Question:-
Are we permitted to take pictures when the head is totally excluded?
Answer:-
The jurists have permitted taking a picture without the head, i.e. from the shoulder down (not from the nose and mouth). However, this in no way promotes or even encourages one to take pictures.
ایسی تصاویر جن میں شکل وصورت نظر نہیں آتی ، لگانا ممنوع نہیں ہے – جواہر الفقہ ص۲۳۴ ج۳ / کتاب النوازل ص۴۹۱ ج۱۶
انَّ جِبْرِيلَ عَلَيْهِ الصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ اسْتَأْذَنَ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ، فَقَالَ لَهُ اُدْخُلْ ، فَقَالَ : كَيْفَ أَدْخُلُ بَيْتًا عَلَيْهِ سِتْرٌ فِيهِ تَمَاثِيلُ حَيَوَانٍ أَوْ رِجَالٍ ، إمَّا أَنْ تُقْطَعَ رُءُوسُهَا أَوْ تُجْعَلَ بِسَاطًا يُوطَأُ إنَّا مَعَاشِرَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ لَا نَدْخُلُ بَيْتًا فِيهِ كَلْبٌ أَوْ صُورَةٌ. (العناية شرح الهداية ص417 ج1)
ذَكَرَهُ الْحَلَبِيُّ ( أَوْ مَقْطُوعَةَ الرَّأْسِ أَوْ الْوَجْهِ ) أَوْ مَمْحُوَّةَ عُضْوٍ لَا تَعِيشُ بِدُونِه (شامي ص418 ج2 – ص648 ج1)
Although it may be fundamentally permissible to keep such a picture, we would discourage one from taking pictures of animate objects (particularly where there isn’t a need to do so), as there always exists the possibility of the face and head being captured in the photo if the angle of the camera is slightly raised, albeit unintentional. It is a different issue altogether where a photo is taken due to a necessity, but without a necessity, it should be avoided.
Also, it is possible that a person starts taking pictures without including the head initially, but as time progresses, one tends to take things for granted and becomes lax in these matters. He becomes so accustomed to taking full pictures that he doesn’t regard it as a wrong action any longer, and even starts looking for excuses to justify his actions, which at times could put his Imaan in jeopardy. This is how Shaytaan deceives and misguides a person. We, therefore, advise abstention.
ALLAH TA’ALA KNOWS BEST!
ANSWERED BY:
Mufti Mohammed Desai
Date: 19 Rajab 1443 / 21 February 2022
