Abdurrahmaan Al-Qaddaaree

    Description: 1. Important introduction on the importance of seeking knowledge 2. What is the greatest hadeeth clarifying the levels of the religion? 3. List the narrations of this hadeeth and the Companions who narrated it.   Transcription: All praise is due to Allah. and I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, alone without partner. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and messenger. May Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him, his family, and his companions abundantly. To proceed: My brothers in Allah, I want to remind myself and you, that a Muslim must make use of his lifetime, which Allah, Exalted He is, has granted him. We must make use of this life, and the hours that remain from our lives. Allah, Exalted He is, said: O you who believe, fear Allah, and let every soul look to what it has sent forth for tomorrow. يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَلْتَنْظُرْ نَفْسٌ مَا قَدَّمَتْ لِغَدٍ...

Since camera apps make images without us pressing the capture button: opening the app and using it as a mirror is not appropriate; it is haram (impremissible). If it is said: We did not take a picture, as it is not fixed and disappears when the app is closed. One could say to that: The imitation is still fulfilled. What you see on the screen is not a reflection, but automatic image-making. The image being permanent is not necessary for imitation to be fulfilled; creation itself is the condition for that. Based on this, using a phone camera as a mirror is not allowed, and it is a major sin. Important Note If it seems strange to you that the app creates pictures without pressing the capture button, this indicates a lack of understanding of the nature of photography and how these devices work, and does not mean it is not considered photography. The advice is: Do not speak about what Allaah ruled, without knowledge. This matter concerns a major sin. Therefore, please consul...

To photograph = to draw with light. There are no shadows or reflections in this equation. The only reason someone would insert such terms is because they do not understand how a machine uses light to produce images — and that is purely scientific. No expert says that photography is like a mirror, or that a camera traps shadows. None. The only people in the world who make that claim are Muslims who say drawing by hand is forbidden, but photography is not. Isn’t that enough reason to stop and rethink one’s position on this matter — especially when grave punishment awaits image makers?

Many people today claim that photography is nothing but reflection, and that what appears in a photo is just like what is seen in a mirror, and therefore harmless. This is astonishing, and it is one of the most corrupt analogies, because the differences between photographs and mirrors are many. To clarify, let us consider some basic scientific facts. First: The Definition of Reflection Reflection is when light bounces off a reflective surface, such as a mirror or calm water, allowing the object itself to be seen directly on that surface. Second: Conditions for Reflection For reflection to exist, two things are required: The object itself. A reflective surface. And for the reflection to be visible, a direct line of sight between the eye and the reflective surface is necessary. Third: Why Photographs Are Not Reflections Photographs exist independently without fulfilling any of these conditions — a fact so obvious. For example: suppose you liked a flower outside the house, p...