I have seen a fatwa of Mufti Taqi Usmani about digital pictures being allowed with reference to TV and mobile, and was based on rulings of music and non mahrams etc. My question is if this is allowed then cartoon movies and games should also be allowed conditional to stop or mute the music. Please guide.
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
The permissibility of digital photography and videos is a highly contested issue amongst contemporary ‘Ulamā. Whilst many ‘Ulamā permit this, many others consider it to be the same as typical photography, hence deeming it impermissible.
Whilst Mufti Taqi ‘Uthmānī Dāmat Barakātuhū may have issued the fatwa you refer to, it is preferable to abstain from all types of digital photography.
As far as the issue of cartoon movies is concerned, it is evident that they constitute a number of evils other than music and looking at non-mahrams. Hence, it is impermissible to watch movies. Refer to the following link for a detailed fatwa on movies and television:
http://askimam.org/public/question_detail/28579
As far as playing games is concerned, you may refer to the following link for a detailed fatwa:
http://askimam.org/public/question_detail/28417
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Nabeel Valli
Student Darul Iftaa
Lusaka, Zambia
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.
www.daruliftaa.net