“With regard to photography in which the camera captures and produces photographs with no human creation in the image, this is not considered an act of image creation, but it is merely the capture of an image created by Allah the Almighty. The Hadiiths which prohibit image creation refer to those images created by humans to rival Allah’s creation. When, for instance, a letter is photocopied, the new copy is not the creation of the machine operator, who in fact might be illiterate, and those who are familiar with the original letter will recognize the copy to be by the same writer. Nevertheless, photography becomes forbidden when used for forbidden purposes. That is, the means to achieve a forbidden matter are also forbidden.”
Abdur-Rahman Abdul-Khaliq:
“Photographs resemble the reflection of an object in a mirror, and the only difference between the two is that reflections of objects in photographs are permanent while mirror reflections are temporary. Since no one can claim that mirror reflections rival Allah’s creation, no one can claim that photographs rival Allah’s creation either.”
This was taken from the beginning of “Salaat: The Islamic Prayer from A to Z” by Dr. Mamdouh Mohamed.
I follow the opinions above. That being said, I have to admit the the majority of the scholars, from various Islamic backgrounds, forbid photography. I have read the opinions on both sides of the issue, and in this case I have adopted the minority opinion.
as for being labeled an “idiot” and a “wahhabi”: then Allah will give me my rights on the day of judgement, for he is the most just.
Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (RA) reports that the Prophet (SAW) asked the Sahabah (RA),
‘Do you know who is the bankrupt?’ They (RA) replied, ‘The bankrupt amongst us is he who has, no money or possessions.’ The Prophet (SAW) replied, ‘The bankrupt of my Ummah on the Day of Judgement will be one who will come with prayers, fasts, and zakah. But he will come having abused this person, slandered that person, unlawfully consumed the wealth of such a person, shed the blood of such a person, and having hit such a person. This (wronged) person will be compensated from his good deeds and the other (wronged) person will also be given from his good deeds. If the good deeds of the wrong doer expire before what is due upon him is repaid, then the sins of the wronged people will be taken from them and thrown upon him and then he shall be thrown into the fire.’ (Muslim).
brother Aamer, don’t mind ‘H’ as he is probably just another sufi that labels anyone who does not agree with him as a ‘wahhabi’ when in reality no muslim calls him/herself a ‘wahhabi’. I guess that is what they teach them in sufi school, if someone does not agree with you then he must be a ‘wahhabi’. He probably doesn’t even believe that photography is haram and just wants to cause fitna, because if he was sincere in his advice he wouldn’t have called you an ‘idiot’ and he would have used good words and tried to be gentle in giving sincere advice according to the sunnah.
However, I do think that taking pictures of anything that has a soul like animals and human beings is not permissible, where as taking pictures of plants and trees and other objects is allowed. As you quoted Sheikh Muhammad Ibn Saalih Ibn Uthaymeen saying that the “camera captures and produces photographs with no human creation in the image” then that is allowed, but if there is a human in the picture then it is not allowed, and that is the opinion of Sheikh Muhammad Ibn Saalih Ibn Uthaymeen, Sheikh Bin Baaz, and many others.
Now this is just my sincere advice to you as your muslim brother, and I am not here to debate the issue if it is halal or haram, so you are free to take my advice or leave it, but I just wanted to let you know about this issue.
I do not think that Shaikh Ibn Uthatymeen differentiates between image creation and image capturing, and even photos of humans or animals taken with a camera the sheikh also says that they are not allowed. You might want to look up this issue and read some more about what the scholars say about it, and here are some links about this issue too.
Photography is haram you idiot, or did they not teach you that in your wahabi school?
Muhammad Ibn Saalih Ibn Uthaymeen:
“With regard to photography in which the camera captures and produces photographs with no human creation in the image, this is not considered an act of image creation, but it is merely the capture of an image created by Allah the Almighty. The Hadiiths which prohibit image creation refer to those images created by humans to rival Allah’s creation. When, for instance, a letter is photocopied, the new copy is not the creation of the machine operator, who in fact might be illiterate, and those who are familiar with the original letter will recognize the copy to be by the same writer. Nevertheless, photography becomes forbidden when used for forbidden purposes. That is, the means to achieve a forbidden matter are also forbidden.”
Abdur-Rahman Abdul-Khaliq:
“Photographs resemble the reflection of an object in a mirror, and the only difference between the two is that reflections of objects in photographs are permanent while mirror reflections are temporary. Since no one can claim that mirror reflections rival Allah’s creation, no one can claim that photographs rival Allah’s creation either.”
This was taken from the beginning of “Salaat: The Islamic Prayer from A to Z” by Dr. Mamdouh Mohamed.
I follow the opinions above. That being said, I have to admit the the majority of the scholars, from various Islamic backgrounds, forbid photography. I have read the opinions on both sides of the issue, and in this case I have adopted the minority opinion.
as for being labeled an “idiot” and a “wahhabi”: then Allah will give me my rights on the day of judgement, for he is the most just.
Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (RA) reports that the Prophet (SAW) asked the Sahabah (RA),
‘Do you know who is the bankrupt?’ They (RA) replied, ‘The bankrupt amongst us is he who has, no money or possessions.’ The Prophet (SAW) replied, ‘The bankrupt of my Ummah on the Day of Judgement will be one who will come with prayers, fasts, and zakah. But he will come having abused this person, slandered that person, unlawfully consumed the wealth of such a person, shed the blood of such a person, and having hit such a person. This (wronged) person will be compensated from his good deeds and the other (wronged) person will also be given from his good deeds. If the good deeds of the wrong doer expire before what is due upon him is repaid, then the sins of the wronged people will be taken from them and thrown upon him and then he shall be thrown into the fire.’ (Muslim).
hello uzair
yo
I really like your response to that brother (Brother ‘H’). Very good, ma sha Allah.
May Allah reward you and continue to bless you
jazakallahu khairan Abd Al-Baasit for continuing to make dua for me!
Assalamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullah
brother Aamer, don’t mind ‘H’ as he is probably just another sufi that labels anyone who does not agree with him as a ‘wahhabi’ when in reality no muslim calls him/herself a ‘wahhabi’. I guess that is what they teach them in sufi school, if someone does not agree with you then he must be a ‘wahhabi’. He probably doesn’t even believe that photography is haram and just wants to cause fitna, because if he was sincere in his advice he wouldn’t have called you an ‘idiot’ and he would have used good words and tried to be gentle in giving sincere advice according to the sunnah.
However, I do think that taking pictures of anything that has a soul like animals and human beings is not permissible, where as taking pictures of plants and trees and other objects is allowed. As you quoted Sheikh Muhammad Ibn Saalih Ibn Uthaymeen saying that the “camera captures and produces photographs with no human creation in the image” then that is allowed, but if there is a human in the picture then it is not allowed, and that is the opinion of Sheikh Muhammad Ibn Saalih Ibn Uthaymeen, Sheikh Bin Baaz, and many others.
Now this is just my sincere advice to you as your muslim brother, and I am not here to debate the issue if it is halal or haram, so you are free to take my advice or leave it, but I just wanted to let you know about this issue.
Allah knows best.
Br. Abd-Allah:
Jazakallahu Khairan for the sincere advice, and your kind words.
I believe the part you quoted from Shaikh Ibn Uthatymeen refers to image creation and not image capturing, which is ok according the shaikh.
So image creation would be drawing, whereas image capturing would be photography.
Wallahu Alam.
Assalamu Alaikum brother Aamer,
I do not think that Shaikh Ibn Uthatymeen differentiates between image creation and image capturing, and even photos of humans or animals taken with a camera the sheikh also says that they are not allowed. You might want to look up this issue and read some more about what the scholars say about it, and here are some links about this issue too.
http://www.islam-qa.com/en/ref/10668
http://www.islamqa.com/en/ref/365/pictures%20camera
Wassalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah
I respect your point of view on the issue. At the same time I do not agree with it.
So let’s leave it at that insha Allah
ARGGGG
I felt just as frustrated Sunday – new semester