What is the ruling on keeping photographic pictures, knowing that they are not hung on the walls and are kept inside a box, and that they were not taken for the sake of veneration, but rather
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The questioner : What is the ruling on keeping photographic pictures, knowing that they are not hung on the walls and are kept inside a box, and that they were not taken for the sake of veneration, but rather for remembrance? And what is the ruling on the one who took the pictures?
The Shaykh : Yes, as for keeping these pictures, it is not permissible. This is because acquiring pictures is only permissible if they are of a type that is trampled or used, such as those on carpets, pillows, and cushions, and the like of things that are used. These are permissible according to the majority of scholars, even though there is disagreement on the matter, but the majority hold that they are permissible. As for what is not used, whether it is displayed and hung up or hidden in a box or the like, it is not permissible, and it is not lawful for a person to acquire it. So the pictures for remembrance that are found in the bag they call an album or otherwise, these are not permissible. Furthermore, it is not befitting for a person to attach himself to remembrance, for what kind of remembrance is it?
This man who was your friend or beloved one day may one day become hateful to you. Therefore, a person should not be excessive in love or in hatred. It has been said: "Love your beloved gently, for perhaps he will be your enemy one day. And hate your enemy gently, for perhaps he will be your beloved one day."
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : In any case, this kind of remembrance is not befitting.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : In any case, this remembrance is not befitting. And a person is a product of his time, and circumstances differ and change. Therefore, it is not befitting to take these pictures, nor is it permissible for a person to acquire them. As for photography, photography is of two types. One is by hand, by drawing with the hand, meaning that a person draws the image of a body, for example, from the face and hands to the end. This is not permissible.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : It is the one for which the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) cursed its doer and informed that its doers are among the most severe of people, or the most severe of people in punishment. And as for photography by transfer via the photographic device.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : This is a matter of disagreement among scholars, because photography by transfer is not actual photography by the photographer in reality, for he is a transmitter of the image, not a photographer. And there is a difference between the photographer who wants to create and perfect so that his work and drawing are like the drawing of Allah (Mighty and Majestic).
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : And the photography of Allah, and the person who transmits what Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) has photographed by means of light. There is a difference between them.
The questioner : Yes, yes.
The Shaykh : Therefore, if you presented me with a letter and said, "Transcribe it for me," and I wrote it and made a copy of it, I would then be a photographer, and this writing is my writing.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : But if you said, "Take this letter and photograph it for me with the photographic device," and you photographed it for me.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Then the writing is the writing of the first person.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : The writing of the original calligrapher.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : It is not the writing of the one who photographed it with the camera.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : This is exactly the same. And this is what we consider the stronger position, that photographic photography is permissible. But one must look at the purpose of it. If the purpose is to acquire these pictures in a manner that is not permissible, then it is forbidden from this aspect.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : So its prohibition is a prohibition of means, not a prohibition of ends. And if the purpose is for a benefit, such as preserving security in identification documents and the like, then there is no harm in it. That is to say, there is no harm in photography for identification documents and the like.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : And with this, with our saying that it is permissible, or with our preference for permissibility, we see that what is befitting for a Muslim is to stay away from it, because that is more pious and more scrupulous, due to the doubt in it. For some scholars hold that photography, even photographic or sun pictures, is forbidden. And a person leaving what is forbidden is a matter that should be done, unless there is a need for it, for the doubtful matter is removed by need.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : His second question also relates to pictures. He says.
The Shaykh : Yes, as for keeping these pictures, it is not permissible. This is because acquiring pictures is only permissible if they are of a type that is trampled or used, such as those on carpets, pillows, and cushions, and the like of things that are used. These are permissible according to the majority of scholars, even though there is disagreement on the matter, but the majority hold that they are permissible. As for what is not used, whether it is displayed and hung up or hidden in a box or the like, it is not permissible, and it is not lawful for a person to acquire it. So the pictures for remembrance that are found in the bag they call an album or otherwise, these are not permissible. Furthermore, it is not befitting for a person to attach himself to remembrance, for what kind of remembrance is it?
This man who was your friend or beloved one day may one day become hateful to you. Therefore, a person should not be excessive in love or in hatred. It has been said: "Love your beloved gently, for perhaps he will be your enemy one day. And hate your enemy gently, for perhaps he will be your beloved one day."
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : In any case, this kind of remembrance is not befitting.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : In any case, this remembrance is not befitting. And a person is a product of his time, and circumstances differ and change. Therefore, it is not befitting to take these pictures, nor is it permissible for a person to acquire them. As for photography, photography is of two types. One is by hand, by drawing with the hand, meaning that a person draws the image of a body, for example, from the face and hands to the end. This is not permissible.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : It is the one for which the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) cursed its doer and informed that its doers are among the most severe of people, or the most severe of people in punishment. And as for photography by transfer via the photographic device.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : This is a matter of disagreement among scholars, because photography by transfer is not actual photography by the photographer in reality, for he is a transmitter of the image, not a photographer. And there is a difference between the photographer who wants to create and perfect so that his work and drawing are like the drawing of Allah (Mighty and Majestic).
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : And the photography of Allah, and the person who transmits what Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) has photographed by means of light. There is a difference between them.
The questioner : Yes, yes.
The Shaykh : Therefore, if you presented me with a letter and said, "Transcribe it for me," and I wrote it and made a copy of it, I would then be a photographer, and this writing is my writing.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : But if you said, "Take this letter and photograph it for me with the photographic device," and you photographed it for me.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Then the writing is the writing of the first person.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : The writing of the original calligrapher.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : It is not the writing of the one who photographed it with the camera.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : This is exactly the same. And this is what we consider the stronger position, that photographic photography is permissible. But one must look at the purpose of it. If the purpose is to acquire these pictures in a manner that is not permissible, then it is forbidden from this aspect.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : So its prohibition is a prohibition of means, not a prohibition of ends. And if the purpose is for a benefit, such as preserving security in identification documents and the like, then there is no harm in it. That is to say, there is no harm in photography for identification documents and the like.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : And with this, with our saying that it is permissible, or with our preference for permissibility, we see that what is befitting for a Muslim is to stay away from it, because that is more pious and more scrupulous, due to the doubt in it. For some scholars hold that photography, even photographic or sun pictures, is forbidden. And a person leaving what is forbidden is a matter that should be done, unless there is a need for it, for the doubtful matter is removed by need.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : His second question also relates to pictures. He says.