Ruling on drawing pictures for children without facial features
Question

                I am a woman who would like to work in the field of children’s stories and children’s magazines. Illustrations for children usually include pictures of animate beings. Is it permissible for me to draw the faces but omit some features so that they will not be imitating the creation of Allaah?.
Praise be to Allah.
    The Prophet  (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) 
    told us that the one who makes images – by drawing or engraving –will be 
    punished on the Day of Resurrection, and these images whose makers are given 
    this warning are images of animate beings, based on what its says in the 
    hadeeth, that Allaah will say: “Give life to that which you have crated.” 

    It was narrated from ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Umar (may Allaah be 
    pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah  (peace and blessings of 
    Allaah be upon him) said: “Those who make images will be punished on the Day 
    of Resurrection, and it will be said to them: ‘Bring to life that which you 
    have created.’” Narrated by al-Bukhaari (5607) and Muslim (2108). 

    It seems that images with incomplete features and those which 
    do not have a nose or eyes are not included in the images that are haraam, 
    and their makers are not included in the warning, because they cannot really 
    be called images and these pictures are not competing with the creation of 
    Allaah. 

    It was narrated that ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with 
    her) said: The Messenger of Allaah  (peace and blessings of Allaah be 
    upon him) said: “Among the people who will be most severely punished on the 
    Day of Resurrection will be those who imitate the creation of Allaah.”

    Narrated by al-Bukhaari (5610) and Muslim (2107). 

    Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have 
    mercy on him) said: 

    With regard to stuffed toys in which the image is not clear, 
    even though there are limbs, heads and shoulders, but they have no eyes or 
    noses, there is nothing wrong with them because this is not competing with 
    the creation of Allaah. 

    Majmoo’ Fataawa al-Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen 
    (2/ question no. 330). 

    The Shaykh also said: 

    Every one who does something that is competing with the 
    creation of Allaah, is included in the hadeeth which is: The Prophet  
    (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) cursed the image-makers… and he 
    said: “The people who will be most severely punished on the Day of 
    Resurrection will be the image-makers.” But as I said, if the image is not 
    clear, i.e., it does not have eyes or a nose or a mouth or fingers, then 
    this is not a complete image, and is not competing with the creation of 
    Allaah, may He be glorified and exalted. 

    Majmoo’ Fataawa al-Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen 
    (2/question no. 331). 

    And Allaah knows best.