Title

Is the profession of taking passport size photographs permissible?

Question

KIA MAI PASSPORT SIZE PHOTOGRAPH KA BUSINESS KAR SAKTA HU EIA ISLAM MAI HALAL HAI?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

It is not permissible for one to work for a profession which involves a person to do something which is Haram or contrary to the laws of Shariah. Taking photographs of any living creature is prohibited in Shariah. It has been mentioned in the Hadith:

عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ أَبِي الحَسَنِ، قَالَ: كُنْتُ عِنْدَ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا، إِذْ أَتَاهُ رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ: يَا أَبَا عَبَّاسٍ، إِنِّي إِنْسَانٌ إِنَّمَا مَعِيشَتِي مِنْ صَنْعَةِ يَدِي، وَإِنِّي أَصْنَعُ هَذِهِ التَّصَاوِيرَ، فَقَالَ ابْنُ عَبَّاسٍ: لاَ أُحَدِّثُكَ إِلَّا مَا سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ: «مَنْ صَوَّرَ صُورَةً، فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ مُعَذِّبُهُ حَتَّى يَنْفُخَ فِيهَا الرُّوحَ، وَلَيْسَ بِنَافِخٍ فِيهَا أَبَدًا» فَرَبَا الرَّجُلُ رَبْوَةً شَدِيدَةً، وَاصْفَرَّ وَجْهُهُ، فَقَالَ: وَيْحَكَ، إِنْ أَبَيْتَ إِلَّا أَنْ تَصْنَعَ، فَعَلَيْكَ بِهَذَا الشَّجَرِ، كُلِّ شَيْءٍ لَيْسَ فِيهِ رُوحٌ

 (صحيح البخاري، ج3ص82، دار طوق النجاة)

“Saeed ibn Abi Al-Hasan Rahmatullahi Alaih say, I was in the company of Ibn Abbas Radiallahu Anhuma when a person approached him and said, “O Ibn Abbas! I am a person whose living depends on art crafts which I create with my own hands. And I also make images.” Ibn Abbas Radiallahu Anhu said, “Should I not tell you what I have heard from the Prophet Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam? I have heard him say, “Whosoever creates an image, verily Allah will punish him until he does not bring life to it, and he will never be able to bring life to it.” The person became very frightened and his face turned pale. (Ibn Abbas Radiallahu Anhuma) say, “Woe be to you! If you are adamant in creating images, then created an image of a tree or anything which does not posses life.” (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol.3 Pg.82, Dar Tauq An-Najah)

There are numerous Ahadith stating the punishment for a person who takes photographs of living creatures. [1]

We advise that you search for a Halal profession. Meanwhile, make taubah and Istighfar to Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala.

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Abdul Hannan Nizami,
Student Darul Iftaa
Chicago, USA

Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.