Aslam

Praise be to Allah. It

is clear that image-making is one of the blameworthy actions of the

jaahiliyyah which Islam came to oppose. It is well established from

clear, saheeh mutawaatir ahaadeeth that it is not allowed, and that

the one who does this is cursed and is warned of torment in Hell, as

in the hadeeth of Ibn ‘Abbaas which is attributed to the Prophet

(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him): “Every image maker will

be in Hell, and a soul will be given to every image which he made so

that it might torment him in Hell.” (Narrated by Muslim).

This

applies to all images of animate created beings, humans and others.

There is no difference between three-dimensional and other images, whether

they were taken with cameras or produced by painting, engraving or other

methods, because of the general meaning of the ahaadeeth.

Whoever

claims that photographs are not included in the general prohibition

or that the prohibition applies only to three-dimensional images and

those that cast a shadow is making a false claim, because the ahaadeeth

concerning that are general in meaning. There is no differentiation

between one kind of image and another. The scholars have clearly stated

that the prohibition applies to photographs and other kinds of pictures,

such as Imaam al-Nawawi, al-Haafiz ibn Hajar and others. The hadeeth

of ‘Aa’ishah concerning the story of the curtain is clear, and what

it indicates is that an image which is on a curtain is not three dimensional,

rather it is a kind of drawing on cloth, but despite that the Messenger

(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) counted it as trying to

match the creation of Allaah.

But

if the image is originally incomplete, such as a head-and-shoulders

picture, etc., and there is removed from the picture that without which

is could not live, then it may be understood from the comments of many

of the fuqahaa’ that this is permissible, especially if there is a need

for such partial pictures. Whatever the case, one has to fear Allaah

as much as one can, and avoid that which Allaah and His Messenger have

forbidden.

“And

whosoever fears Allaah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way

for him to get out (from every difficulty).

And He will provide him from (sources) he never could

imagine”

[al-Talaaq 65:2-3 – interpretation of the meaning]