The Reality of Forbidden Images and Photography

Question:
The questioner says: Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success, people talk a lot about the reality of forbidden images. Are they those that are drawn and made by hand, or do they include photographic images, video cameras, and the like?

Answer:
This is a futile argument. This argument is futile and has no purpose. The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade images in general. It is not good for someone to come with oaths and say there is a difference between images, specifying the words of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) without any basis. This is a false statement, and you should beware of it. This is the kind of seeking of benefit that I have heard of; this is what seeking benefit is.
The Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade images in general and forbade the makers of images. Someone comes and says, "No, there is permissible image-making and forbidden image-making." Yes.
However, a dispensation may be granted for dire necessity. When one is forced to do what is forbidden, he takes only the amount of the necessity. Allah (Mighty and Majestic) forbade the night and blood, and in our religion He said: except for the messengers sent to him. So whoever is forced, not desiring nor transgressing, there is no sin on him, for Allah is Forgiving and Merciful. So if one is forced to make an image, he does it out of leniency, only to the extent of the necessity. Otherwise, the default ruling on image-making is that it is all forbidden. Yes.