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Fatwa CenterRuling on pictures
Question
My question is about making pictures. I work for an INGO here in Pakistan. We produce reports to our donors and there we have to place pictures as that's the requirement by the donors. We do have to have some pictures of beneficiaries to be displayed at the office walls. What do you say about those pictures? Is it against Islam teachings making those pictures? May Allah bless you for this guidance?
Answer
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.
It is a general principle in Shariah that taking pictures of living souls is forbidden. There are many Ahadith that prove this prohibition. For example: Abdullah bin Masood reported that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said: "Image makers will be the most severely punished by Allah on the Day of Resurrection." [Bukhari]
Abu Hurairah reported, 'I heard the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) saying, "Allah Said, "Who are most unjust than those who try to create something like My creation? I challenge them to create even the smallest ant, a wheat grain or a barley grain." The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said: "The angels do not enter a house in which there is a dog or a picture."
"The most grievous torment for the people on the Day of Resurrection would be for those who try to imitate Allah in the act of Creation." [Reported by Imam Bukhari]
All of the above Ahadith prove the prohibition of taking pictures, making images or keeping them. However, the contemporary scholars differ concerning photography, whether the Ahadith apply to it or not; some of them allowed photography believing that the Ahadith do not apply to the modern type of photography.
Nevertheless, we believe precisely in your case that you may take photos and display them since there are great benefits in that. In fact, failure to do so may result in the authorities cutting off their support to the charity association. This can cause great harm to the poor and needy people. However, if no harm is incurred by not making such pictures and hanging them, then avoid doing so.
Allah knows best.
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