Question:
Respected Mufti Saheb,
Assalamualaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu,
I hope, Insha Allah, this e-mail finds you in the best of health and of course Imaan! I have a query about the photographic image. My daughter is over a year old now, but before I had opportunity to visit her grandparents from her father’s side, her ‘Dada’ passed away during last Ramadan. A visit, Insha Allah, is planned this coming summer, however, in the meantime Ma has asked that we send her a recent photo of her granddaughter; she lives alone with my brother-in-law.
What I would like to know is whether in the case of sending my mother-in-law, who is living overseas, a photographic image of her grand-daughter whom she has never yet seen in person, would be in accordance with the Shari’ah or not?
May Allah (SWT) reward you with good in This Life and the Next for your answers,
Wassalaam,
Answer:
Nabi (S.A.W.) has mentioned, “Those who engage in picture making will experience a most severe punishment by Allah.” (Mishkaat, Page 385)
With regards to a photograph taken on a digital camera, there is a difference of opinion amongst the Ulamaa. Some are of the opinion that it does not take the ruling of Tasweer (picture), which is prohibited in the Ahadeeth while others say that it is Tasweer and therefore Haraam.
In the question submitted, you mention that a visit is planned in the near future; therefore we do not see any need in taking a picture beforehand. We strongly advise you to ponder over the aforementioned Hadith and ask Allah to enable us to refrain from such acts which are disliked by Him. Aameen.
And Allah Ta’ala knows best
Ebrahim bin Zainul Abedeen Backus
Attested to as correct by:
Mufti Muhammad Ashraf
Darul Iftaa
Jameah Mahmoodiyah
Springs
18 June 2005
11 Jumaadul Oola 1426