Islam gives importance to intentions; clicking of photographs for pleasure is unIslamic

Deoband issues fatwa against photography The Times of India,

7 Sep 2007, 0223 hrs IST, Pervez Iqbal Siddiqui

LUCKNOW: A fatwa issued by Darul-uloom Deoband in Saharanpur district banning photography for Muslims has created a flutter in the community and beyond. The fatwa has called photographs unlawful and against Shariat. Interestingly, the Islamic seminary has made it compulsory for students to afix their photographs in admission forms. It has also not taken into account that photographs are mandatory all over the world for those applying for Haj pilgrimage and passports.

The fatwa was issued in response to a query on photography by an Assam-based NGO by four senior clerics of Darul Ifta (fatwa section) of the seminary. The clerics are Mufti Habib-ur-Rehman, Mufti Zain-Ul-Islam, Mufti Mehmood and Mufti Zafiruddin. They stated that photography, which includes taking pictures or posing for picture, was completely against Shariat. Mufti Arifuddin, a senior faculty member at the Darul-uloom Deoband (Waqf) in Saharanpur, told TOI, "Taking photographs is completely proscribed under Shariat.''

Asked about the seminary's directive to students to affix their photos in admission forms, Mufti Arif said photographs were allowed only when mandatory. "The ban applies on photography during marriages and other social functions or for commercial use,'' he said.

Asked about passports particularly for Haj pilgrimage, he said since Islam gives importance to intentions, photographs clicked for such purposes can be permitted. "But even such photographs must not be distributed or kept with oneself with the intention of showing it to others or for the heck of it,'' said Maulana Khalid Rasheed, member of the All-India Muslim Personal Law Board and Imam of Aishbagh Eidgah in Lucknow. EMail Write to Editor

Darul-uloom Deoband issues decree against photography

Muzaffarnagar (Uttar Pradesh), Sept. 8: Leading Islamic seminary Darul-uloom Deoband has said that the clicking of photographs for pleasure is unIslamic.

"If you are appearing for an exam, or going on Haj, you have to get yourself photographed. Islam gives you the rights to fulfill your necessities. So, under these conditions, Islam gives you the permission to get photographed. But, if you are clicking pictures for your pleasure and not as a necessity, it is unethical," said Azarshah Kashmiri, a Deoband official.Minority Commission officials in Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar District also agreed with the decree.

"Photography is not a right thing to do according to Islamic tenets. But, I feel there is a huge difference between the 'unethical' and the 'illegal.' If you are in need of things like a passport, an identity card or any such thing, you do require a photograph," said Israr Ahmad, the head of the local Minority Commission.

The Deoband school has a powerful influence among Muslims in South Asia, and is known for its hardline views on gender-related issues. Earlier this month, it issued a decree saying Muslim girls should not go to co-educational schools and colleges.In 2005, it said a woman allegedly raped by her father-in-law could not stay with her husband, sparking an outcry from women's groups. Copyright Dailyindia.com/ANI