Pictures & Videos

Q: On Twitter, there's a social media account where a person anonymously receives and posts stories to his followers of peoples’ samoosa runs. He claims that the stories are anonymous and he has inspired many people. The female fans flock over his stories and get emotional if the story doesn't end well and create fantasies of their own lives when they read a good story. He has posted 128 stories over 3 years. Recently, he posted a picture of a car of someone who saw a girl in a random car and wanted to track her down so he posted that picture for his followers to identify the person. Is it permissible to take pictures of strange women and post them on the internet for such purposes? Is it permissible to continue posting such stories when this is the lengths people will go to?

Q: I read one of your fatwas entitled “Nose surgery to straighten one's nose” where someone asked a question mentioning watching a YouTube video of some Shaikh. As you replied to the answer, you also added that “ Viewing YouTube videos is impermissible. If you had viewed it, then you should make taubah and refrain from repeating this sin in the future”.

I have a small question, rather request a clarification whether it is a sin viewing any video (including of Ulama) or particularly those illicit immoral videos.

Q: Is it permissible to take pictures of lightning?

Q: Is it possible to take a photo of the grave after burial to show the ladys at home?

Q: Is it permissible to take a picture of a person from the back, from head to toe i.e. his face is not visible.

Q: Is it permissible to watch streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime as they produce some religiously objectable shows like Messiah and Good Omens. But can we watch other shows produced by their platform? 

Q: Is it permissible to "like" photos on social networking sites, like the photo of a sister who is not covering her hair or who is not wearing the right type of clothes or who is adorned with make up?

Q: If a person wants to buy a statue of a duck for her backyard area, is this haraam or not good? 

Q: I have started an online hijab business and want to promote the hijab. Would it be permissible to have women wearing my hijab on my hijab website? They will be fully covered with no awrah showing and they will not beautify themselves for the pictures. With this business I would also like to influence young women to wear the hijab and talk about Islam and my journey again, I will be fully covered and will not beautify myself for the videos. Will this be permissible? My intentions are to promote the hijab not to promote beauty which is why they will be fully covered and wearing the hijab properly.

Q: I draw and paint for a hobby but I am confused on this topic Islamically due to many different opinions. Is it permissible to:

1. Draw a full body picture without the eyes, nose and mouth?

2. Draw a limb on its own. (e.g. a hand holding a flower). But it is connected to the end of the paper. Does it have to be drawn severed?

3. Draw a full body with an umbrella covering the head?

4. Draw silhouettes of living creatures e.g. humans, birds, etc. (If this is not permissible then can I draw birds as a 'm' shape in the distance?)