Is it permissible to publish images of animate beings in cases of necessity?
Question I know that putting images of animate beings in chat rooms is haraam and I have read the fatwa. But there are some situations which require putting explanatory images, such as first aid, where it is essential to put pictures which explain the position of the first aider and patient when carrying out first…
Question
Praise be to Allah.
In our site we have favoured the view that photographic
images of animate beings are haraam and it is most likely that they are
included in the hadeeths which forbid image making and the hadeeths which
criticise the image makers, who will be the most severely punished of people
on the Day of Resurrection.
Nevertheless, our fuqaha’ have stated that if there is a need
or necessity, there is nothing wrong with making images and there is no sin
on the image maker in that case, because cases of necessity make forbidden
things permissible.
We have already discussed on our site matters that have to do
with cases where making images is permissible because of need or necessity,
such as the following:
It is permissible to take pictures of criminals or suspects
to identify them. See the answer to question number
34904.
It is permissible to take pictures of traffic accidents in
which people appear. Question number
1747.
It is permissible to take pictures of patients and show the
pictures in medical conferences. Question number
10228.
It is permissible to use pictures and drawings when teaching medicine. Question number 40054.
It is permissible to keep and carry gold currency that
includes images. Question number
22390.
It is permissible to use images for teaching children. Question number 13716.
Based on that, we do not think that there is anything wrong with using pictures for teaching first aid, warning of the dangers of smoking, or to publicise the horrors of the Zionist occupation and their crimes in occupied Palestine, whilst trying to avoid depicting the face if possible, or erasing it, and also avoiding pictures of women.
And Allah knows best.
