Ruling regarding taking photos in Islam. Is taking selfies haram in Islam? [islam me photo khichna; photo khichna in islam; photo khichna mana hai image; photo khichna gunah hai; selfie islamqa]
There is no such verse mentioned in the Qur'an which says that taking selfies, photographs or images of living or non-living things are haram (forbidden).
But there are hadiths which tells us that drawing pictures of living things by hand is haram:
Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 7.834 Narrated by Muslim We were with Masruq at the house of Yasar bin Numair. Masruq saw pictures on his terrace and said, "I heard 'Abdullah saying that he heard the Prophet (peace be upon him) saying, "The people who will receive the severest punishment from Allah will be the picture makers.
Because the concept of cameras and photography is a technological development of man after the establishment of the Quran and Sunnah, there is a difference of opinion amongst the scholars regarding its permissibility. The majority of the scholars of Islam are of the opinion that photography in itself is not forbidden in Islam, because it provides nothing but an exact reflection and mirror image of the creation of the Supreme Creator as opposed to paintings, or images, or the sculptures of an animate objects, where there is a possibility that man can make an imaginary addition or subtraction to the original creation of the Creator, and are thus strictly forbidden in Islam.
Almost all the scholars of Islam are unanimous in their opinion that there is no harm if one takes a portrait photograph for necessary and legal reasons, and to comply with the modern methods of identification like identity cards, drivers license, passports, etc. Some opine that there is no harm if one wishes to take photos of family and loved ones and keeps them secured in albums for memory; but if they abstain from it, it would be better and purer for them because these days data can easily be stolen and the images of our beloved can be used for wrong reasons and one should also not do it excessively.
And Allah knows best!
Clear Islamic Doubts is a Islam Q&A website where you can ask your Islam related doubts or questions and I will get them answered by asking various Islamic Scholars (based in India) or searching authentic Islamic Forums. Please consider subscribing to our mailing list.
Comments