Fatawa on the ruling of Photos:
🔸 Question:
What is the ruling on taking photographs, when they are for necessity and when they are for adornment?
Answer: _Pictures of living (humans and animals) are unlawful except for necessity.
Examples of necessity include identity photos, passport photos, or photos of criminals for the purpose of identification and then arrest when they commit a crime or attempt to flee.
Permanent Committee for Research and Verdicts
Fatawa Islamiyah Darussalam Vol:8 page no .156
🔸 Shaykh Bin Baz
Question: What is the ruling concerning hanging a picture on the wall? What is the ruling concerning owning pictures of people?
Answer: It is not allowed to hang a picture or keep a picture of any being that possesses a soul. It is obligatory to destroy such pictures. This is because the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi-wasallam) said,
“Do not leave any image, but [instead] efface it.” [1]
It was confirmed in the hadith of Jabir radiyallaahu ‘anhu that,
“That because the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi-wasallam) prohibited having pictures in houses.” [2]
Therefore, all pictures meant for remembrance should be torn to pieces or burnt. However, pictures that are needed out of necessity, such as for official identification purposes and so forth, may be kept.
[1] Recorded by Muslim.
[2] Recorded by Tirmidhi and Ahmed. Al-Albani says it is Sahih
Shaykh `Abdul-`Azeez Bin Baz
Islamic Fatawa Regarding Women – Darussalam Pg.41-42
🔸 Question:
What is the ruling concerning taking pictures using a mobile phone considering some people say that it is just capturing a shadow and there is no prohibition in that, so what is the ruling concerning that?
Answer: For HIM there is no prohibition in that, as for the Sunnah and the evidences then picture taking/making in general is Haraam (prohibited) and the picture maker is cursed. And he will receive from the most severest of punishments on the Day of Judgment. So what is it that takes the mobile phone out from this generality? The Messenger made picture making Haraam without exception by any means; (whether that be by way of ) a mobile phone, a camera, by hand(sculpting) or by drawing, he made it absolutely Haraam. So who is he that makes an exception from what the messenger sallallaahu alaihi wasallam said and attempts to redress the messenger. Apart from that the Muhaqqiqeen (verifiers) from the Scholars make an exception in the case of necessity, if a person is in need of taking a picture for a necessity then it is allowed due to this necessity due to His saying the Most High:
(وقَدْ فَصَّلَ لَكُم مَّا حَرَّمَ عَلَيْكُمْ إلاَّ مَا اضْطُرِرْتُمْ إلَيْهِ )
while He has explained to you in detail what is forbidden to you, except under compulsion of necessity?
[Surah al-‘An’aam:119]
As for picture taking as a hobby or as a form of art by the use of the camera or by hand or by any object then it is Haraam and it is not allowed except in case of necessity only. In accordance to the necessity it is a concession. It is a concession due to a necessity only.
Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan
Taken from the Shaykhs lecture series:(Tafseer of Surah al-Hujuraat to Surah an-Naas) Monday 15 Shawwal 1427H.
🔸 Question:
When I go out on excursions with a group of friends, I take pictures to keep them as mementos. What is the ruling on taking pictures for this purpose?
Answer: The ruling is this practice is that it is unlawful, that is, if the picture is taken of something with a sole (a human or an animal), The Prophet (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) said: The people who will be most severely punished on the Day of Judgement will be the picture-makers. [1]
The Prophet (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) also cursed those who make pictures. As for taking pictures of things without a soul a car, a plane, a tree, etc., there is no harm in that. And with Allaah is the facilitation to do what is right.
[1] Al-Bukhari no. 5950 and Muslim no. 2109.
Shaykh `Abdul-`Azeez Bin Baz
Fatawa Islamiyah Vol. 8 Page 125