The Ruling on Photographic Imaging and Its Inclusion in the Warning

Question:
The questioner asks: Do the authentic evidences regarding the severe warning against the act of image-making include photographic imaging, given that the photographer of a photograph merely reflects Allah’s creation and does not intervene in drawing the lips or eyes, for example?

Answer:
What does he do? He does not move the machine; the machine operates without being moved, and it is not he who moves it with the intention of imaging. So his action is the action of the image-maker, and creating the image is his intention. He intends to create the image, just as the one who captures it intends to create the image. Both are covered by the generality of the hadith. The hadith did not distinguish between cursing image-makers, nor did it distinguish between the one who images with his hand, the one who images with a machine, or the one who carves a statue. They are all the same; they are all image-makers. So the one who wants to specify the hadith must bring evidence for that specification. Yes, and the fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) of the photographic image is like the fitnah of the drawn image, or perhaps the fitnah of the photographic image is more severe because it comes with the color, form, and beauty of the person, and the beauty of the woman is more intense than in a drawing.

The presenter:
May Allah reward you,