Is it permissible to film the reality of Muslims in Bosnia and Herzegovina and other situations of Muslims that contain scenes which move people to be affected by them or to sympathize with them?
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The questioner : He says:The questioner : Is it permissible to film the reality of Muslims in Bosnia and Herzegovina and other situations of Muslims that contain scenes which move people to be affected by them or to sympathize with them, and which call them to spend in the cause of Allah, and this is done through video tapes and photographic pictures? What is your opinion of those who prevent these things on the pretext that Allah is not obeyed through His disobedience, but rather He is obeyed through what He has prescribed?
The Shaykh : It is without doubt that obedience is contrary to disobedience, and Allah the Exalted is not obeyed through His disobedience. Therefore, if a person wanted to perform voluntary prayer after the 'Asr prayer, voluntary prayer is an obedience beloved to Allah, but if it occurs after the 'Asr prayer, what happens? It falls into disobedience, so it is not permissible to pray; one cannot draw near to Allah through His disobedience. However, those who film these scenes do not intend to draw near to Allah with them; rather, they intend to stir up the spirits, because the one who sees is not like the one who hears. We give you an example of a man who wanted to describe a car to us and said, "Its description is such and such, the hood is such and such, the bumper is such and such, the tires are such and such, the seats are such and such," and so on. If he were to spend an hour describing it to us, it would not be like what we saw it, is it not so?
The student: Yes.
The Shaykh : We all know this. So if these scenes are filmed on a video tape, then there is nothing wrong with it, because the video tape, according to what the researchers told me, does not have the image imprinted on the tape itself; rather, it is particles that, when they pass through a specific machine, the image appears, otherwise it is not an image. And on this basis, there is nothing wrong with it. As for photographic pictures, if they remain not hung up and not displayed, there is nothing wrong with them either, such as placing them in what is called a wallet or
The student: ...
The Shaykh : No, it is a card, but they are kept in what is called an album. And regarding the album, we ask the brother who mentioned it to verify for us that it is an Arabic word; it is necessary, it is necessary, if Allah wills, tomorrow he will bring it. You have the books of language, right? Write down its name so that he can bring it tomorrow. And likewise, we assign you the task of verifying the word "cash" as well! Well, in any case, I say they are placed in a wallet, and whoever comes and wants to look at them can look. But hanging them on the walls, I do not see that as permissible, because this is an advertisement for the pictures and a display of them. And likewise, on boxes, I see that they should not be displayed. This is my opinion, and others may see it differently, and Allah knows best.
The Shaykh : It is without doubt that obedience is contrary to disobedience, and Allah the Exalted is not obeyed through His disobedience. Therefore, if a person wanted to perform voluntary prayer after the 'Asr prayer, voluntary prayer is an obedience beloved to Allah, but if it occurs after the 'Asr prayer, what happens? It falls into disobedience, so it is not permissible to pray; one cannot draw near to Allah through His disobedience. However, those who film these scenes do not intend to draw near to Allah with them; rather, they intend to stir up the spirits, because the one who sees is not like the one who hears. We give you an example of a man who wanted to describe a car to us and said, "Its description is such and such, the hood is such and such, the bumper is such and such, the tires are such and such, the seats are such and such," and so on. If he were to spend an hour describing it to us, it would not be like what we saw it, is it not so?
The student: Yes.
The Shaykh : We all know this. So if these scenes are filmed on a video tape, then there is nothing wrong with it, because the video tape, according to what the researchers told me, does not have the image imprinted on the tape itself; rather, it is particles that, when they pass through a specific machine, the image appears, otherwise it is not an image. And on this basis, there is nothing wrong with it. As for photographic pictures, if they remain not hung up and not displayed, there is nothing wrong with them either, such as placing them in what is called a wallet or
The student: ...
The Shaykh : No, it is a card, but they are kept in what is called an album. And regarding the album, we ask the brother who mentioned it to verify for us that it is an Arabic word; it is necessary, it is necessary, if Allah wills, tomorrow he will bring it. You have the books of language, right? Write down its name so that he can bring it tomorrow. And likewise, we assign you the task of verifying the word "cash" as well! Well, in any case, I say they are placed in a wallet, and whoever comes and wants to look at them can look. But hanging them on the walls, I do not see that as permissible, because this is an advertisement for the pictures and a display of them. And likewise, on boxes, I see that they should not be displayed. This is my opinion, and others may see it differently, and Allah knows best.