Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan
Taken from the Shaykhs lecture series:
(Tafseer of Surah al-Hujuraat to Surah an-Naas)
Monday 15 Shawwal 1427H.
Question:
What is the ruling concerning taking pictures using a mobile phone considering some people say that it is just capturing a shadow and there is no prohibition in that, so what is the ruling concerning that?
Answer:
For HIM there is no prohibition in that, as for the Sunnah and the evidences then picture taking/making in general is Haraam (prohibited) and the picture maker is cursed. And he will receive from the most severest of punishments on the Day of Judgment. So what is it that takes the mobile phone out from this generality? The Messenger made picture making Haraam without exception by any means; (whether that be by way of ) a mobile phone, a camera, by hand(sculpting) or by drawing, he made it absolutely Haraam. So who is he that makes an exception from what the messenger sallallaahu alaihi wasallamsaid and attempts to redress the messenger. Apart from that the Muhaqqiqeen (verifiers) from the Scholars make an exception in the case of necessity, if a person is in need of taking a picture for a necessity then it is allowed due to this necessity due to His saying - the Most High:
(وقَدْ فَصَّلَ لَكُم مَّا حَرَّمَ عَلَيْكُمْ إلاَّ مَا اضْطُرِرْتُمْ إلَيْهِ )
while He has explained to you in detail what is forbidden to you, except under compulsion of necessity? [Surah al-'An'aam:119]
As for picture taking as a hobby or as a form of art by the use of the camera or by hand or by any object then it is Haraam and it is not allowed except in case of necessity only. In accordance to the necessity it is a concession. It is a concession due to a necessity only.