Question # 549: Assalam Alaikum! I would like to know the Islamic Ruling on Hentai/Pornographic Cartoons. A brother of mine watches this filth yet states that it is not haram but makruh since it imitates Awrah and does not portray reality. Therefore the question is whether Hentai (Ecchi) or related pornographic cartoons are Makruh or Haram in Islam? Accordingly, what is the Majority opinion of scholars in this regard? Jzk!

bismi-llahi r-raḥmani r-raḥīm,

Assalamu ‘laikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,

All praise and thanks are due to Allah (سبحانه و تعالى), and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger (صلى الله عليه و سلم).

Dear questioner,

First of all, we implore Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) to help us serve His cause and render our work for His sake.

Shorter Answer: Pornographic cartoons, even if they are not images of real people, they imitate the images of dissolute and immoral people and reveal private parts, and they could very well arouse one’s sexual desires. So, there is no difference between these cartoons and real naked people. No doubt, the content of these pornographic animated cartoons is pure evil that leads to the destruction of families, erosion of morals, wiping out of all modesty, and the death of chastity in the hearts of the viewers.  Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) statement in the Qur’an: “The hearing, and the sight, and the heart, of each of those you will be questioned” should suffice as a stern warning. Furthermore, all scholars agree that watching such cartoons is impermissible. Therefore, your brother has to repent to Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) and give up this act of shamefulness and abomination. Also, please refer to Question # 485: Watching Animated Movies.

Long Answer: Pornographic cartoons, even if they are not [images] of real people, they imitate the [images] of dissolute and immoral people and reveal private parts, and they could [very well] arouse one’s sexual desires. So, there is no difference between these [cartoons] and the …real naked persons. [Furthermore, the viewers may be tempted] to put into application the worst and most abhorrent of what they see of nakedness, kissing, embracing and [committing evil actions or if they are either] too young to really understand what they are [watching], or they [are] at the threshold of puberty, [it] poses a huge danger.

The content of these pornographic animated cartoons is pure evil that leads to nothing but the destruction of families, erosion of morals in their children, development of a love for sex in their hearts, the wiping out of all modesty from them, and the death of chastity in their hearts. All that is the result of their being influenced by what they see in these provocative cartoons. [Therefore,] such a thing cannot be regarded as permissible in Islam; rather, Islam would be the first to warn against it, prohibit it, and put an end to it. The evidence for this prohibition on watching it includes the following:

  • Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) says in the Qur’an: “Tell the believing men to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts, etc.). That is purer for them. Verily, Allah is All-Aware of what they do.” (Soorah an-Noor, 24:30) There is no difference between watching a non-mahram woman who appears as she was originally created or looking at a still image, a moving image, or a picture that was drawn by hand. How can the ruling be otherwise when what is being watched or looked at is nakedness and provocative sexual scenes?
  • Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) says in the Qur’an: “The hearing, and the sight, and the heart, of each of those you will be questioned (by Allah)” (Soorah al-Isra’, 17:36) The sight or the eyes see that which Allah has prohibited, which contains those shameful scenes, and the hearing or the ears hear the music and shameful words, which are haraam, and this makes the owner of these faculties responsible for that on the Day of Resurrection, because of his carelessness regarding the blessings that Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) bestowed upon him and because of his listening to and looking at that which Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) had forbidden to him.
  • It was narrated that ‘Abdullah ibn Mas‘ood (رضي الله عنه) said: The Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: “No woman should look at another woman then describe her to her husband so that it is as if he is looking at her. (Narrated by al-Bukhari) If simply describing, which leads to a man imagining a non-mahram woman, is not permissible, then it is more appropriate that it should be forbidden to look at images accompanied by sound, even if they are drawings because that is more provocative than merely imagining, so it is more appropriate that it should be prohibited.

This is the reason why some of the scholars prohibited cartoons, both good and bad. Those scholars who did make an exception for such films only exempted those that are beneficial and good, and these pornographic animated cartoons are not of that nature, so they are not permissible according to any of the scholars.

Therefore, your [brother] has to repent to Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) and [give up possessing and watching such cartoons], as [indulging in] them is a sign of his shamefulness and impudence and that he is not a religious person.

(The above reply is based on various answers on similar topics provided by:

  • Islamqa.info; and
  • Islamweb.net, a website belonging to the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs in the State of Qatar)

Allahu A’lam (Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) knows best) and all Perfections belong to Allah, and all mistakes belong to me alone. May Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) forgive me, Ameen.

Wassalaam