Question Summary:
Is it permissible to use smileys on an Islamic Forum?

Question Detail:

Is it permissable to use smileys like this one , on a Islamic Forum?

Answer :

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh
A smiley is defined as “A smiley, smiley face, or happy face, :) or: D is a stylized representation of a smiling humanoid face, commonly occurring in popular culture. It is commonly represented as a yellow (many other colors are also used) circle (or sphere) with two black dots representing eyes and a black arc representing the mouth. “Smiley” is also sometimes used as a generic term for any emoticon.”[1]
 
It is clear from the above definition that a “smiley” falls under the purview of impermissible animate picture making.[2] (Qamoos al- Fiqh, Vol.2, Pg.465- 470)
 
We therefore advise one to refrain from using smileys to express one’s emotions.
 
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
 
Ismail Desai,
Darul Iftaa
 
Checked and Approved,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.