Islamic Perspective on Designing a Banner Featuring Photos of Male Teachers
Halal and Haram · Hanafi
Question
I am a female student studying in the CSE department at a private university. Currently, I hold the position of Assistant Press Secretary in my university’s Girls’ Computer Club.
As part of my responsibilities, I am required to edit a banner in which photos of male teachers will be included. However, I would only prepare and edit the banner design without adding the male teachers’ photos. After that, another member will add the photos to finalize the banner. The Press Secretary will upload the finalized banner on the club’s social media platforms, and another member will also be responsible for printing the banner.
My question is: As an Assistant Press Secretary, would it be permissible for me to do only the design and editing banner without adding the photos of the male teachers, while another member handles the final addition of the photos, printing, and social media publication?
Answer
Islamic Ruling on Designing a Banner That Will Later Contain Photos of Male Teachers
Wa Alaikum Assalam Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuhu.
Based on the principles of Islamic Jurisprudence (Hanafi Fiqh) derived from the available sources, here is the detailed Shar'i solution regarding your situation:
1. Direct Summary:
Designing and editing only the neutral base layout, background, typography, and graphics of the banner—without handling, inserting, or looking at the photos of male teachers—is permissible in itself .
By delegating the photo insertion, printing, and social media publishing to other members, you successfully avoid looking at and editing photos of non-mahram men. However, because the finalized banner will ultimately display photos of non-mahram men publicly without a genuine Shar'i necessity, refraining from such assignments or opting to design banners for female-only events is superior and more cautious from the standpoint of piety (Taqwa).
2. Detailed Shar'i Analysis & Principles:
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Lowering the Gaze and Non-Mahram Photos:
Islamic Shariah strictly obligates both believing men and women to lower their gaze and avoid looking at non-mahram individuals or their pictures/photographs without a valid Shar'i necessity (Darurah) . By explicitly choosing not to handle, insert, or align the photos of the male teachers, you safeguard yourself from looking at non-mahram males. -
Permissibility of Neutral Graphic Design:
Creating background layouts, arranging typography, selecting color schemes, and formatting non-animate graphic elements do not inherently contain any forbidden (haram) components. Therefore, executing only the neutral graphic design work remains permissible in origin. -
Principle of Cooperation (I'anat 'ala al-Ma'siyah):
Allah Ta'ala commands in the Holy Qur'an:“And cooperate in righteousness and piety, but do not cooperate in sin and aggression.” (Surah Al-Ma'idah: 2).
While preparing a neutral design template is indirect and not a sin in itself, facilitating a project that ultimately leads to the public display of non-mahram photos without necessity carries ambiguity. Thus, avoiding involvement in such banners whenever possible is the safer spiritual path.
Books, Volume & Page References:
- Darsul Fiqh (Vol. 1):
- Pages 400–401: (Chapter: Rulings on Looking at Non-Mahram Photos & Lowering the Gaze).
- Darsul Fiqh (Vol. 2):
- Pages 163 & 165: (Chapter: Limits of Necessity and Unnecessary Exposure).
- Buhuth Fi Qadaya Fiqhiyyah Mu'asarah:
- Page 331: (Chapter 11: Rulings on Assisting in Non-Permissible Matters & Qur'anic Principle of Cooperation)
والله اعلم