Assalamualaikum Warahmatullah
I wanted to know the ruling in light of the Hanafi madhab about pictures. I have heard from local Sheikhs that in the Hanafi madhab, we can take pictures of animate objects (such as people) on our phones or other digital devices as long as we don’t print them. Is this correct? And, if not, what is the actual status of this ruling i.e. Makrooh, Haram, etc.?
JazakAllah Khair
Walaikumassalam Warahmatullah
الجواب وباللہ التوفیق
Watching or taking a picture or image of an animate object in your mobile, whether it was through digital or non-digital camera, is considered impermissible, even if it is not printed on a paper. The ahadith regarding impermissibility of picture are almost mutawatir al-muani, therefore, it has been mentioned in Bukhari sharif:
إن عائشة حدثتہ أن النبي صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم لم یکن یترک في بیتہ شیئًا فیہ تصالیب إلا نقضہ
(۸۸۰،۲)
In another place it has been mentioned:
قال دَخَلْتُ مَعَ أَبِی ہُرَیْرَةَ دَارًا بِالْمَدِینَةِ فَرَأَھا أَعْلاَہَا مُصَوِّرًا یُصَوِّرُ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّہِ- صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم- یَقُولُ: وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّنْ ذَہَبَ یَخْلُقُ کَخَلْقِی، فَلْیَخْلُقُوا حَبَّةً، وَلْیَخْلُقُوا ذَرَّة
In the light of all of these ahadith, taking a picture through a mobile phone or digital camera is considered impermissible and haram. Similarly, watching it is also considered haram. This is the same fatwa from Darululoom Deoband as well (Fatwa ID 29328).
فقط واللہ اعلم بالصواب