سوال

I am a university student. We have a society/club in university with the name "character building society", where we emphasize on dawa’h work, and an effort is being made to bring the students closer to Deen and Allah SWT. Given the modern university environment, where students often face challenges staying on the path of Deen, our aim is to provide a supportive environment and connect like-minded individuals who encourage each other to remain steadfast. For this, we invite different speakers and scholars for talks on our events, and arrange workshops. With regards to that, I had a few questions on behalf of my society/club:

1- Is taking pictures or videos of people allowed when doing coverage of Da'wah events in a modern university? It helps us a lot in marketing of the society/club as people get to know what kind of events we conduct and are drawn towards future events.

2- In the coverage of events, is posting pictures of girls allowed if they are in hijab or niqab? And if not, can we post their pictures from the side or the back so the faces are not visible at all and only a silhouette can be seen?

3- Can we print posters with the picture of the guest speaker/scholar who is being invited to an event of ours so we can distribute the pamphlets around campus and market the event?

اَلجَوَابْ بِاسْمِ مُلْہِمِ الصَّوَابْ

Since there are multiple juristic opinions regarding whether a digital image qualifies as a "picture" (tasveer) or not, the permissibility of capturing such images and videos is allowed only for legitimate religious or worldly needs and valid purposes, provided that there are no additional prohibited aspects, such as nudity, music, or pictures of non-mahram individuals.

1-In light of the above details, capturing images and videos for your Dawah event is permissible, provided that no pictures of non-mahram individuals are included.

2-As the permissibility of digital images is based on valid religious or other needs and purposes, there is no significant religious necessity for girls (even in hijab) to have their pictures taken or uploaded. Therefore, uploading pictures of girls should also be avoided. However, in unavoidable situations, if uploading becomes necessary, their images must be blurred.

3-Without any pressing need or extreme necessity, printing pictures of living beings on paper, banners, or flex sheets is impermissible and prohibited. This prohibition is established through numerous authentic Ahadith and the statements and practices of the Sahabah (Companions of the Prophet ﷺ) and Tabi'een (their successors). However, printing images for necessary purposes, such as identity cards, passports, and educational certificates, is permissible. Hence, printing such posters cannot be classified as a legitimate religious need. Even if the need for publicity is acknowledged, it can be adequately fulfilled today through digital images on social media platforms. Therefore, printing posters featuring pictures of guest speakers or scholars is not permissible. However, promotional posters without pictures can be shared, as there is no religious objection to them.

المدونة(182/01):

 "قال ابن القاسم: وسألت مالكا عن التماثيل وتكون في الأسرة والقباب والمنار وما أشبهها؟ قال: هذا مكروه وقال لأن هذه خلقت خلقا، قال: وما كان من الثياب والبسط والوسائد فإن هذا يمتهن، قال: وقد كان أبو سلمة بن عبد الرحمن يقول ما كان يمتهن فلا بأس به وأرجو أن يكون خفيفا ومن تركه غير محرم له فهو أحب إلي".

حاشية الصاوي على الشرح الصغير(501/02):

"والحاصل أن تصاوير الحيوانات تحرم إجماعا إن كانت كاملة لها ظل مما يطول استمراره، بخلاف ناقص عضو لا يعيش به لو كان حيوانا، وبخلاف ما لا ظل له كنقش في ورق أو جدار. وفيما لا يطول استمراره خلاف".

 "الذخيرة للقرافي "(13/ 285):

"والمحرم من ذلك بإجماع ماله ظل قائم على صفة ما يحيى من الحيوان وما سوى ذلك من الرسوم في الحيطان والرقوم في الستور التي تنشر أو البسط التي تفرش أو الوسائد التي يرتفق بها مكروهة وليس بحرام في صحيح الأقوال لتعارض الآثار والتعارض شبهة".

صحيح البخاري (5/ 2220) :

روى الإمام  البخاري رحمه الله عن مسلم قال: كنا مع مسروق في دار يسار بن نمير، فرأى في صفته تماثيل، فقال: سمعت عبد الله رضي الله عنه قال:سمعت النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول:"‌إن ‌أشد ‌الناس ‌عذابا عند الله يوم القيامة المصورون".

صحيح البخاري( 3/ 1179) :

وروى أيضا عن عبيد الله بن عبد الله،  أنه سمع ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما يقول: سمعت أباطلحةيقول:سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول: "‌لا ‌تدخل ‌الملائكة بيتا فيه كلب ولا صورة تماثيل".

رد المحتار( 1/ 647):

قال العلامة ابن عابدين رحمه الله: وظاهر كلام النووي في شرح مسلم ‌الإجماع ‌على ‌تحريم ‌تصوير الحيوان، وقال: وسواء صنعه لما يمتهن أو لغيره، فصنعته حرام بكل حال؛ لأن فيه مضاهاة لخلق الله تعالى، وسواء كان في ثوب أو بساط أو درهم وإناء وحائط وغيرها.