What is the ruling on drawing cells, tissues, and microorganisms such as viruses and bacteria, whether human, plant, or animal?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
There is no objection to drawing parts of the human body other than the head. Indeed, even drawing the head with a part of the body, without including that by which life is sustained, is not covered by the prohibition according to many scholars. Drawing a single limb, such as a hand or a foot, is definitely not included in the prohibition. As for bacteria, their life does not resemble the life of an animal moving by will; rather, it is closer to the life of a growing plant that has no spirit. Therefore, there is no objection to drawing them.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/181656
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 181656
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy