Q: Given that taking a photo of a person is prohibited, and so is looking at the opposite gender, which of the two options below would be a lighter sin:
1. A mahram taking the photo and thus avoiding the sin of going to a non-mahram to take a photo, but the mahram is now doing a prohibited thing (i.e. taking the photo).
2. Going to a professional photo studio where the photo will be taken by a non-mahram. In this situation the mahram avoids the sin of taking the picture, but this causes an interaction between non-mahram individuals.
Which of the two is the better option?
A: When photography of animate objects is impermissible then what is the need of asking whether it is a lighter sin or not. All kinds of sin must be abandoned. The Quraan Shareef instructs us to leave out all sins, open or hidden. Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) has sounded severe warnings regarding pictures. Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said, “The people to be inflicted with the worst punishment will be the picture makers." Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) has cursed the one who receives interest, the one who gives interest, the tattooist, the tattooed and the picture maker. The hadeeth also explains that the angels of mercy do not enter a home in which there is a picture of an animate object.
And Allah Ta'ala (الله تعالى) knows best.
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