1mran
8th May 2007, 05:19 PM
Pictures and Photographs[/b]
I Pray this reaches you in the best of Imaan and health.
I apologise for another long email, but the issue of “Pictures in Islam”, has been a very controversial and misunderstand topic. So Insha’Allah I have gathered information by Scholars who have given rulings using the Quran and Sunnah and the Understanding of the Salaf. So for anyone (including the so called “modern scholars”) to say any ruling is wrong or not correct, they should produce evidence that is equivalent in authenticity or better.
i have tried to restrict the Fatwas to those most relevant and common to the muslim youth, in the west.
May Allah forgive us for our shortcoming and guide us all. Ameen
1.) Ruling on Drawing
www.islam-qa.com (with extra references added)
Question: What is the ruling on drawing in Islam?
Answer: Praise be to Allaah.
Drawing is of two types: One is drawing pictures of animate beings. It says in the Sunnah that this is forbidden. It is not permitted to draw anything that depicts animate beings, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said,
Narrated Ibn 'Umar: The Prophet said, "The painters of these pictures will be punished on the Day of Resurrection, and it will be said to them, 'Make alive what you have created." [Sahih Bukhari, Volume 9, Book 93, Number 647] 'Abdullah reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: Verity the most grievously tormented people on the Day of Resurrection would be the painters of pictures. Ashajj (one of the narrators) in the hadith narrated by him did not make mention of the word" verity". [Sahih Muslim, Book 024, Number 5270] Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: Angels do not enter the house in which there are portrayals or pictures. [Sahih Muslim, Book 024, Number 5276]
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) cursed those who consume riba (interest, usury) and those who pay it, and he cursed the image-makers. This indicates that making images is forbidden. The scholars interpreted that as referring to images of animate beings such as animals, people and birds.
With regard to drawing inanimate objects – which is the second type of drawing – there is no sin in that, such as drawing mountains, trees, planes, cars and the like. There is nothing wrong with that, according to the scholars.
Narrated Said bin Abu Al-Hasan: While I was with Ibn 'Abbas a man came and said, "O father of 'Abbas! My sustenance is from my manual profession and I make these pictures." Ibn 'Abbas said, "I will tell you only what I heard from Allah's Apostle . I heard him saying, 'Whoever makes a picture will be punished by Allah till he puts life in it, and he will never be able to put life in it.' " Hearing this, that man heaved a sigh and his face turned pale. Ibn 'Abbas said to him, "What a pity! If you insist on making pictures I advise you to make pictures of trees and any other unanimated objects." [Sahih Bukhari, Volume 3, Book 34, Number 428]
With regard to forbidden kinds of pictures, an exception is made in cases of necessity, such as drawing pictures of criminals so that they will be known and caught, or pictures for identity cards which are essential and which cannot be obtained otherwise, and other cases of necessity. If the ruler decides that producing images of criminals is necessary, because of the seriousness of their crimes and to protect the Muslims from their evil when they are known, or for other reasons, there is nothing wrong with that. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “…He has explained to you in detail what is forbidden to you, except under compulsion of necessity …” [al-An’aam 6:119] Fataawa Noor ‘ala al-Darb by Shaykh Ibn Baaz, p. 302.
And Allaah knows best.
2.) Ruling on Photographs
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid
Question: ASSALAMALEIKUM My question is : IS the taking of PHOTOGRAPHS ALLOWED,(I know drawing pictures of living things is not allowed -but what about taking photograph's of people etc.), can you supply me with some evidence please. I need this information quickly.- Inshallah. Jaazakala hair.
Answer: Praise Be To Allah
Photography (Tasweer) means the taking of pictures of living, animate moving beings like people, animals, birds, etc. The ruling is that it is forbidden on the basis of several reports, such as the following:
These hadith indicate that pictures of animate things are haram, whether they are humans or other creatures, whether they are two dimensional or three dimensional, whether they are printed draw, sketched, engraves, carved, cast in models, etc. These hadith include all of these things.
The Muslim should submit to the teachings of Islam and not argue with them by saying, “But I am not worshipping them or prostrating to them!” if we think about just one aspect caused by the prevalence of photographs and pictures in our times, we will understand something of the wisdom behind this prohibition: that aspect is the great corruption caused by the provoking of physical desires and subsequent spread of immorality cause by these pictures.
The Muslim should not keep any pictures of animate beings in his house because they will prevent the angels from entering. Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: Angels do not enter the house in which there are portrayals or pictures. [Sahih Muslim, Book 024, Number 5276]
But nowadays, unfortunately, one can even find in Muslim homes statues of gods worshipped by the Kuffar (such as bhuda, etc) which they keep on the basis that they are antiques or decorative pieces. These things are more strictly prohibited than others, just as pictures which are hung up are worse than pictures which are not hung up, for how easy they can lead to glorification, an cause grief or be a source of boasting! We cannot say that these pictures are kept of memory’s sake, because true memories of a Muslim relative or friend reside in the heart, and we remember them by praying for mercy and forgiveness for them.
Taking pictures with a camera involves human actions such as focusing, pressing the shutter, developing, printing, and so on. was cannot call it anything other than “picture making” or tasweer which is the expression used by Arabic speakers to describe this action.
In the book Al-I’Laam bi naqd kitaab al-halaal wa’l-haram, the author says, “Photography is even more of an imitation of the creation of Allah than pictures that are engraved or drawn so it is even more deserving for being prohibited. There is nothing that could exclude photography from the general meaning of the reports.” [ p.42, see also Fatawa Islamiyyah, 4/355]
Among the scholars who have discussed the issue of photography are Sheikh Nassirudden Al-Albaani, who said, “Some of them differentiate between hand drawn pictures and photographs by claiming that the latter are nota product of human effort, and that no more is involved than mere capturing of the image. This is what they claim. The tremendous energy invested by the one who invented this machine that can do in a few second, which otherwise would take a few hours does not count as human effort, according to these people! Pointing the camera, focusing it and taking the picture, preceded by installation of the film, and followed by developing and whatever else that I may not know about… none of this is a result of human effort, according to them. Some of them explain how the photography is done, and summarize that no less than eleven actions are involved in making of the picture. In spite of all this, they say the photograph is not a result of human action! Can it be permissible to hang up a picture of a man, for example, if it is produced by photography and not drawn by hand?
Those who say photography is permitted have “frozen” the word “tasweer” restricting it only to the time known at the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and not adding the meaning of photography, which is “tasweer” or “picture making” in every sense – linguistic, legal and in its harmful effects and as is clear from the definition mentioned above. Years ago I said to one of them, by the same token, you can allow idols which have not been carved but made by pressing a button on some machine that turns out idols by the dozen, what do you say to that?” [aadaab Al-zafaaf, by Al-Albaani, p. 38]
It is also worth quorting opinions of contemporary scholars who say photographs can be taken, but should not be kept at home Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: Angels do not enter the house in which there are portrayals or pictures. [Sahih Muslim, Book 024, Number 5276]
There are many bad things involved in making of pictures. besides imitating the creation of Allah – which is an accusation denied by many of those who make pictures - reality bears witness to the great extent of immorality and provocation of desires caused by the prevalence of pictures and picture making nowadays. We must remove or blot our every picture, except when it is too difficult to do so like the pictures which are overwhelming prevalent in food packaging, or pictures using in encyclopaedias and reference books. We should remove what we can and be careful of any provocative pictures that we may find:
So keep your duty to Allâh and fear Him as much as you can; listen and obey; and spend in charity, that is better for yourselves. And whosoever is saved from his own covetousness, then they are the successful ones. (At-Taghabun 64:16)
Photographs which are essential are permitted – such as those required by identity documents, or for identifying and pursuiting criminals [Eg Wanted posters] or for educational purposes which cannot be achieved otherwise. The principle of shariah is that we should not exaggerate what is necessary.
And Allaah knows best.
3.) Hanging up pictures of children inside the house
www.islam-qa.com
Question: What is the ruling on hanging up pictures of children inside the house?.
Answer: Praise be to Allaah.
It is not permissible to hang up pictures at all, whether of children or adults. That is because of the stern prohibition narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) against keeping pictures and his command to ‘Ali (may Allaah be pleased with him): “Do not leave any image without erasing it or any raised grave without leveling it.” Narrated by Muslim, 1/66
Hence pictures must be removed, erased or burned and not kept. Hanging up pictures of animate beings inside houses or elsewhere deprives the people of that place of a great deal of good, which is the angels’ entering that house. It was narrated from Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri (may Allaah have mercy on him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The angels do not enter a house in which there are statues or images.” Narrated by Imam Ahmad; Saheeh al-Jaami’, 1961.
It is permissible to hang up pictures of inanimate things such as trees, mountains, seas and natural views, or other inanimate drawings, without being extravagant.
And Allaah knows best.
4.) Taking pictures for memories
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid
Question: Some people say taking pictures and keeping them at home is haraam, is this true?. Because in N. America and Europe for example we heard every day a missing children and with out their recent picture it is difficult to trace them, so could you explain to me what kind of pictures is haraam and what kind is not haraam, because I like to take pictures from my children just for memory and I keep them at home, am I commiting a sin, please specify for me and give me some daliil.
Answer: Praise be to Allaah.
The basic principle concerning making pictures of any animate being, whether it is a human or any animal, is that it is haraam, whether the pictures are three-dimensional or are drawn on paper, cloth or walls, etc., or are photographs (taken with a camera), because of the reports in the saheeh ahaadeeth which state that that is not allowed, and threaten the one who does that with a painful torment, and because they may lead to shirk in the form of standing respectfully before them, humbling oneself before them, drawing close to them and venerating them in a manner that is only befitting for Allaah. They are also forbidden because this is a kind of trying to match the creation of Allaah, and because of the temptation inherent in some of them, such as pictures of actresses and naked women, and so-called beauty queens.
Among the ahaadeeth which state that this is haraam and that it is a major sin is the hadeeth of Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him), who said, “I heard the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) say: ‘Whoever makes an image in this world will be told to breathe the soul into it on the Day of Resurrection, and he will never be able to do that.’” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari and Muslim). He [Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him)] also narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Every image-maker will be in the Fire, and every image that he made will be made to appear to him and will torment him in Hell.” Ibn ‘Abbaas said: “If you must do that, then make trees and things that have no soul.” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari and Muslim). The general meaning of the ahaadeeth is that it is absolutely forbidden to make images of anything that has a soul. Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah, 1/456-457
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said, when he was asked about pictures: making pictures for this purpose is haraam and is not permitted. That is because making pictures for memories is haraam, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, “The angels do not enter any house in which there is an image,” (narrated by al-Bukhaari, Bid’ al-Khalq, 2986), and whatever the angels do not enter had no goodness in it. Fataawa Manaar al-Islam, 3/759
And Allaah knows best.
5.) Is video taping a wedding party haraam?
www.islam-qa.com
Question: Insha Allaah i am getting married soon and i would like to know if video taping the wedding would be haraam. I know that taking pictures via a camera is haraam but i would like to know if video taping falls under the same category as photography. There are people who would like us to video tape the wedding but my intended and i would not like to compromise with picture taking, so we were wondering if we could video tape it instead..
Answer: Praise be to Allaah.
One of the evil actions that takes place during parties and celebrations is taking pictures of women. It is haraam whether the pictures are taken with a video camera or a regular camera, but taking pictures with a video camera is worse. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) forbade one woman to describe another to her husband as if he can see her – as it says in al-Saheehayn – so taking pictures – especially on video – is undoubtedly worse than simply describing, because the woman can be seen in a real sense, not just in the imagination. This, naturally, applies if the pictures are of women only. But if the gathering is mixed then there is another sin as well as the sin of making pictures. Usually in women's gatherings on such occasions they compete in wearing short and revealing clothes. So taking such pictures and distributing them leads to the spread of immorality and sin and encourages such things, and makes people start to take the matter lightly. What should a woman do if she does not want her picture to be taken at all, then her picture is taken of her in all her finery? What should a woman do whom Allaah has guided after she went astray, and pictures of her at parties are in circulation?
Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen said: In addition to the reservations about taking pictures at wedding parties as mentioned above, there is a very serious reservation which is: We have heard that some women bring cameras with them to take pictures of this celebration, and I do not know what justification these women have for taking pictures at these parties which are then spread among the people, intentionally or otherwise. Do those who take the pictures think that anyone approves of their actions? I do not think that anyone approves of what they do; I do not think that anyone would like his daughter’s or wife’s picture to be taken and kept by those misguided women to show to whomever they want, whenever they want? Would any of you agree for his mahrams’ pictures to be in the hands of other people, to be a source of mockery if they are ugly and a provocation of desire if they are beautiful?
We have even heard of something that is worse than that: that some people bring a video camera to these parties to take moving pictures, and they watch it themselves or show it to others every time they want to enjoy looking at these scenes.
We have also heard that some those who go to these parties and videotape them are young men, who mix with women at these parties or they sit alone with them, and no wise person who has any knowledge of the sources of sharee’ah will doubt that this is evil and is haraam, and that it is stooping to the lowest level of imitating the kuffaar.
Friday Khutbah in the Jami’ Mosque of ‘Unayzah, entitled Munkaraat al-Afraah Mahaadhir Laylat al-Zafaaf.
And the Shaykh also said: With regard to taking pictures of events, no wise person will doubt that this is reprehensible, and no wise person – let alone a believer – would agree to let his mahrams’ pictures be taken – mothers, daughters, sisters, wives – to be a product to be shown to everyone or be viewed for the enjoyment of any immoral person. Even worse than that is videotaping events, because this is like a living picture with sound. This is something that will be denounced by every person of sound mind and proper religious commitment, and we cannot imagine that anyone who has a sense of modesty and faith would allow it. Fataawa ‘Ulama’ al-Balad al-Haraam, p. 439.
And Allaah knows best.
6.) It is permissible to make pictures for essential purposes
www.islam-qa.com
Question: Are there some situations in which it is permissible to make pictures?.
Answer: Praise be to Allaah.
Making images and pictures of animate beings is completely forbidden at all times, except when there is an essential reason for doing so, such as a photo for a passport, or for identification documents, or to show pictures of suspects so that they will be recognized, or testing purposes, or when applying for a job, and other ways in which trickery may be prevented or security protected. In this case a concession is granted, only as much as is essential. [From Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah, 1/478].
And Allaah knows best.
7. ) Children looking at images for the purpose of learning
www.islam-qa.com and www.bilalphilips.com
Question: Should children be shown images of humans and animals since they may learn from them?.
Answer: Praise be to Allaah.
Shaykh Sulaymaan ibn Naasir al-‘Alwaan. Said:- The basic principle concerning image-making is that it is haraam except for that which has become unavoidable because it has become so widespread. So it is not permissible for the Muslim to make images of human beings or animals or any animate being, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) cursed the image-makers as narrated in al-Bukhaari, 5374. And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, “Every image-maker will be in Hell.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 2225; Muslim, 2110. And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said to ‘Ali (may Allaah be pleased with him): “Do not leave any image without erasing it.” (Narrated by Imam Muslim, 969).
If children need to look at images of human beings or animals, whether these are photographs or images on video tapes, if that is for a purpose – such as children or adults looking at pictures of our brothers in Palestine, Chechnya or Afghanistan – there is nothing wrong with a child looking at some pictures in order to learn. But we should also tell the child that making images is haraam and that this is only done by way of necessity, so that the child will grow up knowing the shar’i ruling.
The Islaamic magazine, al-Usrah, published Saudi Arabia grappled with the issue of figurative illustrations when they decided to launch a magazine especially targeted towards children. They wanted to provide an alternative to what was present in the marketplace, which had little Islaamic content and was introducing some un-Islaamic values to their readers. They noticed that every single magazine for children printed in the Arab world as well as in the west was filled with illustrations of children, animals, etc. The reality is that colorful drawings are something that children are attracted to. If given the choice between reading a text with pictures and a text without them, they will always choose the illustrated text. The editors of al-Usrah thought of trying to address this situation by using drawings of inanimate objects with features added to make them look like live characters, but they decided that technique was too limited to use for the whole magazine.
In researching the Sharee'ah issues related to the drawing of living creatures, they reached the following conclusions:
1. The basic rule regarding figurative illustrations is that they are haraam.
2. The reason for the prohibition is that it involves imitation of Allaah’s attributes of Creator and Bestower of Forms, in addition to the role of images in paving the way for shirk by magnifying the greatness of the illustrated beings, which leads to their being worshipped.
3. There is an exception to the general prohibition for children’s toys, as is specifically indicated in hadeeth texts, due to the fact that the main reason for the prohibition is not present and that there is a tangible benefit, worthy of consideration, in their use.
4. This exception to the prohibition of image-making is also applicable to whatever represents a tangible benefit, given consideration by the Sharee‘ah, or prevents or removes an expected harm, whether in the fields of education, public safety or other areas.
5. Pictures drawn specially for children enter into the exception, by analogy with children's dolls and toys, on the one hand, and in order to realize the benefits recognized by the Sharee'ah and due to the pressing need for them in contemporary children's stories, on the other hand.
In this regard, Shaykh Naasiruddeen al-Albaanee stated in his book, Adaab az-Zafaaf: “These two hadeeths (the hadeeth of Aaishah's dolls and the hadeeth about the sahaabah’s practice of giving their fasting children toy figures to distract them from their hunger) indicate the permissibility of creating images and of owning them when there is an educational benefit in doing so, one that will help in the cultivation and development of the personality. Whatever else is of benefit to the Muslims and Islam may be included in the same ruling of permissibility of picture making and use, but everything beside that remains under the basic prohibition.” [p. 196]
And Allaah knows best.
8.) Ruling on buying and keeping fashion magazines
www.islam-qa.com
Question: What is the ruling on (buying) fashion magazines such as Burda, in order to find out about new and different styles for women’s clothes? What is the ruling on keeping them after using them, since they are full of pictures of women?
Answer: Praise be to Allaah.
Undoubtedly buying magazines in which there is nothing but pictures is haraam, because keeping pictures is haraam. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The angels do not enter a house in which there are images.” And when he saw the images on the cushion that ‘Aa’ishah had brought, he stopped and did not enter, and she saw signs of displeasure on his face. These magazines which show pictures of fashion should not be looked at. Not every kind of dress is permissible; because some designs may show the ‘awrah either because they are too tight or for some other reason. This fashion may be part of the dress of the kaafirs which belongs exclusively to them, and imitating the kaafirs is haraam because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever imitates a people is one of them.” What I advise my Muslim brothers in general, and the Muslim women in particular, to do is to avoid these fashions, because some of them may involve imitating non-Muslims and some may involve showing the ‘awrah. Moreover, if women look to every new fashion, will lead to them abandoning our customs which are based on from our religion, and adopting other customs that have come from the non-Muslims. [ Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen in al-Fataawa al-‘Jaami’ah li’l-Mar’ah al-Muslimah, part 3, p. 861]
And Allaah knows best.
9.) Selling cameras to those who will use them for haraam pictures
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid
Question: My husband is selling digital cameras for a living. Some of his buyers are photographers who also do nude photography. Is is permissable for him to sell cameras to such people knowing what they will be using it for?
Answer: Praise be to Allaah.
It is not permissible to sell anything that will be used for haraam purposes, or which one thinks will most likely be used for such purposes. This includes selling cameras to people who will use them for haraam purposes. See the answer to question no. 10668 concerning the ruling on picture making. Undoubtedly selling them to people who will take nude pictures is even more haraam, because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “…but do not help one another in sin and transgression…” [al-Maa'idah 5:2]
Undoubtedly, taking such pictures with them is one of the means of spreading evil and immorality in society; whoever sells these cameras to them is undoubtedly helping them in spreading evil, and helping others to do haraam is also haraam.
Selling digital cameras (which do not produce fixed images) to those who will take good pictures (beneficial pictures), such as Islamic lectures and khutbahs, or permissible things such as trees, rivers and natural scenes, is OK. Every Muslim businessman has to fear Allaah and be sincere towards his Muslim brothers, and he should not sell anything except that which is good for them and will benefit them. He should keep away from that which is evil and harmful to them. The things that are halaal are sufficient so there is no need for anything that is haraam. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “And whosoever fears Allaah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty). And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine [al-Talaaq 65:2-3]
And Allaah knows best.
10.) Praying in a room in which there are images
www.islam-qa.com
Question: Is it permissible to pray in a room in which there are images?
Answer: Praise be to Allaah.
The most correct view is that it is not permissible to pray in a room in which images of animate beings are hanging, on the basis of several reports, including the following: The hadeeth of Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him), who said: the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The angels do not enter a house in which there is a dog or images.” (Agreed upon). The hadeeth of ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) who said: “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) returned from a journey and I had covered an alcove with a blanket on which there were images. When the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) saw it, he tore it down and said, ‘The people who will be most severely punished on the Day of Resurrection will be those who imitate the creation of Allaah.’” (Agreed upon). The hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) who said: the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Jibreel came to me and said: ‘I came to you yesterday and nothing prevented me from entering except that there was a statue by your door, and there was a curtain in your house with images on it, and there was a dog in the house. So tell someone to cut the head off the statue by your door, so it will look like a tree; tell someone to cut up the curtain and make it into floor-cushions that will be stepped on; and tell someone to put the dog outside.’” So the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did that. (Narrated by Abu Dawood, al-Tirmidhi and Ahmad).
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) gave a brief answer to this question, when he was asked: is it permissible to pray in synagogues and churches where there are images, or not? Can we say that they are the houses of Allaah, or not? He replied: they are not the houses of Allaah, for the houses of Allaah are the mosques. These (churches etc.) are houses in which people express their disbelief (kufr) in Allaah. Even though Allaah may be mentioned in them, the house is the same as its occupants, and their occupants are kuffaar, so they are the houses of worship of the kuffaar.
As regards praying in them, there are three scholarly views in the Madhhab of Ahmad and others: absolute prohibition, which is the view of Maalik; absolute permission, which is the view of some of the companions of Ahmad; and the third view, which is the correct view and was narrated from ‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab and others, and from Ahmad and others. This view states that if there are images in the church, we should not pray there, because the angels do not enter a house in which there are images, and because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) did not enter the Ka’bah until the images inside it had been wiped out. Similarly, ‘Umar said: we do not enter their churches if there are images inside. Churches are like mosques that are built over graves. In al-Saheehayn it says that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was told about a church in Ethiopia, and the adornments and images inside it. He said: “When a righteous man among them dies, they build a mosque (place of worship) over his grave and put those images there. They will be the most evil of people with Allaah on the Day of Resurrection.” But the Sahaabah did pray in churches in which there were no images. Reference: Masaa’il wa rasaa’il, Muhammad al-Mahmoud al-Najdi, p. 28
And Allaah knows best.
11.) TV and movie pictures and video pictures
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid
Question: I have a question regarding pictures -Are pictures that are manafactured through means such as video, computers etc. (i.e. they come on and off the screen)permissable? Can you please verify this with proof and evidence?
Answer: Praise be to Allaah.
The ruling on a thing depends on the way in which it is perceived. It is essential to know how the picture-making you refer to is done. The author of Risaalat Ahkaam al-Tasweer (The ruling on picture-making) said:
1. Movie pictures or pictures on a cinema film:
This is a method which transmits moving pictures with sound for a limited time span, showing all the events that happened within this time frame. The picture which is shown by the film on the screen is the shadow or reflection of that thing, not its real essence, after it has been recorded on the film. It says in al-Sharee’ah al-Islamiyyah wa’l-Funoon (Islamic sharee’ah and the Arts) that the cinema is called [in Arabic] akhyaliyyah [from khayaal, meaning shadow or dim reflection], “because it shows the shadows of things, not their real essence.”
2 – TV pictures
This is a method which transmits pictures and sounds at the same time via an electrical impulse. This is the result of the effect of light from the object whose picture is being taken being reflected on a mica sheet which is covered with a vast number of tiny particles made of photosensitive material, manufactured from silver oxide and caesium, of which the particles are separated from one another and isolated electrically.
This kind of image-making using machines is very similar to the image on a movie film, but in TV pictures, the images are changed to electronic signals, then to electromagnetic waves, which are then either sent via antennas to be picked up by the receiving apparatus in TV sets, within the range that the signal can reach, or they are sent to be stored in the form of magnetic changes on plastic tapes that have been plated with the appropriate magnetic substance that can store these waves.
In order to show what has been recorded on these tapes after these waves have been stored, it has to pass through a machine which transforms it once more into electronic signals then sends it to a screen in the form of electrical signals, so that it appears as a picture, but only after a complex operation.
The TV set is the equipment which receives the electrical waves and gathers them, then transmits them in a regulated manner in the form of a picture with complete features. There is another kind which is considered to be similar to this kind of image-making. This is something similar to the telephone which is used in some industrially-advanced countries, which transmits both the voice and the image of the speaker, so both parties can see one another on the screen of the device on which they are talking.
Similarly, there are cameras which are installed at the doors of houses. This system picks up the voice and image of the person who is coming to the house and transmits it to a screen inside the house, so that whoever is inside the house can see it clearly. And similarly there is equipment which is used to watch out for criminals stealing and so on in banks, stores, etc.
These kinds of equipment are considered to be of one kind, but are used for a variety of purposes, whereby the camera covers the area which is to be watched over, and it transmits the images to a screen like a TV, where the image appears clearly. New things are appearing all the time, and we do not know what will appear in the future. If this indicates anything, it indicates the mind-boggling expansion of the use of machines to make images of both kinds, both still and moving, in many areas, including manufacturing, war, security, education, medicine, social, etc. Ahkaam al-Tasweer by Ahmad ibn ‘Ali Waasil, p. 65-67
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said:
With regard to pictures made in the modern fashion, they fall into two categories:
The first category is those which have no tangible substance (and can only be seen by running them through a machine), as I was told is the case with pictures on video tapes. There is no ruling at all concerning these, and they do not come under the prohibition at all. Hence the scholars who forbid making pictures with cameras on paper (photographs) permitted this (video pictures), and said that there is nothing wrong with this. Then it was asked, is it permissible to film lectures which are given in the mosques? The (scholarly) view was that it is better not to do that, because it may disturb the worshippers and because they may film things that may not be appropriate, and so on.
The second category is fixed or still pictures on paper (photographs) …
But the matter needs further discussion if one wants to make these kind of permissible pictures. For they are subject to five rulings which depend on the intention. If the intention is something forbidden, then it is haraam. If he intends something waajib (obligatory), then it is waajib. Sometimes pictures may be essential, especially moving pictures. For example, if we see someone in the act of committing a crime against a person’s rights, such as an attempt to kill and so on, and we cannot prove it in any way but by taking pictures, then in this case taking pictures becomes waajib, especially in cases where pictures may decide the case. The means are subject to the rulings on the ends. If we make these pictures in order to prove the identity of a person for fear that someone else may be accused of the crime, this is also acceptable, indeed it is essential. But if we take these pictures just to enjoy looking at them, this is undoubtedly haraam... And Allaah knows best.” (See Al-Sharh al-Mumti’, 2/197-199)
And Allaah knows best.
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