Question: 

Is it permissble to draw the pictures of animate objects without the head? 

What would be the ruling for taking pictures of a person without the head, like just the body from the shoulder to the toes or from half way through the head like from the the mouth or nose to the toes? 

Answer: 

The jurists have permitted taking a picture without the head, i.e. from the shoulder down (not from the nose and mouth). However, this in no way promotes or even encourages one to take pictures.

ایسی تصاویر جن میں شکل وصورت نظر نہیں آتی ، لگانا ممنوع نہیں ہے جواہر الفقہ ص - ۲۳۴ ج ۳ / کتاب النوازل ص ۴۹۱ ج ۱۶ انَّ جِبِْْيلَ عَلَيْهِ الصَّلَاةُ وَالسَّلَامُ اسْتَأْذَنَ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللََِّّ صَلَّى اللََُّّ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ، فَقَالَ لَهُ اُدْخُلْ ، فَقَالَ : كَيْفَ أَدْخُلُ بَيْتًا عَلَيْهِ سِتٌْْ فِيهِ تَََاثِيلُ حَيَوَانٍ أَوْ رِجَالٍ ، إمَّا أَنْ تُقْطَعَ رُءُوسُهَا أَوْ تُُْعَلَ بِسَاطًا يُوطَأُ إنََّّ مَعَاشِرَ الْمَ لَائِكَةِ لََ نَدْخُلُ بَيْتًا فِيهِ كَلْبٌ أَوْ صُورَة .

)العناية شرح الهداية ص 417 ج 1 )

ذكََرَهُ الَْْلَبُِِّ ) أَوْ مَقْطُوعَةَ الرَّأْسِ أَوْ الْوَجْهِ ( أَوْ مََْحُوَّةَ عُضْوٍ لََ تَعِيشُ بِدُونِه )شامي ص 418 ج 2 ص – 648 ج 1 )

Although it may be fundamentally permissible to keep such a picture, we would discourage one from taking pictures of animate objects (particularly where there isn’t a need to do so) as there always exist the possibility of the face and head being captured in the photo if the angle of the camera is slightly raised albeit unintentionally. It is a different issue where a photo is taken due to a necessity, but without a necessity it should be avoided. Also, it is possible that a person starts taking pictures without including the head initially but as time progresses one tends to take things for granted and becomes lax in these matters. He becomes so accustomed to taking full pictures that he doesn’t regard it as a wrong any longer and even starts looking for excuses to justify his actions, which at times could put his Imaan in jeopardy. This is how Shaytaan deceives and misguides a person. We therefore advise abstention.

Allah knows best!

ANSWERED BY: Mufti Mohammed Desai 

CHECKED AND APPROVED BY: Mufti Muhammed Saeed Motara Saheb D.B 

Date: 14 Rajab 1441 

English Date: 09 March 2020