Is all image-making such as taking pictures of someone or anything else permissible or not? I see that some quote the hadith which prohibits image-making & says that this refers to all image making such as pictures, drawings of animate objects while other scholars say that the hadith refers to those who draw, edit & try to imitate Allah's creation & that camera pictures which is unedited is not included in that as shows what Allah actually created & not a imitation of Allah's creation
What is your opinion on the correct view?
The evidences in the Sunnah strictly prohibit tasweer (image-making) of living beings. The key point of difference among scholars is:
Does the prohibition include photography, or only hand-drawn images that imitate the creation of Allah?
Both positions exist among Ahl al-Sunnah. The stronger and safer view is explained below.
1. The General Prohibition of Image-Making
Qur'an
Allah says:
وَمَا هٰذِهِ الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا إِلَّا لَهْوٌ وَلَعِبٌ
This worldly life is nothing but play and amusement.
[Surah al-Ankaboot 29:64]
(Not directly about images, but many hadith clarify the ruling.)
Authentic Hadith
The Prophet ﷺ said:
أَشَدُّ النَّاسِ عَذَابًا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ الْمُصَوِّرُونَ
The most severely punished people on the Day of Resurrection will be the image-makers.
Reference: Saheeh al-Bukhari: 5950
And he said:
يُقَالُ لَهُمْ أَحْيُوا مَا خَلَقْتُمْ
It will be said to them: Bring to life what you created.
Reference: Saheeh Muslim: 2107
And he ﷺ cursed the makers of images:
لَعَنَ اللهُ الْمُصَوِّرِينَ
Allah has cursed the image-makers.
Reference: Saheeh al-Bukhari: 5950
These texts establish a general prohibition of creating images of animate beings.
2. Do These Hadith Include Photography?
View 1: Photography is Included
(This is the view of many scholars, including Shaykh Ibn Baz and the Lajnah ad-Daaimah.)
They argued:
The hadith are general and the Prophet ﷺ did not differentiate between mediums.
Photography produces an image of a living being.
The reason for prohibition includes:
blocking the means to shirk
imitating creation
glorifying images
keeping images of animate beings in homes
The Lajnah ad-Daaimah said:
التصوير الفوتوغرافي داخل في عموم النصوص المحرمة للتصوير
Photographic images fall under the general prohibition of image-making.
Reference: Fataawa al-Lajnah: 1/666
Shaykh Ibn Baz similarly considered normal photography prohibited except in cases of necessity such as ID documents.
View 2: Photography Is Not Included Because It Is Not Creating an Image
(This is the position of Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen and some contemporary scholars.)
Their reasoning:
Photography does not imitate or create a new form.
It merely captures a reflection that Allah created.
The prohibition in hadith refers to those who attempt to create or imitate living forms.
Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen said:
الصورة الفوتوغرافية ليست من باب التصوير المنهي عنه لأنها حبس ظل
Photographs are not the forbidden types of images, because they only capture the shadow (i.e., reflection).
Reference: Majmoo Fataawa Ibn Uthaymeen: 2/272
3. What Is the Stronger View?
The stronger view according to the majority of scholars is:
Photography of animate beings is prohibited unless there is a genuine need or necessity.
This is the position of:
Shaykh Ibn Baz
Lajnah ad-Daaimah
Shaykh al-Albani (also generally discouraged photos)
While Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen permitted photography, even he:
strongly forbade keeping pictures for decoration
forbade hanging them
forbade honoring them
allowed photography mainly as documentation or necessity
Thus, both views converge on avoiding images of animate beings except where needed.
