Ruling on Photographs Taken by a Camera

Authored by: Shaykh Muhammad Nasiruddin Al-Albani (رحمه الله)
Source:
This response is derived from the book 500 Questions and Answers for Women based on the fatwas of scholars of Haramain, translated by Hafiz Abdullah Saleem.

The Question:​

Some people issue fatwas stating that photographs taken with a camera do not fall under the prohibition of images mentioned in Islamic teachings because they are merely a “capture of a shadow.” What is your opinion on this matter?

The Answer:​

This is a modern misconception and a form of delusion. The question arises: who is responsible for capturing this shadow? Undoubtedly, it is humans, and it is the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) who prohibited creating images and earning through them. Thus, a Muslim is not allowed to differentiate between two things that essentially share the same characteristics.

Whether the image is drawn by hand or captured by a camera, both are subject to the same ruling. A photograph taken with a camera does not fall outside the prohibition of hand-drawn images because the human hand is responsible for inventing and operating the camera.

Historical Context of Permissive Fatwas on Photography:​

When photographic images first became widespread, a fatwa from Cairo declared their permissibility, along with the reasoning mentioned above. This fatwa gained acceptance among people because of their desires. Over time, some Islamic magazines even published this ruling. However, the situation evolved, and eventually, even these magazines retracted their stance, declaring all types of images impermissible, including hand-drawn and camera-generated ones.

Scholarly Views on Sculpted vs. Flat Images:​

From earlier times, scholars have expressed two opinions regarding the prohibition of images:

1. All Types of Images Are Prohibited:
   This is the correct opinion supported by the Hadith of Aisha (رضي الله عنها), where the Prophet (ﷺ) tore down a curtain with pictures.
2. Only Sculpted (Three-Dimensional) Images Are Prohibited:
   Some scholars differentiate between sculpted and flat images. For instance, an article in the magazine Nur al-Islam (now Al-Azhar) discussed this difference but leaned toward permitting flat images.

The author of this article not only adopted the view that sculpted images are prohibited but also opened a loophole by quoting scholars who argued that an image becomes permissible if altered to appear non-living, such as by drawing a line across its neck to suggest decapitation. However, the proper method of altering images, as mentioned in Hadith, involves significantly changing the features, as illustrated by the incident of Jibreel (عليه السلام) refusing to enter a house with pictures. The Prophet (ﷺ) was instructed to alter these images into something non-living, like trees.

Guidance on Modern Photography:​

The argument that there is a fundamental difference between hand-drawn and camera-captured images is superficial. Both involve imitating Allah’s creation, which is explicitly prohibited in Islamic teachings.

Muslims should not be deceived by the perceived distinction between hand-drawn and camera-generated images. Both are essentially the same in that they replicate Allah’s creation, and thus both are impermissible.