What is the ruling on image-making? What is the ruling on the image-maker? What is the ruling on the image?

The questioner : He saysThe questioner : What is the ruling on image-making, with evidence? May Allah reward you. And he also asks about the other part: the ruling on the image-maker and the image on the Day of Resurrection?

The Shaykh : It is true that the question is brief, but you want the answer in this style, right?

The questioner : With something simple, if you please.

The Shaykh : This requires a lecture. May Allah reward you.

The questioner : From the beginning.
Abu Layla : Our Shaykh, we have a lecture.

The questioner : Our Shaykh, three questions for the brothers who...

The Shaykh : Please wait a moment. We will try to make our answer brief as well, imitating your brevity in your question.

The questioner : May Allah reward you with good, O Shaykh.

The Shaykh : As for the image-maker, two hadiths are sufficient for him: The second and final hadith is: As for those who use images, they have two cases. The first case, which is the general one, is that it is not permissible for them to use images in all their types and forms, as long as they are of living beings. The general case you mentioned, whether it is manual, photographic, or video, all these images are not permissible for a Muslim to use. This is the general and comprehensive ruling. The other case is what a Muslim is compelled to use, and compulsion has various types and forms. For the general public, this includes identity cards, passports, and the like. For specific groups, such as doctors, for example, they may be compelled to take an image of a person to diagnose his illness, for example. Or for some government bodies to take images of certain individuals known for crime, such as theft, robbery, looting, and the like, to use this as a means to combat crime. What revolves around this type of images is permissible to use; otherwise, it is not permissible, and the image is forbidden because it prevents the entry of the angels, as you know from the authentic hadith: And by the grace of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), I see before me some images that were noted to be of the forbidden type, because it appears to me that they do not contain images of living beings, but rather represent nature, the forest, and the like. And if a Muslim has a passion for image-making and what is called today art, let him direct his art to what Allah has permitted of images that are not of living beings. This is what helps in shortening the speech within the time available.