The Ruling on Image-Making, Whether by Drawing or Photography

The questioner:
May Allah reward you. This questioner asks: What is the ruling on image-making, whether by drawing or photography?

The Shaykh:
Image-making is forbidden and a major sin, based on many proofs from authentic hadiths. The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) did not specify the method by which image-making is done, whether it is drawing by hand, carving statues, or capturing with a photographic camera. All of it is called image-making. You call it image-making; the one who captures with the camera is called an image-maker, and the form the camera takes is called an image. The hadith is general and not restricted. The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) says The one who specifies a type of image-making and finds a proof for it, a proof that specifies it, yes. As for rationalizations and philosophies, they do not specify the hadiths. Yes.

The questioner:
May Allah reward you. This questioner says:

The Shaykh:
There may be image-making that is permissible out of dire necessity. Pay attention, there may be image-making that is permissible out of dire necessity, and dire necessities are an exception If a person is compelled to image-making.
If he has no way except by image-making, he does not reach his goal and the need that is essential for him except by image-making. He does not travel except with an image. He does not travel except with an image. He does not perform Hajj except with an image. And he does not travel to his relatives and his country except with an image. This is obligatory upon him, and this is a dire necessity. He may make images, there is no harm . As for images that a person does not need and are not required of him, it is not permissible for him to do that.