A woman putting her picture in her E-mail profile
Fatwa No: 92357

Question

I'm from south asia and one of my sisters asked me if she is allowed to put her picture in her E-mail Profile, and I told her to remove it because it is not allowed in Islam to put her picture in Internet, am I right? and I wanna know if there a DALEEL from Sunnah or Qur'an for that... wa jazakumollahu khayran

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

It is not permissible for a woman to display her picture in her e-mail address or in any other place in a way that any man could see her as this incites men to look at her and be tempted. Allaah Says (what means): {…and not expose their adornment except that which [necessarily] appears thereof.}[Quran 24:31]. Furthermore, the Prophet said: "A woman is 'Awrah (a thing that should be covered)." [At-Tirmithi]

How could it be permissible for a woman who is described as such, and who is ordered to cover herself and be bashful to display her picture in a way that men could see her whenever they desire?

In addition to this, it is forbidden to take the pictures of animates and it is forbidden to hang such pictures. As a matter of fact, we are ordered to destroy them and not circulate them. For more benefit, please refer to Fataawa 83020 and 83037.

Therefore, a woman should fear Allaah and be bashful, seek to cover herself and stay out of sight of men and should not publish her picture and avoid being a source of temptation.

Allaah Knows best.

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