Photography & Islam

Happy moments comes once and does not repeat itself and people try to pause or record these moments by photography so they can remember it. My family thinks that photography is a very fascinating kind of art. We like to take pictures while travelling or in parties so we can always remember these nice and happy moments. In my family we take pictures of everything we think that it is beautiful and we might not see it again if it is in another country.
In Islam there are some restrictions on photography. Islam made it clear for people to know what is permissible and impermissible in photography so, they would not fall in sins. Scholars such as Al Sheikh Abdelazeez Bin Baz said that according to our prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) photography is impermissible for anything with soul; humans or animals. On the other hand, it is permissible to photograph other nature views such as trees, mountings, cars and ships (http://www.binbaz.org/). Abdullaah ibn Mas'ood (may Allaah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Those who will be most severely punished by Allaah on the Day of Resurrection will be the image-makers." (Reported by al-Bukhaari, see al-Fath, 10/382). Ibn 'Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him and his father) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Every image-maker will be in the Fire, and for every image that he made a soul will be created for him, which will be punished in the Fire (Reported by Muslim, 3/1871). According to the previous ahaadeeth it indicates that animated beings are haraam and lots of scholars indicates that photography is in a circle of permissible and impermissible and it is better avoid it so people want fall in sins (www.islam-qa.com). "So keep your duty to Allah and fear Him as much as you can…" [al-Taghaabun 64:16 - interpretation of the meaning].

In my opinion, I used to look at photography from the creative side as an amazing kind of art. I love to take pictures of children, nature views and to apply the ideas on the ground on a creative way or convert the idea into a picture, but after this research I did I found some new stuff which I did not knew. I think that I would stop taking pictures of humans and all kinds of creatures so, I would stay away from the impermissible circle and sins.