Photo/video

20 Apr 2019 Ref-No#: 1564

Salaam Alaykum wa ramatuaah wa barakatuhu

Is taking photos and home videos of ones young children for the purpose of memories permissible? Can they be stored digitally or in album? I question if it’s haram and it makes me scared if it is bc I have pictures and video of them I take on my mobile but same time I’m worried if I don’t keep my children’s baby photos to make album for them they would be upset at me they don’t have this when they get older or their future wives might want to see their baby picture and be like y I didn’t keep their photos Also What if the child is kidnapped wouldn’t the parents need to have an updated photo of the child

Also my nonmuslim parents have pictures of me displayed at their homes without hijab. I politely asked my mom to take them down. She refused. What should I do? Also if I am visiting and they insist on taking my picture and my young children’s picture how should I handle this situation bc if I say no pictures to them especially if I forbid them from taking my children’s pictures they would get very upset and offended and force my children to be in their picture. How should I handle this situation?

Jazakum Allahu khairan

Answer

Wa’alaykum as Salam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu,

There is clear and stern prohibition for taking pictures. In a narration of Sahih al-Bukhari, the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said,

«إِنَّ أَشَدَّ النَّاسِ عَذَابًا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ يَوْمَ القِيَامَةِ المُصَوِّرُونَ»

“Verity the most grievously tormented people on the Day of Resurrection will be those who made pictures.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, 7/167)

Likewise, keeping a physical picture is also prohibited, and it deprives one of immense blessings. The angels told the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam),

إنا لا ندخل بيتا فيه صورة ولا كلب

“Verily, we do not enter a home wherein there are pictures (of animate objects) or a dog.” (Sahih al-Bukhari, 7/168)

However, due to the difference of opinion on digital photography, there is some leeway in keeping those pictures which you already have. 

We as Muslims should be more concerned about making Allah Ta’ala angry. We cannot please any creation at the expense of disobeying Allah. Allah is also the controller of hearts, and if you obey Allah, Allah will fill the hearts of your children with love and obedience for you.

Why be negative and think of the child being kidnapped. From the billions of people on this planet, how many are kidnapped and found because a recent picture of theirs was available? Also, over the thousands of years before the advent of a camera, how were those who were kidnapped identified? Look at it in another way, what if a kidnapper gets hold of the picture, and uses that picture as a means of kidnapping. Put your reliance on Allah, teach your kids to pray Fajr, read Ayah al-Kursi, 3 Quls and the Dua when leaving the home, and have reliance on Allah. Insha Allah, they will be safe.

As for your picture by your parents place, you will have to weigh your options. If you think it is possible to take off the picture yourself, and in a week or two things will be fine, then you should take down the pictures when no one is there. Since it is a picture of you, you have the full authority and right to do this. However, if removing your pictures yourself will cause more problems, then your duty is just to continuously request them to remove your pictures.

Your parents are not obliged to follow the laws of Shariah, so if they take any pictures, you will not be sinful. You just need to constantly remind them that you are not comfortable with them taking the pictures.

References

قد اختلف العلماء في جواز التصوير بالكاميرا. قال بعضهم أنه يجوز وقال الآخرون لا، فتأمل:

القائلون بالجواز:

أما التلفزيون والفيديو فلا شك في حرمة استعمالها بالنظر إلى ما يشتملان عليه من المنكرات الكثيرة … ولكن هل ياتي فيهما حكم التصوير بحيث إذا كان التلفيزيون أو الفيديو خاليا من هذه المنكرات بأسرها هل يحرم بالنظر إلى كونه تصويرا؟ فإن لهذا العبد  الضعيف عفا الله عنه فيه وقفة، وذلك لأن الصورة المحرمة ما كانت منقوشة أو منحوتة بحيث يصبح لها صفة الإستقرار على شيء وهي الصورة التي كان الكفار يستعملونها للعبادة. أما الصورة التي ليس لها ثبات واستقرار وليست منقوشة على شيء بصفة دائمة فإنها بالظل أشبه منها بالصورة. فإن كانت صور الإنسان حية بحيث تبدوا على الشاشة في نفس الوقت الذي يظهر الانسان أمام الكاميرا فإن الصورة لاتستقر على الكاميرا ولا على الشاشة، وإنما هي أجزاء كهربائية تنتقل من الكاميرا إلى الشاشة وتظهر عليها بترتيب الأصلي ثم تنفى وتزول … فتنزيل هذه الصورة منزلة الصورة المستقرة مشكل  (  فتح الملهم  (5/ 98-

 

قال الشيخ محمد بخيت : فاخذ الصورة بالفوتغرافيا الذي هو عبارة عن الحبس الظل بالوسائط المعلومة لارباب هذه الصناعة ليس من التصوير المنهي عنه في شيئ لان التصوير المنهي عنه هو ايجاد صورة و صنع صورة لم تكن موجودة و لا مصنوعة من قبل (الجواب الشافي في اباحة التصوير الفوتوغرافي – ص:23)

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