Placing a photograph in personal identification cards and identity documents
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Fatwa number ( 1452 ):
Q: The content is that people need to place a photograph in personal identification cards and identity documents and in driving licenses and in
social security records and in school and university examination forms and in passports and the like. Is it permissible to take a photograph for such a purpose out of necessity? And if it is not permissible, what should one do who works in a job from which he would be dismissed if he did not, or should he remain in it?
A: Image-making is forbidden; because of what is established in the authentic hadiths from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) regarding his cursing of image-makers and his informing that they will be the most severely punished of people; this is because it is a means to shirk (associating partners with Allah), and because it involves imitating the creation of Allah. However, if a person is compelled to do so to place a photograph in an identity document, a passport, an examination form, a residence permit, or the like, he is granted a dispensation to do so to the extent of the necessity, provided he finds no way out of it. And if he is in a job and finds no alternative to it, or if his work is for a public benefit that cannot be established without it, he is granted a dispensation to do so out of necessity; because of the saying of Allah (Mighty and Majestic):[Al-An'am 6:119] . And success is from Allah. And may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: The content is that people need to place a photograph in personal identification cards and identity documents and in driving licenses and in
social security records and in school and university examination forms and in passports and the like. Is it permissible to take a photograph for such a purpose out of necessity? And if it is not permissible, what should one do who works in a job from which he would be dismissed if he did not, or should he remain in it?
A: Image-making is forbidden; because of what is established in the authentic hadiths from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) regarding his cursing of image-makers and his informing that they will be the most severely punished of people; this is because it is a means to shirk (associating partners with Allah), and because it involves imitating the creation of Allah. However, if a person is compelled to do so to place a photograph in an identity document, a passport, an examination form, a residence permit, or the like, he is granted a dispensation to do so to the extent of the necessity, provided he finds no way out of it. And if he is in a job and finds no alternative to it, or if his work is for a public benefit that cannot be established without it, he is granted a dispensation to do so out of necessity; because of the saying of Allah (Mighty and Majestic):
while He has explained in detail to you what He has forbidden you, excepting that to which you are compelled
وَقَدْ فَصَّلَ لَكُمْ مَا حَرَّمَ عَلَيْكُمْ إِلا مَا اضْطُرِرْتُمْ إِلَيْهِ
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.