If only the First Lady of France, Mrs Carla Bruni-Sarkozy followed my ‘golden rule’, it would’ve saved her the current agony of ‘intimate’ photos being stolen and falling into the ‘wrong hands’. Although no one deserves such humiliation, it could be argued that she only has herself to blame.
At the risk of sounding prudish or even Wahhabi-esque conservative to non-Muslims, I had recently advised some relatives not to take photos which were ‘overly romantic’ or of people not ‘dressed appropriately’. I told them that I had a golden rule, if you are relaxed with strangers seeing the photos accidentally – without causing you huge embarrassment or worse, then it’s OK.
The French President’s wife is supposed to be an intelligent woman, no one forced her to have those intimate photos taken. Non-Muslim Westerners (my own term) are already familiar with vindictive ‘former’ partners - if everyone knows that the current partner could well become a former partner, how stupid could they be to allow ‘intimate’ photos to be taken? I’m assuming ‘intimate’ means the full monty and more, as topless photos of Ms Bruni (a former model) have already been published and printed as bags.
In the analogue past, Muslim were deterred from taking such pictures as the photo shop or pharmacy had to develop them. Now with digital photography, it is easy to take risqué pictures falsely believing you alone will see them on the computer. But could you guarantee that your computer will never be stolen, or hacked into?
This is where my ‘golden rule’ come in: if it’s not going to be the end of the world if the neighbour sees the photo, then take it. That may mean that some family photos, perhaps with women not in full Hijab (ie headscarf etc) could be OK, but anything more ‘private’ is better avoided or else it will come back to haunt you.
carefull now, dont want to be giving out any fatwas. although i can see that the issue discussed is a relevant one. best seek advice and guidance of the ulamaa or bloggers who have studied deen who write on this blog. jzk.
You seem to know the bloggers Tahir, and have made a judgement of who have ’studied the deen’? How do you know that this blogger hasn’t studied the deen, but just wishes not to advertise it?
And I don’t see any ‘fatwas’ …just common sense… in any case, the great thing about Islam is that we don’t have a ‘priest class’ who give fatwas.
Anyone can make whatever case they like, it is for others to point out any mistakes. So why don’t you do all of us a favour Tahir and say what you think is wrong?
Implicit in your comment is your understanding that something this blogger has said is ‘wrong’ or you don’t agree with. Why don’t you just come out with it, but be careful, we don’t want to be giving out any fatwas….
Jazakallahu khairan for the blog post br Amin. If my memory serves me right, I recall the late reknowned scholar Saalih ibn Uthanymeen saying something very simillar, and many other scholars have taken a similar stance in the past and present (in fact Imam Abdul Qaayyum said advises along very similar lines).
While they allowed recordings and photos for useful needs and causes (which is why you will find recordings of them available), they warned against using the tools of photography and recording casually in the home, for fear that the pictures may fall into the hands or under the sight of the wrong people; as a way of ‘blocking the means’ to something harmful. Of course, now that digital photos and recording are available, the ‘harm’ is far more likely.
Salam
Didnt mean to offend. i agree i could have phrased my comment better. just wanted to highlight that it is important we seek the advice of scholars regardin matters pertaining to fiqh, as Allah SWT says: “Ask the people of dhikr if you do not know…”. jazakallahu khayran br Rahim for your clarification.
wslm
salaam,
I have (bad…?) a habit of checking sources…
May I suggest inserting a warning (maybe in brackets) if the images may be seen as inappropriate … this is more to cover yourselves than anything. I’m sure readers have seen worse but I’m sure it would reduce any complaints since you control the links.
Shukran,