No Matter Where We Are...

i have nothing to do....
so to those who haven't read this...
i'd like to present it to you people...
to me it is one of the most interesting things my friend in Medina has ever wrote about...
so here goes...
hope we gain some knowledge from what my friend here wrote..

In the name of Allah most gracious most merciful

All praise be to Allah and may his blessings be upon Rasulullah.

It's amazing how this issue is so 'hot' at the Islamic university of Madinah that we see students get into an unfathomable demur of wether photography or Tasweer is permissible or not. It's a deplorable reality that needs rectification. No doubt, this is due to the lack of knowledge of either party as the saying goes, 'empty vessels makes the most noise'. It's distressing to see brothers impose others to be upon that which even the scholars differ.

To address this issue, i would like to start by mentioning the fact that it is a matter of difference of opinions amongst the scholars. The likes of shaykh Alalbani, shaykh Bin Baz and shaykh Muqbil.. rahmatullaah 'alaihim rahmatan waasiah have prohibited tasweer based on the many hadeeth which state the forbiddence of depicting any live forms. eg the hadith of Ibn 'Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him and his father) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Every image-maker will be in the Fire, and for every image that he made a soul will be created for him, which will be punished in the Fire." Ibn 'Abbaas said: "If you must do that, make pictures of trees and other inanimate objects." (Reported by Muslim, 3/1871)

but there are others amongst the scholars like shaykh ibn uthaymeen, shaykh abdus salam burjies rahmatullah alaihimaa and shaykh abdul aziz ar-rajieh together with many others who expound further on the issue, below is the statement of shaykh ibn uthaymeen rahimahullaah

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said:

With regard to pictures (of Makhluq with soul) made in the modern fashion, they fall into two categories:

The first category is those which have no tangible substance (and can only be seen by running them through a machine), as I was told is the case with pictures on video tapes. There is no ruling at all concerning these, and they do not come under the prohibition at all. Hence the scholars who forbid making pictures with cameras on paper (photographs) permitted this (video pictures), and said that there is nothing wrong with this. Then it was asked, is it permissible to film lectures which are given in the mosques? The (scholarly) view was that it is better not to do that, because it may disturb the worshippers and because they may film things that may not be appropriate, and so on.

The second category is fixed or still pictures on paper (photographs) … But the matter needs further discussion if one wants to make these kind of permissible pictures. For they are subject to five rulings which depend on the intention. If the intention is something forbidden, then it is haraam. If he intends something waajib (obligatory), then it is waajib. Sometimes pictures may be essential, especially moving pictures. For example, if we see someone in the act of committing a crime against a person’s rights, such as an attempt to kill and so on, and we cannot prove it in any way but by taking pictures, then in this case taking pictures becomes waajib, especially in cases where pictures may decide the case. The means are subject to the rulings on the ends. If we make these pictures in order to prove the identity of a person for fear that someone else may be accused of the crime, this is also acceptable, indeed it is essential. But if we take these pictures just to enjoy looking at them, this is undoubtedly haraam... And Allaah knows best.”

(See Al-Sharh al-Mumti’, 2/197-199)

Understand carefully what the shaykh mention above, "those which have no tangible substance" which are the likes of video camera, digital camera are definitely halal or permissible in the opinion of shaykh ibn uthaymeen, infact even if the the picture/photo is tangible then it depends on the niyyah or intention of the photographer if the usage is for that which is waajib then the ruling is waajib unless of course if the picture (of the live form) is being printed and mounted on the wall for frivolous purposes (according to shaykh ibn uthaymeen) is impermissible. Again, there are many other opinions which are way more flexible that this.

I believe this explains the broadness of this issue and upon each and everyone of us to practice what we believe to be right and not impose our personal opinion upon others. If you dislike it then reject it nicely by telling your brothers of your opinion and it does'nt have to turn into an endless commotion of who's right and who's wrong.

May Allah grant us the ability to practice what is right based upon the Quran, sunnah and the opinions of trustworthy scholars.. and may Allah swt protect us from arrogance and ignorance..
and with this i end. Allah knows best.

may peace and blessings be upon our prophet Muhammad, All praise be to Allah.

Khairul Anwar
13/12/1430H
Madinah Al Munawwarah