Darul Iftaa Mahmudiyyah

Posting selfies

· 11 Shaʻban 1435 AH1 min readFatwa 29356English

Question

Is it halal to take pictures of my self on a phone and post them to social medias such as facebook and instagram?

Answer

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

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

The pictures of facebook and Instagram are digital. The ruling of digital pictures is a highly contested issue amongst highly respected 'Ulama and academics. Many contend that digital pictures are not the same as regular photographical pictures while others are of the opinion that they are in the same ruling as regular pictures.[1]As such, we advise against the use of digital pictures.

Furthermore, irrespective of the academic debate referred to above, it is a well-known fact that pictures on social networks are a means of connecting and maintaining immoral relationship especially with the opposite gender.

Shari’ah has closed all doors to immorality. There are many verses of the Qur’an and Ahadith in support of that.[2] As such, posting pictures of oneself on social networks like facebook and Instagram is not permissible.

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Zakariya Memon

Student Darul Iftaa
Chatham, Canada

Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.

Daruliftaa.net

References (Arabic / Urdu sources)

[1]

(1) Aap Ke Masaail Aur Unka Hal (2011 Edition), vol. 8, pg. 476, Maktabah Ludhanwiyyah.

(2) Fatawa Rahimiyyah, vol. 10, pg. 147, Darul Isha'at;

(3) Fatawa Mufti Mahmood, vol. 10, pg. 220 & 452,

(4) Ahsanul Fatawa, vol. 7, pg. 290; HM Saeed

(5) Fatawa Mahmudiyyah, vol. 19, pg. 518 & 523.

[2]

(1) {وَلَا تَقْرَبُوا الْفَوَاحِشَ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَمَا بَطَنَ} [الأنعام: 151]

(2) عَنْ عَامِرٍ، قَالَ: سَمِعْتُ النُّعْمَانَ بْنَ بَشِيرٍ، يَقُولُ: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: " الحَلاَلُ بَيِّنٌ، وَالحَرَامُ بَيِّنٌ، وَبَيْنَهُمَا مُشَبَّهَاتٌ لاَ يَعْلَمُهَا كَثِيرٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ، فَمَنِ اتَّقَى المُشَبَّهَاتِ اسْتَبْرَأَ لِدِينِهِ وَعِرْضِهِ، وَمَنْ وَقَعَ فِي الشُّبُهَاتِ: كَرَاعٍ يَرْعَى حَوْلَ الحِمَى، يُوشِكُ أَنْ يُوَاقِعَهُ،...... (صحيح البخاري (1/ 20)

(3) قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «الْحَيَاءُ خَيْرٌ كُلُّهُ» قَالَ: أَوْ قَالَ: «الْحَيَاءُ كُلُّهُ خَيْرٌ» (صحيح مسلم (1/ 64)

Answered by
Zakariya Memon
Checked & approved by
Mufti Ebrahim Desai
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Questions about this ruling, answered only from the archive with sources.

Where scholars differ, it’s safer to take the more cautious view.

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Source: Darul Iftaa Mahmudiyyah — https://askimam.org/public/question_detail/29356
Fatawa SA: https://fatawa.co.za/fatwa/askimam-29356

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