Permissablity of videos and photos ?

[shamshuddin]

What is the shariah ruling for the use of and personal viewing of Islamic materials i.e. video and photographs.

Everywhere i go i see plenty of Islamic sites with speeches and Naats with photos, apart from the neo-Wahhabi sites.

On the same topic i would like ask is it okay to take photographs and videos of members of ones family for personal use ?

[Imam]

Allah, with His Name I begin; The Most Compassionate, The Most Merciful.

There is no harm in making use of the Internet, CD's, Videos and Photographic material for the propagation of Islam to as wide as possible audience.

These are the general benefits that modern technology brings which we are allowed to make use of for the benefit of mankind. Remember, the principal goal through the contents of these means is to invite people to Islam.

What one must avoid is excessiveness in photographic material of the Respectable 'Ulama & Mashaikh. Allah preserve & protect them. However, on the covers of Books, CD's, Videos & Audio Cassettes, there should be no picture images or photo's of the Lecturer's or N'at Khwaan's. This is excessive, avoidable and of no apparent benefit.

Newspapers and Money are unavoidable to have (at home, etc) or read, use, however, the responsibility is upon the authorities in power who may effect a change.

The best way to learn as demonstrated by the Hadith Jibra'il, 'alayhi as-Salam, is a one to one direct physical and actual tutorial between the Teacher and the student. The next best thing in this modern age is virtual learning, which these means provide. Their benefits are much greater, since the audience is more comprehensive; near, distant, male, female, Muslim, Non-Muslim, the intelligent and the not so, no time constraints-learning at one's leisure, etc.

Taking photographs of family members for personal records and viewing (not displaying) is permissible, though many Scholars restrict to the upper-half of the body only, as long as there is no excessiveness, take a few, not dozens of photo's of each member, not to make it a custom, not to over indulge with photo's and video's over spending unnecessarily when such pennies/pounds could go to charity or education. Moderation and maintaining a balance in all matters is the key. If individual's and families can avoid such habit's/trends then this will be Taqwa' of the best form.

As far as the Wahhabi or Neo-Wahhabi sites are concerned, do not be duluded. Their slogans of piety are very loud indeed, yet their pens, books, websites are very silent when it comes to talking about their financial sponsors Islamic & non-Islamic Sattelite Channels, Films, Drama's, Newspapers, Magazines, Paper-Money-Riyals, Orchestra's, singing and dancing, acting, bare headed women news presenters, bare headed women interviewing their 'Ulama', such women conducting reports, reviews and live TV debates, Beauty shows, etc, and the live broadcasting of the five daily Salah from the Haramayn Sharifayn, the name of the impious King Fahad inscribed with gold thread on the kiswa'; black cloth covering of the K'abah which hundreds of millions of Muslims face five times daily in worship and submission to the Almighty Allah!

The difference between the Ahl as-Sunnah wal-Jama'ah and other sects is that we are whiter than white, hence, subject to so much criticism and attacks! We are not hypocrites in Belief nor in our Actions and Traditions communicated to us through the 'Ulama and Mashaikh of the Salaf and the Khalaf.

One very important note worth mentioning on this subject is that we must remember that the permissibilty of the restricted uses of the modern means of propagation as mentioned above are given by prudent Scholars of utmost piety and scholarly integrity. They are not amongst those who watch films, drama's, shows or for some even the news on TV. When reading or hearing their opinions one must also reflect on this too.

And Allah, The Most Glorious & Majestic, & His Beloved Messenger, Salla Allahu 'alayhi wa Sallam, are more deserving to be pleased. The All-Knowing, The All-Wise.