Doubts Regarding the Prohibition of Photographic Imaging
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The sixth question of Fatwa No. ( 4513 ):
Q6: Doubts are raisedregarding the prohibition of photographic (solar) image-making, we ask your Eminence for a detailed response to them: (a) They say: Photographic image-making is not imitating the creation of Allah, but rather it is the impression of a person's shadow on the film, and the human being has no role in forming the image. (b) They say: Image-making is like a mirror; if a person looks at it, suppose the image is fixed in the mirror, is that forbidden? (c) They say: The one who permits television, provided it does not contain what is forbidden to see, must necessarily permit images; because television is a collection of images that are moved rapidly, giving the viewer the illusion that they are moving.
(d) They say: If imaging were forbidden, it would not be permissible to photograph the passport of a resident in Egypt, for example, who performs Hajj; because a person does not steal in order to perform Hajj, nor does he take a photograph in order to perform Hajj, nor does he take a photograph for the personal ID card and other such necessities. .
A6: What appears to the Committee is that imaging beings with souls is not permissible; due to the established evidence regarding this from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). These evidences are general, applying to one who makes it a profession to earn from it, or to one who does not make it a profession, and whether the imaging is by hand-drawing or by studio photography or by other machines. Yes, if dire necessity calls for taking a picture, such as imaging for nationality, passport, or photographing criminals to identify and recognize them so they can be arrested if they commit a crime and flee, and the like of what is necessary, then it is permissible. As for bringing images of beings with souls into homes, if they are trampled underfoot and the like, then there is no religious concern in their presence in the house. And if they are present in a passport, nationality document, or the like, it is permissible to bring them into homes and carry them for the need. And if the one keeping the images does so for the sake of exaltation, this is not permissible. The ruling differs, in that it may be major shirk or a sin, depending on what is in the heart of the person who brought them in. And if he brought them in and kept them for the sake of remembering their owner, this is not permissible; because
the original rule is to prohibit them, and it is not permissible to image them or bring them in except for a religious purpose, and this is not one of the religious purposes. As for the indecent images found in magazines, it is not permissible to buy them or bring them into the house; because of the harms therein which outweigh the intended benefit of remembrance—if there is any benefit—otherwise the matter is even more forbidden. And the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sahih Muslim 1599a , and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Sunan an-Nasa'i 5711Sahih (Darussalam) , and the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said to a man who came to ask him about righteousness: Mishkat al-Masabih 2774 . Solar imaging is not like the impression of a person who stands before a mirror, for that is an illusion that disappears when the person moves away from the mirror. Solar images remain fixed after the person moves away from the camera; people are tempted by them in their creed, by their beauty in their morals, and they benefit from them in what dire necessity sometimes requires, such as placing them in a passport, nationality document, residence permit, or driver's license, for example.
Solar imaging is not merely an impression, but an operation by a machine that produces the impression; thus it is a rivaling of the creation of Allah through this mechanical craft. Then the prohibition of imaging is general; because of the rivaling of the creation of Allah and the danger to creed and morals, without regard to the machine or the method by which the imaging is done. As for television, what is in it of singing, music, imaging, and displaying images and the like of these wrongs is forbidden, and what is in it of Islamic lectures, commercial or political news, and the like of what has not been prohibited by the Shari'ah is permissible. And if its evil predominates over its good, the ruling follows the predominant. And success is from Allah. And may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q6: Doubts are raisedregarding the prohibition of photographic (solar) image-making, we ask your Eminence for a detailed response to them: (a) They say: Photographic image-making is not imitating the creation of Allah, but rather it is the impression of a person's shadow on the film, and the human being has no role in forming the image. (b) They say: Image-making is like a mirror; if a person looks at it, suppose the image is fixed in the mirror, is that forbidden? (c) They say: The one who permits television, provided it does not contain what is forbidden to see, must necessarily permit images; because television is a collection of images that are moved rapidly, giving the viewer the illusion that they are moving.
(d) They say: If imaging were forbidden, it would not be permissible to photograph the passport of a resident in Egypt, for example, who performs Hajj; because a person does not steal in order to perform Hajj, nor does he take a photograph in order to perform Hajj, nor does he take a photograph for the personal ID card and other such necessities. .
A6: What appears to the Committee is that imaging beings with souls is not permissible; due to the established evidence regarding this from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). These evidences are general, applying to one who makes it a profession to earn from it, or to one who does not make it a profession, and whether the imaging is by hand-drawing or by studio photography or by other machines. Yes, if dire necessity calls for taking a picture, such as imaging for nationality, passport, or photographing criminals to identify and recognize them so they can be arrested if they commit a crime and flee, and the like of what is necessary, then it is permissible. As for bringing images of beings with souls into homes, if they are trampled underfoot and the like, then there is no religious concern in their presence in the house. And if they are present in a passport, nationality document, or the like, it is permissible to bring them into homes and carry them for the need. And if the one keeping the images does so for the sake of exaltation, this is not permissible. The ruling differs, in that it may be major shirk or a sin, depending on what is in the heart of the person who brought them in. And if he brought them in and kept them for the sake of remembering their owner, this is not permissible; because
the original rule is to prohibit them, and it is not permissible to image them or bring them in except for a religious purpose, and this is not one of the religious purposes. As for the indecent images found in magazines, it is not permissible to buy them or bring them into the house; because of the harms therein which outweigh the intended benefit of remembrance—if there is any benefit—otherwise the matter is even more forbidden. And the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
What is lawful is evident and what is unlawful is evident, and in between them are the things doubtful which many people do not know. So he who guards against doubtful things keeps his religion and honour blameless, and he who indulges in doubtful things indulges in fact in unlawful things, just as a shepherd who pastures his animals round a preserve will soon pasture them in it. Beware, every king has a preserve, and the things God his declaced unlawful are His preserves.
إن الحلال بيّن وإن الحرام بيّن، وبينهما أمور مشتبهات لا يعلمها كثير من الناس، فمن اتقى الشبهات فقد استبرأ لدينه وعرضه، ومن وقع في الشبهات وقع في الحرام كالراعي يرعى حول الحمى يوشك أن يرتع فيه، ألا وإن لكل ملك حمى ألا وإن حمى الله محارمهLeave that which makes you doubt for that which does not make you doubt.
دع ما يريبك إلى ما لا يريبكRighteousness is that with which the soul is tranquil and the heart is tranquil, but sin is that which rouses suspicion in the soul and is perplexing in the breast, even if people give you a decision in its favour.
البر: ما اطمأنت إليه النفس واطمأن إليه القلب، والإِثم: ما حاك في النفس وتردد في الصدر، وإن أفتاك الناس وأفتوكSolar imaging is not merely an impression, but an operation by a machine that produces the impression; thus it is a rivaling of the creation of Allah through this mechanical craft. Then the prohibition of imaging is general; because of the rivaling of the creation of Allah and the danger to creed and morals, without regard to the machine or the method by which the imaging is done. As for television, what is in it of singing, music, imaging, and displaying images and the like of these wrongs is forbidden, and what is in it of Islamic lectures, commercial or political news, and the like of what has not been prohibited by the Shari'ah is permissible. And if its evil predominates over its good, the ruling follows the predominant. And success is from Allah. And may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.