Why it is Not Haram to Look at Pictures With 3 Major Arguments
C.J Ahmed-10.05.2023
Pictures are of two kinds, one is animate pictures of humans , animals etc and the second one is pictures of inanimate objects such as trees, mountains ,cars etc. Looking at both these image are not haram because Islam does not prohibit at looking at them.
Analyzing the Arguments of Those Who Oppose Photography
The argument of making photography is based on the hadiths prohibiting of making images of living souls. The prophet(sal) said:
"Those who will be most severely punished by Allaah on the Day of Resurrection will be the image-makers."
(Sahih Al Bukhari)
The prophet (sal) said :
'Who does more wrong than the one who tries to create something like My creation? Let him create a grain of wheat or a kernel of corn.'"
(Sahih Al Bukhari)
Ali (Rali) said:
"Shall I not send you on the same mission as the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) sent me? Do not leave any built-up tomb without levelling it, and do not leave any picture in any house without erasing it."
(Sahih Muslim and Nasai)
Ibn Abbas(Rali) Narrated that the prophet (sal) 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." Ibn 'Abbaas said: "If you must do that, make pictures of trees and other inanimate objects."
(Sahih Muslim)
The Prophet (sal) said:
"The angels do not enter a house in which there is a dog or pictures."
(Sahih Al Bukhari)
These are some of the many narrations mentioning the prohibition of making the pictures of living souls. From these hadiths it is clear that drawing the images of animate objects such as humans or animals. Now this same argument is used to view photography and video making as also the same as making animate objects hence it's thought to haram. Before answering this argument let me make it clear that the animate objects that do not have a head or face or is diformed is not an animate object. This is based on the following hadiths.
Al-Ismaa’eeli narrated in his Mu’jam from Ibn ‘Abbaas (Rali) that the Prophet (Sal) said: “The image is the head; if the head is cut off then there is no image.”
(Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami)
Abu Hurayrah (Rali) said: Jibreel (peace be upon him) asked permission to enter upon the Prophet (Sal) and he said, “Come in.” He said: How can I come in when in your house there is a curtain on which there are images? Either cut off their heads or make it a rug that is stepped on, for we angels do not enter a house in which there are images.
(An Nasai-authenticated by Albani in Sahih An Nasai)
2. Images of Animate Beings be Used as Rugs or as a Cushion to Reckline.
Images of animate objects can be used as rugs or carpets and also can be used as pillows to recline. The evidence for this is in the below hadiths.
Aisha (Rali) narrated:
"The Prophet (Sal) set out for an expedition. I took a carpet and screened the door with it. When he ( Prophet (Sal)) came back he saw that carpet and I perceived signs of disapproval on his face. He pulled it until it was torn or it was cut (into pieces) and he said: God has not commanded us to clothe stones and clay. We cut it (the curtain) and prepared two pillows out of it by stuffing them with the fibre of date-palms and he (Prophet (Sal)) did not find fault with it.
(Sahih Muslim)
Aisha (Rali) narrated:
"I bought a cushion with suras on it. When Allah’s Messenger (Sal) saw it, he kept standing at the door and did not enter the house. I noticed the sign of disgust on his face, so I said, “O Allah’s Messenger! I repent to Allah and to His Messenger. (Please let me know) what sin I have done.” He (Sal) said, “What about this cushion?” I replied, “I bought it for you to sit and recline on.” Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) said, “The makers of these suras will be punished on the Day of Resurrection. It will be said to them, ‘Breathe life into what you have created.’” He (peace be upon him) added, “Angels do not enter a house where there are suras. I took it and turned it into two pillows on which he used to recline at home.”
(Sahih Muslim)
It must be noted , unlike nowadays where some muslim brothers and sisters are harsh when images of animate objects are present on clothes, the prophet (sal) was lenient on this issue. Images of animate beings are allowed when there are designs on the clothing or if there are images in sheets as well. The above hadith also proves clearly that buying images or objects/dolls of animate beings is not haram because when Aisha (Rali) told the prophet (Sal) that she brought the cushion, the prophet (Sal) did not forbid her on that.
Ubaydullah ibn `Abdullah who narrated that he went to Abu Talhah Al-Ansary to visit him during his illness and found Sahl ibn Hunayf with him. Abu Talhah asked someone to remove a rug on the floor. Sahl asked: "Why do you (want to) remove it? He replied: Because it includes suras and I know what the Messenger of Allah (Sal) said about them (suras – i.e. the ruling on them). He said: Did he not say: “Except a design in a cloth”. He said, “Yes, but this is more comfortable for me.”
(Narrated in Musnad Ahmed, Nasai ,Tirmidhi-Imam Tirmidhi graded it as Hasan Sahih)
Narrated on the authority of Busr ibn Sa`id from Zayd ibn Khalid from Abu Talhah that the Prophet (Sal) stated: Angels do not enter a house in which there is a sura. Busr said, “Zayd then fell ill and we went to visit him but there was a curtain with a sura hanging at his door. I said to `Ubaydullah Al-Khawlany: the stepson of Maymunah – the wife of the Prophet (peace be upon him): Did not Zayd tell us about (the ruling on) suras the day before? `Ubaydullah said: Did you not hear when he said: Except a design in a cloth.”
(Sahih Al Bukhari and Muslim- another hadith narrated on the authority of `Amr ibn Al-Harith from Bukayr Al-Ashaj from Busr that he said, “I said to `UbaydullahAl-Khawlani: Did he not tell us about (the ruling on) suras? He said: He said, “Except a design in a cloth. Did you not hear him?” I said: No and he said: He said, “He indeed did say that.” -This hadith was also narrated in Bukhari and Muslim).
This was how the sahaba understood this hadith when an image was on a curtain.
The other hadith to prove that hanging an image of an animate being is allowed is in the following hadith.
A'isha (Rali) narrated :
"We had a curtain with us which had portraits of birds upon it. Whenever a visitor came, he found them in front of him. Thereupon Allah's Messenger (may peace be upop him) said to me: Change them, for whenever I enter the room) I see them and it brings to my mind (the pleasures) of worldly life. She said: We had with us a sheet which had silk badges upon it and we used to wear it. This hadith has been transmitted on the authority of Ibn Muthanna but with this addition: 'Allah's Messenger (Rali) did not command us to tear that."
(Sahih Muslim)
If having images of animate beings was such a strict matter, the prophet (sal) would have not acted so leniently. In the above hadith the prophet (Sal) ordered Aisha (Rali) to remove the images not because it was forbidden but because it was reminding him of worldy pleasures.
1.Why Nude Photography is Halal
There is no evidnce in Islam to prove that nude or sexually explicit pictures as in the case of porn is haram. Although the western definition in English for porn changes slightly with the change of time and new technology, Islam has a different and simple definition of porn. In Islam which is based on the Arabic term “Awrah” or the intimate parts of men and women, which are forbidden. The awrah varies from a man to a woman. The awrah argument is the basis that is used by ultra conservative Muslims to forbid pornography. The prohibition of looking at the awrah or the intimate parts of men and women is based on several authentic hadiths. The prophet (Sal) said:
“"No man should look at the Awrah of another man and no woman should look at the Awrah of another woman. Also, no man should be with another man under one piece of cloth and no woman should be with another woman under one piece of cloth.”
(Sahih Muslim)
Jarir bin 'Abdullah (Rali) narrated:
"I asked the Messenger of Allah (Sal) about (the Islamic ruling on) accidental glance and he ordered me to turn my eyes away".
(Sahih Muslim)
Allah (Swt) says in the Quran
“Tell the believing women to lower their gaze"
(24:31)
"Tell the believing men to lower their gaze"
(24:31)
The above evidences have been taken literally and the interpretation is stretched out with an umbrella prohibition arguing that lowering the gaze or not looking at the intimate parts of men and women applies to mediums such as photography or video. What needs to be understood here is that looking at the intimate parts is forbidden only,
• If you look at real people with your bare eyes
• And if it is done with lust
If this meets these two criteria only does it falls as forbidden.
Looking at pictures be it of living beings or inanimate objects is not haram.
Pictures are of two kinds, one is animate pictures of humans , animals etc and the second one is pictures of inanimate objects such as trees, mountains ,cars etc. Looking at both these image are not haram because Islam does not prohibit at looking at them.
Analyzing the Arguments of Those Who Oppose Photography
The argument of making photography is based on the hadiths prohibiting of making images of living souls. The prophet(sal) said:
"Those who will be most severely punished by Allaah on the Day of Resurrection will be the image-makers."
(Sahih Al Bukhari)
The prophet (sal) said :
'Who does more wrong than the one who tries to create something like My creation? Let him create a grain of wheat or a kernel of corn.'"
(Sahih Al Bukhari)
Ali (Rali) said:
"Shall I not send you on the same mission as the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) sent me? Do not leave any built-up tomb without levelling it, and do not leave any picture in any house without erasing it."
(Sahih Muslim and Nasai)
Ibn Abbas(Rali) Narrated that the prophet (sal) 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." Ibn 'Abbaas said: "If you must do that, make pictures of trees and other inanimate objects."
(Sahih Muslim)
The Prophet (sal) said:
"The angels do not enter a house in which there is a dog or pictures."
(Sahih Al Bukhari)
These are some of the many narrations mentioning the prohibition of making the pictures of living souls. From these hadiths it is clear that drawing the images of animate objects such as humans or animals. Now this same argument is used to view photography and video making as also the same as making animate objects hence it's thought to haram. Before answering this argument let me make it clear that the animate objects that do not have a head or face or is diformed is not an animate object. This is based on the following hadiths.
Al-Ismaa’eeli narrated in his Mu’jam from Ibn ‘Abbaas (Rali) that the Prophet (Sal) said: “The image is the head; if the head is cut off then there is no image.”
(Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami)
Abu Hurayrah (Rali) said: Jibreel (peace be upon him) asked permission to enter upon the Prophet (Sal) and he said, “Come in.” He said: How can I come in when in your house there is a curtain on which there are images? Either cut off their heads or make it a rug that is stepped on, for we angels do not enter a house in which there are images.
(An Nasai-authenticated by Albani in Sahih An Nasai)
2. Images of Animate Beings be Used as Rugs or as a Cushion to Reckline.
Images of animate objects can be used as rugs or carpets and also can be used as pillows to recline. The evidence for this is in the below hadiths.
Aisha (Rali) narrated:
"The Prophet (Sal) set out for an expedition. I took a carpet and screened the door with it. When he ( Prophet (Sal)) came back he saw that carpet and I perceived signs of disapproval on his face. He pulled it until it was torn or it was cut (into pieces) and he said: God has not commanded us to clothe stones and clay. We cut it (the curtain) and prepared two pillows out of it by stuffing them with the fibre of date-palms and he (Prophet (Sal)) did not find fault with it.
(Sahih Muslim)
Aisha (Rali) narrated:
"I bought a cushion with suras on it. When Allah’s Messenger (Sal) saw it, he kept standing at the door and did not enter the house. I noticed the sign of disgust on his face, so I said, “O Allah’s Messenger! I repent to Allah and to His Messenger. (Please let me know) what sin I have done.” He (Sal) said, “What about this cushion?” I replied, “I bought it for you to sit and recline on.” Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) said, “The makers of these suras will be punished on the Day of Resurrection. It will be said to them, ‘Breathe life into what you have created.’” He (peace be upon him) added, “Angels do not enter a house where there are suras. I took it and turned it into two pillows on which he used to recline at home.”
(Sahih Muslim)
It must be noted , unlike nowadays where some muslim brothers and sisters are harsh when images of animate objects are present on clothes, the prophet (sal) was lenient on this issue. Images of animate beings are allowed when there are designs on the clothing or if there are images in sheets as well. The above hadith also proves clearly that buying images or objects/dolls of animate beings is not haram because when Aisha (Rali) told the prophet (Sal) that she brought the cushion, the prophet (Sal) did not forbid her on that.
Ubaydullah ibn `Abdullah who narrated that he went to Abu Talhah Al-Ansary to visit him during his illness and found Sahl ibn Hunayf with him. Abu Talhah asked someone to remove a rug on the floor. Sahl asked: "Why do you (want to) remove it? He replied: Because it includes suras and I know what the Messenger of Allah (Sal) said about them (suras – i.e. the ruling on them). He said: Did he not say: “Except a design in a cloth”. He said, “Yes, but this is more comfortable for me.”
(Narrated in Musnad Ahmed, Nasai ,Tirmidhi-Imam Tirmidhi graded it as Hasan Sahih)
Narrated on the authority of Busr ibn Sa`id from Zayd ibn Khalid from Abu Talhah that the Prophet (Sal) stated: Angels do not enter a house in which there is a sura. Busr said, “Zayd then fell ill and we went to visit him but there was a curtain with a sura hanging at his door. I said to `Ubaydullah Al-Khawlany: the stepson of Maymunah – the wife of the Prophet (peace be upon him): Did not Zayd tell us about (the ruling on) suras the day before? `Ubaydullah said: Did you not hear when he said: Except a design in a cloth.”
(Sahih Al Bukhari and Muslim- another hadith narrated on the authority of `Amr ibn Al-Harith from Bukayr Al-Ashaj from Busr that he said, “I said to `UbaydullahAl-Khawlani: Did he not tell us about (the ruling on) suras? He said: He said, “Except a design in a cloth. Did you not hear him?” I said: No and he said: He said, “He indeed did say that.” -This hadith was also narrated in Bukhari and Muslim).
This was how the sahaba understood this hadith when an image was on a curtain.
The other hadith to prove that hanging an image of an animate being is allowed is in the following hadith.
A'isha (Rali) narrated :
"We had a curtain with us which had portraits of birds upon it. Whenever a visitor came, he found them in front of him. Thereupon Allah's Messenger (may peace be upop him) said to me: Change them, for whenever I enter the room) I see them and it brings to my mind (the pleasures) of worldly life. She said: We had with us a sheet which had silk badges upon it and we used to wear it. This hadith has been transmitted on the authority of Ibn Muthanna but with this addition: 'Allah's Messenger (Rali) did not command us to tear that."
(Sahih Muslim)
If having images of animate beings was such a strict matter, the prophet (sal) would have not acted so leniently. In the above hadith the prophet (Sal) ordered Aisha (Rali) to remove the images not because it was forbidden but because it was reminding him of worldy pleasures.
1.Why Nude Photography is Halal
There is no evidnce in Islam to prove that nude or sexually explicit pictures as in the case of porn is haram. Although the western definition in English for porn changes slightly with the change of time and new technology, Islam has a different and simple definition of porn. In Islam which is based on the Arabic term “Awrah” or the intimate parts of men and women, which are forbidden. The awrah varies from a man to a woman. The awrah argument is the basis that is used by ultra conservative Muslims to forbid pornography. The prohibition of looking at the awrah or the intimate parts of men and women is based on several authentic hadiths. The prophet (Sal) said:
“"No man should look at the Awrah of another man and no woman should look at the Awrah of another woman. Also, no man should be with another man under one piece of cloth and no woman should be with another woman under one piece of cloth.”
(Sahih Muslim)
Jarir bin 'Abdullah (Rali) narrated:
"I asked the Messenger of Allah (Sal) about (the Islamic ruling on) accidental glance and he ordered me to turn my eyes away".
(Sahih Muslim)
Allah (Swt) says in the Quran
“Tell the believing women to lower their gaze"
(24:31)
"Tell the believing men to lower their gaze"
(24:31)
The above evidences have been taken literally and the interpretation is stretched out with an umbrella prohibition arguing that lowering the gaze or not looking at the intimate parts of men and women applies to mediums such as photography or video. What needs to be understood here is that looking at the intimate parts is forbidden only,
• If you look at real people with your bare eyes
• And if it is done with lust
If this meets these two criteria only does it falls as forbidden.
Looking at pictures be it of living beings or inanimate objects is not haram.