Pictures and videos on the computer and cellphone

Q: What is the Shar'ee  law about images and videos on computer and mobile i.e. in soft format?

A: All pictures of animate objects are haraam (forbidden) in Islam. Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said:

إن أشد الناس عذابا عند الله يوم القيامة المصورون (صحيح البخاري 2/880 ، صحيح لمسلم /201)

Those involved in picture-making will be subjected to the worst forms of punishment on the day of Qiyaamat. (Bukhari 2/880, Muslim 2/201)

For a detailed explanation on this topic, refer to our kitaab “Photography and Modern Challenges.”

And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.

 

Answered by:

Mufti Zakaria Makada

Checked & Approved:

Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)