Most-asked question
Is working as a photographer or videographer permissible?
33 fatawa in the archive answer questions on this, from 6 South African Darul Iftas (Ask Imaam, Mufti Online, Ibn Masood, Miftahul Falaah, Azaadville, Jamiat KZN). Below, each Darul Ifta’s answer is quoted word for word from the opening of one of its fatawa.
Based on the fatawa linked below. Please read the sources and double-check with a Darul Ifta for your situation.
Consult a mufti for your situation. Fatawa SA is a read-only archive and issues no rulings of its own.
What the Darul Iftas say
“When photography of animate objects is impermissible then what is the need of asking whether it is a lighter sin or not. All kinds of sin must be abandoned. The Quraan Shareef instructs us to leave out all sins, open or hidden. Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) has sounded severe warnings regarding pictures.”
“1. All forms of picture-making are Haraam, whether the picture was taken by means of a digital camera, or captured on a video, or drawn by hand etc. The impermissibility of photography is clearly proven from the Ahadith of Rasulullah Salallahu Alaihi Wasallam, some of which we have quoted below:”
“The issue of digital photography, videos and video calling is academically contested amongst contemporary Ulama. Whilst some Ulama permit it, others consider it to be Tasweer (picture making) and hence regard it to be impermissible.”
“1.1 All forms of photography is impermissible irrespective of whether it is digital or not. The reason why it is impermissible is because Nabi صلى الله عليه وسلم said “May Allah Ta’alas curse be upon the one who creates tasweer and for whom it was made for””
Quotes are the opening words of each answer as published; the full answer, its conditions and references are on the fatwa page. Answers depend on the exact details of each question.
Read the fatawa
- The prohibition of picture-making applying to digital photographyMufti Online · 7 Oct 2026
- Photography Of Animate ObjectsIbn Masood · 5 Oct 2026
- Web developer for a football photography companyAsk Imaam · 18 May 2023
- Wildlife PhotographyAzaadville · 2 Jan 2023
- Digital PhotographyMiftahul Falaah · 16 Aug 2022
- Digital PhotographyJamiat KZN · 17 Mar 2015
- Getting involved in the sin of photographyMufti Online · 16 Nov 2021
- Attending a Jalsa that promotes photography and videosIbn Masood · 15 Nov 2023
- Digital Photography - What is permissible & what isnt?Ask Imaam · 1 Jun 2020
- Digital photographyMiftahul Falaah · 20 Jan 2026
- PhotographyMufti Online · 19 Feb 2014
- Starting a photography businessIbn Masood · 25 Apr 2023
- What is the Islamic viewpoint on using digital photography, videos and Emojis?Ask Imaam · 14 Feb 2020
- Income of a wedding photographerMufti Online · 15 Feb 2020
- Impermissibility of digital photographyIbn Masood · 25 Jul 2022
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