رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قام على الباب، فلم يدخله، فعرفت في وجهه الكراهية، فقلت: يا رسول الله أتوب إلى الله، وإلى رسوله صلى الله عليه وسلم ماذا أذنبت؟ فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: «ما بال هذه النمرقة؟» قلت: اشتريتها لك لتقعد عليها وتوسدها، فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: «إن أصحاب هذه الصور يوم القيامة يعذبون، فيقال لهم أحيوا ما خلقتم» وقال: «إن البيت الذي فيه الصور لا تدخله الملائكة»
صحيح البخاري (3/ 63)
I purchased a cushion with pictures on it. The Prophet (came and) stood at the door but did not enter. I said (to him), "I repent to Allah for what (the guilt) I have done." He said, "What is this cushion?" I said, "It is for you to sit on and recline on." He said, "The makers of these pictures will be punished on the Day of Resurrection and it will be said to them, 'Make alive what you have created.' Moreover, the angels do not enter a house where there are pictures.'" (Narrated by Ayesha).
Hadith 7.843 (Al-Bukhari Hadith)
 
There are many other permissible and effective ways of teaching children numbers, colours, alphabets.
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best


Syed Haneef Ahmed
Student Darul Iftaa
New York, U.S.A


Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
 
 
 Photography and modern challenges pg.60
Tasweer ke shari’ee ahkaampg.61