Islamic Ruling on Photography
✍ Written by: Shaykh Mubashar Ahmad Rabbani (ḥafiẓahullāh)
Question:
Is adopting photography as a profession permissible in Islam?
Answer:
According to the Qur’ān and Sunnah, making pictures is absolutely impermissible and a major sin. Today, this practice has become so widespread that from government assemblies to the smallest huts, the walls of our country are adorned with pictures. By displaying images everywhere, people are inviting the deprivation of Allāh’s mercy and His curse. This evil has spread so extensively that it has engulfed both the elite and the common people.
When a sin becomes prevalent in an entire society, people often stop even recognizing it as a sin. However, no matter how common a sin becomes, it does not change the Sharʿī ruling. Every ruling issued from the tongue of the Prophet ﷺ remains firm and everlasting.
It was through images that shirk and misguidance first entered previous nations. Shayṭān deceived them and entrapped them in the curse of picture-making.
The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said:
«اولئك إذا مات منهم الرجل الصالح، بنوا على قبره مسجدا , ثم صوروا فيه تلك الصورة، اولئك شرار الخلق عند الله»
“When a righteous man among them died, they built a mosque over his grave and made images in it. They are the worst of creation in the sight of Allāh.”
[Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Janaʾiz: Bāb bināʾ al-masjid ʿalā al-qabr, ḥadīth 1341]
Statements of Scholars:
In today’s era, when immorality, indecency, and shamelessness have crossed all limits, it is clear to all that images are a major cause of this corruption, further fueled by VCRs, televisions, and obscene publications. The proofs for the prohibition of images are many; a few are mentioned below:
Nawāb Ṣiddīq Ḥasan رحمه الله also states that using an image implies approval of the image-maker’s act, and this ruling applies to all forms — whether on fabric, cushions, utensils, weapons, books, whether made by hand or by device — for the term ṣūrah (image) applies to both.
From the above explanation, it is clear that both the image-maker — whether by hand or device — and the one who uses the image fall under the warning mentioned in the ḥadīth.
Conclusion:
It is evident from the above aḥādīth that image-makers will face severe punishment on the Day of Judgment and will be ordered to give life to their images, which they will never be able to do. Making images is an imitation of Allāh’s creation and is cursed by the Prophet ﷺ, thus making it a major sin. This applies to all kinds of images, whether large or small, printed on cloth, paper, walls, currency notes, or books — whether made by hand or by machine.
We must avoid them entirely. Likewise, the one who commissions an image is also included in the warnings, because his approval indicates consent to the sinful act. Engaging in the trade and sale of images is also ḥarām, just as the sale of wine is ḥarām and its price unlawful.
Exception in Necessity:
Since our current government is devoid of Islamic governance and it is mandatory for citizens to have a national identity card — without which official matters cannot proceed — in such circumstances, taking only the required photograph for necessity is permissible, similar to the concession of eating carrion in life-threatening situations.
Allāh says:
«فَمَنِ اضْطُرَّ غَيْرَ بَاغٍ وَلَا عَادٍ فَلَا إِثْمَ عَلَيْهِ» [Al-Baqarah: 173]
“So whoever is compelled by necessity, neither desiring it nor transgressing its limits — there is no sin upon him.”
✍ Written by: Shaykh Mubashar Ahmad Rabbani (ḥafiẓahullāh)
Question:
Is adopting photography as a profession permissible in Islam?
Answer:
According to the Qur’ān and Sunnah, making pictures is absolutely impermissible and a major sin. Today, this practice has become so widespread that from government assemblies to the smallest huts, the walls of our country are adorned with pictures. By displaying images everywhere, people are inviting the deprivation of Allāh’s mercy and His curse. This evil has spread so extensively that it has engulfed both the elite and the common people.
When a sin becomes prevalent in an entire society, people often stop even recognizing it as a sin. However, no matter how common a sin becomes, it does not change the Sharʿī ruling. Every ruling issued from the tongue of the Prophet ﷺ remains firm and everlasting.
It was through images that shirk and misguidance first entered previous nations. Shayṭān deceived them and entrapped them in the curse of picture-making.
The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said:
«اولئك إذا مات منهم الرجل الصالح، بنوا على قبره مسجدا , ثم صوروا فيه تلك الصورة، اولئك شرار الخلق عند الله»
“When a righteous man among them died, they built a mosque over his grave and made images in it. They are the worst of creation in the sight of Allāh.”
[Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Janaʾiz: Bāb bināʾ al-masjid ʿalā al-qabr, ḥadīth 1341]
Statements of Scholars:
- Nawāb Ṣiddīq Ḥasan Khān رحمه الله:
«ولم يشع الشرك فى الامم ولم يدخل فيهم الا من باب التصوير»
“Shirk did not spread among the nations except through images.”
[Tanqīḥ 3/252] - Ḥāfiẓ Ibn Ḥajar al-ʿAsqalānī رحمه الله:
«وكان غلب كفر الامم من جهة الصور»
“The dominant cause of disbelief in many nations was through images.”
[Fatḥ al-Bārī 8/17]
In today’s era, when immorality, indecency, and shamelessness have crossed all limits, it is clear to all that images are a major cause of this corruption, further fueled by VCRs, televisions, and obscene publications. The proofs for the prohibition of images are many; a few are mentioned below:
- From Sayyidah ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها:
«أشد الناس عذابا يوم القيامة الذين يضاهون بخلق الله»
“The people who will receive the severest punishment on the Day of Judgment are those who try to imitate the creation of Allāh.”
[Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Libās: Bāb mā wuṭiʾa min al-taṣāwīr, ḥadīth 5954] - From Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه:
Allāh says:
«ومن أظلم ممن ذهب يخلق كخلقي فليخلقوا ذرة أو ليخلقوا حبة أو شعيرة»
“Who is more unjust than the one who tries to create like My creation? Let them create an ant, or a grain of wheat, or a grain of barley.”
[Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Tawḥīd: ḥadīth 7559] - Explanation from Tanqīḥ al-Ruwāt:
“In this ḥadīth is proof of the prohibition of image-making, and that it is among the gravest sins, because it is imitation of the Creator.”
[Tanqīḥ al-Ruwāt 3/253]
Nawāb Ṣiddīq Ḥasan رحمه الله also states that using an image implies approval of the image-maker’s act, and this ruling applies to all forms — whether on fabric, cushions, utensils, weapons, books, whether made by hand or by device — for the term ṣūrah (image) applies to both.
From the above explanation, it is clear that both the image-maker — whether by hand or device — and the one who uses the image fall under the warning mentioned in the ḥadīth.
- From ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما:
«ومن صور صورة عذب وكلف ان ينفخ فيها و ليس بنافخ»
“Whoever makes an image will be punished and will be tasked to breathe life into it, but he will never be able to do so.”
[Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Taʿbīr, ḥadīth 7042] - From Abū Ṭalḥah رضي الله عنه:
«لا تدخل الملائكة بيتا فيه كلب ولا تصاوير»
“The angels do not enter a house in which there is a dog or pictures.”
[Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Libās: Bāb al-taṣāwīr, ḥadīth 5949]
Conclusion:
It is evident from the above aḥādīth that image-makers will face severe punishment on the Day of Judgment and will be ordered to give life to their images, which they will never be able to do. Making images is an imitation of Allāh’s creation and is cursed by the Prophet ﷺ, thus making it a major sin. This applies to all kinds of images, whether large or small, printed on cloth, paper, walls, currency notes, or books — whether made by hand or by machine.
We must avoid them entirely. Likewise, the one who commissions an image is also included in the warnings, because his approval indicates consent to the sinful act. Engaging in the trade and sale of images is also ḥarām, just as the sale of wine is ḥarām and its price unlawful.
Exception in Necessity:
Since our current government is devoid of Islamic governance and it is mandatory for citizens to have a national identity card — without which official matters cannot proceed — in such circumstances, taking only the required photograph for necessity is permissible, similar to the concession of eating carrion in life-threatening situations.
Allāh says:
«فَمَنِ اضْطُرَّ غَيْرَ بَاغٍ وَلَا عَادٍ فَلَا إِثْمَ عَلَيْهِ» [Al-Baqarah: 173]
“So whoever is compelled by necessity, neither desiring it nor transgressing its limits — there is no sin upon him.”
