Is Using Paint Halal?

Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat

Question

Is using paint halal? I wish to paint. Acrylic paint and paint in general isn’t vegan. It must contain animal products. So is it halal?

Is drawing silhouettes of people or birds permissible?

Answer

I pray you are well. 

Yes, using paint is permissible, as long as what you are painting is permissible. 

Being vegan is not the same as being pure, if that is a concern. Even if there is something in it which is not tahir it is not a problem for you as long as your body, clothes, and place of prayer are pure when praying. 

Drawing Silhouettes

Yes, drawing silhouettes of people and birds is permissible. It is only the depiction of detailed images which is impermissible.

(Ibn ‘Abidin, Radd al Muhtar)

If you are an artist and engage in it, why not produce material which will remind people of Allah and His Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace)?

Every reminder you make will bring you closer to Allah, “because reminders benefit the believers.” (Qur’an, 51:55)

May Allah grant you the best of both worlds.

[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim Reasat
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat began his studies in Arabic Grammar and Morphology in 2005. After graduating with a degree in English and History, he moved to Damascus in 2007, where, for 18 months, he studied with many erudite scholars. In late 2008 he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continued his studies for the next six years in Sacred Law (fiqh), legal theory (Usul al-fiqh), theology, hadith methodology, hadith commentary, and Logic. He was also given licenses of mastery in the science of Quranic recital. He was able to study an extensive curriculum of Quranic sciences, tafsir, Arabic grammar, and Arabic eloquence.