Continuation of the explanation of the author's statement: "...and image-making..."
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The Shaykh : Regarding the rulings on images: if we create an image, yes, if we use this image to verify a person's identity, for example, out of fear that we might accuse someone else of a crime, this is also permissible, indeed it is required. If we create this image for the purpose of enjoying looking at it, this is forbidden without a doubt. A person sees a beautiful woman and says, "When will I see this bright, pleasant face? Come, boy, bring the camera," then he takes a picture and sits there gazing at her image. This is undoubtedly forbidden and not permissible.
Now, if he takes this picture for the sake of remembrance, saying, "I would like to see my children and remember them when they were small," yes, we say this is not permissible. Likewise, if he takes it for remembrance during a trip, whether he traveled with his colleagues or on a journey or something similar, we say all of this is not permissible. This is because we do not say this is not an image; it is an image without a doubt. So if he possesses it, the warning applies to whoever has an image, that the angels do not enter a house in which there is an image, as will come in the author's words, if Allah wills.
Thus, image-making is divided into categories. First, the image of what humans make, and this is permissible, whether it is three-dimensional or colored. Second, the image of what Allah created that has a spirit but no soul, such as trees and their like. The majority of scholars are of the opinion that this is permissible, whether it is three-dimensional or colored. Yes, and there are three-dimensional images of things that have a spirit, or not? There are, there are trees, some of them are paper and the like.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : Life.
The Shaykh : It has life, but it is a spirit; the life of every thing is according to its nature, yes, unlike the soul. For this reason, it came in the hadith:
The third category is what has a soul, and this is forbidden and not lawful, whether it is three-dimensional or colored. Even though some of the Salaf restricted this to three-dimensional images only, and many of the contemporary scholars and others followed them in this, the correct view is the general prohibition. This is the ruling on image-making.
Now, if he takes this picture for the sake of remembrance, saying, "I would like to see my children and remember them when they were small," yes, we say this is not permissible. Likewise, if he takes it for remembrance during a trip, whether he traveled with his colleagues or on a journey or something similar, we say all of this is not permissible. This is because we do not say this is not an image; it is an image without a doubt. So if he possesses it, the warning applies to whoever has an image, that the angels do not enter a house in which there is an image, as will come in the author's words, if Allah wills.
Thus, image-making is divided into categories. First, the image of what humans make, and this is permissible, whether it is three-dimensional or colored. Second, the image of what Allah created that has a spirit but no soul, such as trees and their like. The majority of scholars are of the opinion that this is permissible, whether it is three-dimensional or colored. Yes, and there are three-dimensional images of things that have a spirit, or not? There are, there are trees, some of them are paper and the like.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : Life.
The Shaykh : It has life, but it is a spirit; the life of every thing is according to its nature, yes, unlike the soul. For this reason, it came in the hadith:
It will be given a soul by which it will be tormented
يُجعل له نفس يعذب بهاThe third category is what has a soul, and this is forbidden and not lawful, whether it is three-dimensional or colored. Even though some of the Salaf restricted this to three-dimensional images only, and many of the contemporary scholars and others followed them in this, the correct view is the general prohibition. This is the ruling on image-making.