Can I Use Drawings that Depict Nudity for Educational Purposes?

Question:

What is the ruling of showing drawings that depict nudity for educational purposes?

Answer:

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate,

The Basic Ruling

It is impermissible to look at the nakedness of others with the exclusion of spouses looking at each other. [Maydani, al-Lubab fi Sharh al-Kitab]

This applies to direct looking or looking at images such as pictures or video.

Exceptions

There are few exceptions to the above rule. One of the exceptions relates to medical treatment. For example, if a woman needs medical treatment and cannot find a female doctor a doctor of the opposite gender may attend to her. However, he is only allowed to look at that which is necessary to treat her and no more. [Ibid.]

Exceptions Are Limited to Need

With this being said, if a person studying medicine needs to learn anatomy, it is permissible for them to see the depictions of nudity. However, note that this is only allowed to the extent necessary and no more; likewise, if the picture is not merely a drawing but a picture of an actual person, they should refrain from looking.

Other than the doctor, no other educational purpose would reach the level of necessity.

I hope this helps,
Allah knows best.
[Shaykh] Yusuf Weltch

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Yusuf Weltch is a graduate from Tarim; a student of Habib Umar and other luminaries; and authorized teachers of the Qur’an and the Islamic sciences