The Ruling on Photographic Imaging
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What is the ruling on photographic photography, with details, because this has become confused for me? May Allah reward you with good?
Regarding photographic photography, we have several answers in the *Majmu' al-Rasail* (Collection of Letters) and elsewhere as well, so please refer to them.And I say, my brothers: Photography is not the problem of the world today.Many of the Salaf, not the Khalaf, say: Photography through coloring and drawing is not forbidden, even if done by hand. However, we see that photography by that method is forbidden, even if done by drawing. Just as acting is forbidden, where one makes a three-dimensional image that a person shapes with his hand, that is forbidden. As for the modern photography now, where a person directs a machine at a specific body and that body is imprinted on the paper, that is in reality not photography.Because *taswir* (image-making) is the source of *surah* (image), meaning: It is not making a thing into a specific form. The one who captured it with this machine did not make it into a specific form. The specific form is one that he himself designs, designing the eyes, the nose, the lips, and the like.
But the question that we should ask remains: Is it permissible for me to take a picture with an instant camera to keep it as a memento?We say: No, it is not permissible to keep it as a memento, but for a need, there is no harm.
Regarding photographic photography, we have several answers in the *Majmu' al-Rasail* (Collection of Letters) and elsewhere as well, so please refer to them.And I say, my brothers: Photography is not the problem of the world today.Many of the Salaf, not the Khalaf, say: Photography through coloring and drawing is not forbidden, even if done by hand. However, we see that photography by that method is forbidden, even if done by drawing. Just as acting is forbidden, where one makes a three-dimensional image that a person shapes with his hand, that is forbidden. As for the modern photography now, where a person directs a machine at a specific body and that body is imprinted on the paper, that is in reality not photography.Because *taswir* (image-making) is the source of *surah* (image), meaning: It is not making a thing into a specific form. The one who captured it with this machine did not make it into a specific form. The specific form is one that he himself designs, designing the eyes, the nose, the lips, and the like.
But the question that we should ask remains: Is it permissible for me to take a picture with an instant camera to keep it as a memento?We say: No, it is not permissible to keep it as a memento, but for a need, there is no harm.