Is It Haram to Make AI Images or Advertise an AI Image Generator?

Answered by Shaykh Irshaad Sedick

Question

Does the Shafi’i School say making AI images is haram? Is it also haram to advertise an AI tool that makes images?

Answer

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

Making AI images is not haram on its own. AI is simply a tool, so the ruling depends on what you make with it, not the tool itself. All scholars allow images of non-living things.

For images of living beings, scholars, including those in the Shafi’i School, have different respected opinions. Advertising an AI image generator is allowed as long as the ad is lawful and does not promote anything forbidden.

Image-Making in the Shafi’i School

The scholars agreed that making three-dimensional images of animate life is impermissible, based on the words of the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace): “Indeed, those who make these images will be punished on the Day of Judgment, and it will be said to them: ‘Give life to what you have created.’” [Bukhari; Muslim]

However, scholars disagreed about two-dimensional images. Some Shafi’i scholars, like Khattabi, and Maliki scholars said these images are allowed. Even those with stricter views permit drawing living things without full facial features or just outlining bodies without details.

Everyone agrees that images of non-living things and scenery are allowed. Modern scholars also disagree about photos and digital images, and it is valid to follow either opinion without blame.

For the detailed discussions, please see:

What Is the Ruling on Photographing, Filming, and Drawing Animate Life?
What Is the Ruling on Drawing Images on Clothing and the Like?
Is It Disbelief to Draw Pictures?

AI Is a Tool, and the Ruling Attaches to the Doer

The ruling on making images does not change based on the tool. What matters in Sacred Law is what you make and how you use it. If someone uses AI to make lawful images, that is allowed.

If someone uses it to make forbidden things, like images showing nakedness, or sexualizing and degrading others, that is not allowed. The tool itself is not the focus here; each person is responsible for their own actions. Allah (Most High) says, “No soul burdened with sin will bear the burden of another.” [Quran, 35:18]

Advertising an AI Image Generator

Advertising an AI image tool is permissible. These tools have many lawful uses, and the basic rule is that things are allowed unless proven otherwise (al-asl fi al-ashya’ al-ibaha). [Suyuti, al-Ashbah wa al-Naza’ir]

Advertising is a lawful service for a lawful payment. Make sure the ad does not include forbidden images or encourage forbidden uses. If a tool is mainly used for unlawful things, it is better not to promote it out of caution.

Principle and Practical Guidance

The main rule is that rulings are about what people do, not the tools they use. Use AI image generation for good and lawful purposes. Follow the view on images of living things that you and your trusted scholars support.

Make sure your advertising does not include anything forbidden. May Allah (Most High) bless your work and give you from His bounty.

And Allah (Most High) knows best.

[Shaykh] Irshaad Sedick
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Irshaad Sedick was raised in South Africa in a traditional Muslim family. He graduated from Dar al-Ulum al-Arabiyyah al-Islamiyyah in Strand, Western Cape, under the guidance of the late world-renowned scholar Shaykh Taha Karaan (Allah have mercy on him), where he taught.

Shaykh Irshaad received Ijaza from many luminaries of the Islamic world, including Shaykh Taha Karaan, Shaykh Muhammad Awama, Shaykh Muhammad Hasan Hitu, and Mawlana Abdul Hafeez Makki, among others.

He is the author of the text “The Musnad of Ahmad ibn Hanbal: A Hujjah or not?” He has been the Director of the Discover Islam Centre, and for six years, he has been the Khatib of Masjid Ar-Rashideen, Mowbray, Cape Town.

Shaykh Irshaad has fifteen years of teaching experience at some of the leading Islamic institutes in Cape Town). He is currently building an Islamic podcast, education, and media platform called ‘Isnad Academy’ and has completed his Master’s degree in the study of Islam at the University of Johannesburg. He has a keen interest in healthy Prophetic living and fitness.