Can a Certificate with Animal Silhouettes Be Displayed, and Is Altering Features Permissible?

Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel

Question

Is it permissible to hang a degree certificate containing small animal silhouettes with facial features? Would coloring over the eyes to make them appear as simple silhouettes make it permissible?

Answer 

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate

It is permissible to hang a degree certificate containing small animal silhouettes with facial features as the logo is essentially effaced and will not be considered a detailed facial feature.

Jurists state that simply erasing all facial features—whether by coloring over them, sewing them closed, or rubbing, scraping, etc.  —also qualifies as an effective method of removing its feature.

[Tahtawi, Hashiya al-Tahtawi ’ala Maraqi ‘l-Falah]

I would like you to go through the valuable answers and links below. In sha Allah, you will receive guidance and direction.

– What Is The Ruling Of Silhouettes?
–  silhouette Archives

I pray this helps answer your question.

[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat

Mawlana Ilyas Patel has received traditional education in various countries. He started his schooling in the UK and completed his hifz of the Quran in India. After that, he joined an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied secular and Aalimiyya sciences. Later, he traveled to Karachi, Pakistan, and other Middle Eastern countries to further his education. Mawlana has served as an Imam in the Republic of Ireland for several years and taught the Quran and other Islamic sciences to both children and adults. He also worked as a teacher and librarian at a local Islamic seminary in the UK for 12 years. Presently, he lives in the UK with his wife and is interested in books and gardening.