Darul Ifta Ibn Masood

Permissibility of video calls

· 9 Ramadan 1443 AH1 min readEnglish

Question

Is it permissible to make a video call to see one’s parents or children, if they live far away?

Answer

Video calls are impermissible even if it is to view close family members such as one’s parents or children. The Hadith states that the worst form of punishment will be meted out on the day of Qiyaamah to those that make pictures. It is recorded in another narration that the picture-makers will be punished on the day of Qiyaamah and it will be said to them, “Insert life into what you have created.” In a video call, pictures are captured and seen on both ends, hence it is totally prohibited.

References (Arabic / Urdu sources)

عن مسروق، عن عبد الله، قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: إن أشد الناس عذابا يوم القيامة المصورون (مصنف ابن ابي شيبة)

عن نافع، عن ابن عمر، قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: ” يعذب المصورون يوم القيامة، ويقال لهم: أحيوا ما خلقتم ” (مصنف ابن ابي شيبة)

Answered by
Mufti Mohammed Desai
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Source: Darul Ifta Ibn Masood — https://fataawa.co.za/permissibility-of-video-calls/
Fatawa SA: https://fatawa.co.za/fatwa/ibnmasood-17611

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