Use of emoji
Would use of emojis in SMS, Whatsapp, Viber, Telegram etc. constitute picture making thus rendering its use as impermissible in Islam?
Answer
Assalāmuʿalaykum Wa Raḥmatullāhi Wa Barakātuh
The scholars have differed with regard to emojis falling under the ambit of picture-making.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
That which is Ḥalāl is clear, and that which is Ḥarām is clear, however, between that (Ḥalāl and Ḥarām) are matters that are doubtful (not clear); many people do not know whether it is (clearly) Ḥalāl or Ḥarām. Whoever leaves out (that which is doubtful) to protect his religion and his honor, then he will be safe, and whoever falls into something from them (doubtful things), then he soon will have fallen into Ḥarām. [Sunan Al-Tirmidhī]
We, therefore, advise that you abstain from using emojis since it is a grey area.