Cooperating (in the affairs of Da'wah) with those of Ahlus-Sunnah who see picture-making as being permissible. Shaykh Muhammad ibn Hizaam

بســـم اللــه الرحــمــن الـرحـــيــم

📩 Question:

The questioner says: Is it permissible to cooperate in the affairs of Da'wah with those from Ahlus-Sunnah who take the fatwa of some of the scholars permitting picture-making?

📝 Answer:

They are mistaken in this regard, because picture-making is from the major sins. 

The Prophet ﷺ said:

"The most severely punished people on the day of Judgment will be the picture-makers." 

[Reported by Bukhari and Muslim from the Hadeeth of 'Abdullah ibn Mas'ood, may Allah be pleased with him] 

Likewise, the Prophet ﷺ said:

"Allah cursed the picture-makers" 

[Reported by Bukhari from the Hadeeth of Abu Jahayfa, may Allaah be pleased with him]

He ﷺ also said:

“The Angels do not enter a house which contains a dog or a picture”. 

[Reported by Bukhari and Muslim from the Hadeeth of Abu Talha, may Allaah be pleased with him] 

Similarly, the Prophet ﷺ said: 

"The picture-maker will be punished in the Hellfire, a soul will be placed in every picture he created and it shall punish him."

[Reported by Bukhari and Muslim from the Hadeeth of Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him] 

There are many evidences in this regard, this is just an indication, all of these evidences indicate the prohibition of taking pictures of living beings. And the correct stance is that they also include images taken by photographic devices, just as they include both still and motion pictures. The correct position is that it includes every type. Therefore, if a person of knowledge says picture-making is permissible in this regard (i.e. for Da'wah purposes), then we see him to be mistaken in this. 

As for the question, is it permissible to cooperate in the affairs of da'wah with such a person? Then the answer is: as long as he is from Ahlus-Sunnah wal Jamaa'ah, then yes, it's permissible to cooperate with him in the affairs of Da'wah, and they should leave this matter of contention aside; the prophet ﷺ said to Abu Musa al-Ash'ari and Mu'adh ibn Jabal before sending them off to Yemen: 

((وَتَطَاوَعَا وَلاَ تَخْتَلِفَا))

"Work together and don't be divided." 

[In the same Hadeeth,] He ﷺ also advised them, saying:

"Show leniency (to the people); don't be hard upon them; give glad tidings; and do not create aversion."

Therefore, those who see it to be permissible should avoid recording in the presence of their brothers who see it to be Haraam, and it's not permissible for them to record their brothers in this case. And just because they record in other events, this shouldn't prevent you from advising them, but this shouldn't cause you to dispute amongst yourselves, such that you become disunited and warn against one another, seeing as both of you follow the Sunnah, are upright and adhere to the same Creed; especially when you reside in the lands of disbelief, you are in great need of being united, for how few are Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaa'ah in the lands of disbelief. What's more, many of those who ascribe themselves to Islam take little interest in their religion, and many of them are Sufis or Shiites, etc. Ahlus-Sunnah are already few in number, so how can you dispute amongst yourselves, become disunited and warn against one another based on this matter?! This is wrong. Do not base your allegiance and disallegiance (Walaa wal baraa) on this matter, may Allah grant you all success. 

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Translated by:

Abu Ishaq Muhammad Ibn Ahmad Ba Alawi

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Original Fatwa:

https://t.me/ibnhezam/8005