Leave this fitnah of Photography O Salafis..!

Bismillah Ar Rahmaan Ar Raheem

All praise belongs to Allah alone, the Lord of all that exists. We praise Him, we seek His aid, we ask His forgiveness. We seek refuge in Allah from the evil of ourselves and from the evil of our deeds. To whomsoever Allah guides, none can misguide him and to whomsoever Allah misguides, none can guide him. I bear witness that Allah alone is worthy of worship without any partner and I bear witness that Muhammed (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) is the slave and Messenger of Allah.

To proceed,

This article mainly aims the follower of truth i.e. Salafis, about an important issue which they are well aware of but have taken very lightly from past few years. The Issue is “Use of photography in Da’wah.”

Remember we are not talking about “videos” but about “photography”.

Allah says in the Qur’an- And remind, for Indeed reminder help the Believers.[51:55]

And Prophet [sallallahu alaihi wasallam] said: “Ad-Deen is sincerity” (الدِّينُ النَّصِيحَةُ)“[Naseehah] (Recorded by Muslim)

So, I request my brothers and sisters to take this article as a advice and reminder. May Allah reward you all.

Know that we Salafis are distinguished from others only because we follow truth and not desires even if we have to go against ourselves and our loved ones. We follow what is clear and leave all whatever is doubtful.

In the age of modern technology, many things have been invented which helped the Da’wah in many ways like through Satellite Islamic channels, Internet, videos etc. When people started video recording of lectures delivered by Scholars, many questions were asked to prominent scholars about the permissibility of it. Some said if the benefit is more then there is no harm in this while others forbade it. However, regarding photography, Scholars prohibited it unanimously except in Dire needs like a photograph for passport, ID card, Criminal records.

What we are witnessing from last few years is that our Salafi brothers take unnecessary photos of themselves, Scholars, audiences, speakers etc. during conferences without any need and without any benefit. We see so many photos that they form Albums. We see photos like:

1. Scholars sitting on Dais (stage)
2. Scholar delivering the lecture
3. The photo of scholar in the poster for lectures he will be delivering
4. Scholars having chat among themselves in the guestroom
5. Scholars having their meal and dinner
6. Brothers shaking hands with scholars
7. Audience listening to lecture
8. Volunteers

And so many to mention here.

Hope you understood the point which I wanted to make.

And I don’t blame scholars for this because many a times they are not even aware of such things.

Like our Sheikh Ibn Baaz (rahimahullah) said:

“It is not permissible to picture people whether with their consent or without their consent; and if it is with their consent then the sin is greater. And pictures with souls in them are prohibited, because the Messenger of Allah (Sal Allahu aliyhi wa sallam) cursed the picture makers”

Refer: “Fataawa Noor ala Darb” (Aqeedah) No.318

And I remember the Saying of Muhaddith of this era, Imam Naasiruddin al Albani (rahimahullah). He (rahimahullah) said:

“I fear that Salafiyoon one day will say- Photography isn’t picture making. You just press a button.”

[Silsilat ul Huda wan Nur 393]

SubhanAllah, Allah had given Imam al Albani great insight in matters of deen.

Are we not witnessing the same thing? Unfortunately yes. Today we see some of our brothers even try to defend the permissibility of photography even without any dire need.

The matter of photography has become so common among our salafi brothers that they no longer feel it to be from major Sin. And therefore we see our brothers proudly posting these photos of living beings on social networking sites and elsewhere and feel very comfortable with it.. And the reason is very simple- they have taken this matter very lightly and they try to defend “by giving the excuse of Da’wah” even though there is no benefit of these things in Da’wah.

I ask such brothers,

What benefit you and people get by clicking and posting such pictures?

How the Photo of Scholar helps the Da’wah? Isn’t his speech which is important?

Are you not the one who debates with Sufis and others for introducing new thing in Islam?

Are you not the one who gives up his desires just to be saved from major sins and to remain in saved sect?

Are you not the one who is always ready to accept the verdicts of Scholars without trying to find and search fatwas which suits your desires?

Are you not the one who takes every matter of Islam sincerely and seriously?

Yes, I know you are the one. But then why such leniency and carelessness in this matter which comes under major sins?

My dear brothers and sisters, please avoid this emerging fitnah of taking photographs when deep within your heart you know that it’s haram except in dire needs. Be a follower of Salaf as Saalih by actions and not merely by words.

May Allah guide us all.

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