By Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel Saheb (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh)
One of the greatest calamities of our
times is the abuse of the camera.
In this day and age, with the easy
availability of cell-phones, digital cameras, camcorders, etc. everyone seems
to be in possession of a tool which has created an upheaval in mischief.
…How many have had their names
dragged through the mud, have been black-mailed, slandered or left humiliated
and disgraced due to photographs taken and thereafter circulated?
Photography is an evil which has been
entirely misjudged and under-estimated.
Just recently, a brother related a
dream to me, requesting an interpretation. I interpreted his dream saying: ‘It
seems as if movies are being viewed in the Masjid.’
Within a matter of days, the
interpretation was made apparent. We had a visiting ‘Aalim give a talk in our
Masjid. I was sitting on a chair, near the front, when I observed three young
boys very absorbed with their cell phones. I requested a friend to go to the
back of the Masjid and see what they were up to. He observed that they were
viewing some film with dirty, indecent pictures. Inna Lillahi wa inna ilayhi ra'jioon. ...We give our children
high-technology at the expense of Hayaa (modesty), Deen and Imaan.
One is to have no shame and commit
sins in the presence of Allah Ta’ala, but increasing in shamelessness is when
one is brazen enough to commit sins in the presence of Allah Ta’ala, whilst in
the Masjid, the House of Allah Ta’ala.
The same shamelessness is found
en-masse in the Masjid of all Masaajid, Masjidul Haraam in Makkah Mukarramah.
The objective of the majority visiting the Haramain Shareefain these days, is
taking photographs and video recording, instead of engaging in Ibaadah.
Complaints - and it is even
experience - of flashes and clicks of the camera, seen or heard, whilst Salaah
is in progress or whilst in Tawaaf, or whilst at the Raudha Mubarak.
There is a very dire need to explain
that this is a grave and serious crime in the sight of Allah Ta’ala.
What needs to be understood is that
photography of anything animate is a clear prohibition. It is Haraam.
It has been narrated from Hazrat
Jaabir (Radhiyallaahu 'anhu) that
Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam) forbade pictures in the house and he
forbade making them .
Rasulullah (Sallallaahu ‘alayhi
wasallam) said: “Verily, of the most grievously tormented people on the Day of
Resurrection are picture-makers.”
There are, in fact, many other
Ahaadeeth, which clearly prove this prohibition.
Why did Allah Ta’ala prohibit
photography?
One reason is quite clear; that it
was the origin of Shirk (polytheism):
Going down the passage of history, we
find that mankind was introduced to idol worship through shaytaan’s efforts in
leading mankind astray. Due to his whispering encouragement, people began to
draw and sketch their pious predecessors, thinking that their faces and images
will be a source of inspiration and an incentive to also follow in their
footsteps of piety. However, it was the means by which many began to worship
those pictures, and thereafter carved idols; and idol worship came into vogue.
Whilst this would have been more than
sufficient for the Believer, it is no longer considered a worthy reason by
Muslims who want to engage in the sin. Many say that there is no way that they
would worship a photograph or even a sketch, let alone an idol.
My Shaykh, Hazrat Maulana Hakeem
Muhammad Akhtar Saheb (Daamat Barakaatuhum), presented another reason behind
the prohibition: So that Allah Ta’ala may protect the respect and dignity of
His servants.
Many a time, a person who was engaged
in various evils is granted Hidayat (guidance). Sometimes, this Hidayat is such
that he attains a high stage of Wilayat. The person becomes a great Wali
(Friend) of Allah Ta’ala and even a Shaykh, and thousands of people throng to
his gatherings. Now at such a time, if someone were to dig up the pictures of
his past … what embarrassment he would have to endure.
From Allah Ta’ala’s side, there is
forgiveness of sins, on sincere Taubah , to the extent, that all evidence is
‘deleted’ and Insha-Allah, the person will not have to render an account for
those sins. However, if photographs were taken, this is evidence which the
person has produced against himself, and which cannot always be destroyed –
especially if it is in the hands of others who wish to bring disgrace to the
person.
My Shaykh mentioned this, with
reference to an incident, where a woman who was a candidate in one of
Pakistan’s elections, was blackmailed with photographs of herself in a
compromising situation so that she withdraws.
Further to this reason, we find that
the porn industry and filthy films are all based on pictures. Islam nips the
problem in the bud by prohibiting photography.
If everyone practiced upon this
teaching, we would not have pornography, woman abuse and exploitation, child
pornography, and the evil consequences of rape, insanity, suicide, incest,
etc., much of which has shattered and devastated the marriages and homes of
even many Muslims.
Now thinking over all these harms, we
should appreciate the prohibition all the more and show that appreciation by
abstaining. There is nothing but great wisdom in the prohibitions of Allah
Ta’ala, with nothing but good for His servants.
[1] Sahih Bukhari
