Taking photos of animate figures
Fatwa No: 98807

Question

Assalamu Alaikom I wanted to add something to a question I previously asked. I asked :''I know it is allowed to make photos of humans because there is no human emulation in it,so is it allowed to make photographs of images drawn by hand,i.e cartoons that are seen on television,so not drawing the images by hand,but just making photos of images that are made by hand.'' With photos.I mean digital photos,so the ones wich are not tangible.

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.

 

It is known that it is unlawful to draw (make an image of) animate objects, as we stated in Fatwa 95009. Such prohibited drawings necessitate deforming them whenever possible, as the Prophet ordered 'Ali, to deform and demolish some images. The scholars have also prohibited using anything which contains such images without having a pressing need to use them. No doubt, taking a picture of anything which is prohibited to draw, is in fact increasing such prohibited drawings. Thus, it is not permissible to snapshot a drawing of animate objects without necessity.

Allaah Knows best.

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