Fatwa #293569 June 2014United States of America
Posting selfies
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
(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.
(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)