Question: 

1. Is video calling permissible, and if not what are the reasons?

2. Is it permissible to use whatsapp emojis and if not why? 

Answer: 

Our Dar ul Ifta’s view is that video calling is a type of Tasweer (picture-making) as the video image can (at the press of a button) be captured and stored electronically. There are severe warnings mentioned in the Ahaadith regarding Tasweer:

سََِعْتُ عَبْدَ اللََِّّ قَالَ سََِعْتُ النَّبَِِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ: "إِنَّ أَشَدَّ النَّاسِ عَذَابًً عِنْدَ اللََِّّ يوَْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ الْمُصَ وِرُونَ "

Translation: Abdullah Ibn Masud Radhiallahu anhu said that he heard Nabi Sallallahu alaihi wasallam saying: “The people who will receive the severest punishment from Allah on the Day of Qiyamah will be the picture makers.” (Sahih Al-Bukhari: no.5950, Sahih Muslim: no.2109)

عن جَابِرٍ، قَالَ نَََى رَسُولُ اللََِّّ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنِ الصُّورَةِ فِِ الْبَيْتِ وَنَََى أَنْ يُصْنَعَ ذَلِكَ

Translation: Jabir Radhiallahu anhu narrates that Nabi Sallallahu alaihi wasallam prohibited having images in the house and he prohibited from making it (images). (Jami At-Tirmidhi: no.1749)

عنْ أَبِِ هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللََِّّ صلى الله عليه وسلم: "مَنْ صَوَّرَ صُورَةً كُل فَ يوَْمَ الْقِ يَامَةِ أَنْ يَنْفُخَ فِيهَا الرُّوحَ وَلَيْسَ بِنَافِخٍ"

Translation: Abu Hurairah Radhiallahu anhu narrates that Nabi Sallallahu alaihi wasallam said: “Whoever makes an image will be commanded on the Day of Resurrection to breathe life into it but he will not be able to do so.” (Sunan An-Nasai: no.5360)

عَنْ أَبِِ طَلْحَةَ  رضى الله عنهم  عَنِ النَّ بِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ:" لاَ تَدْخُلُ الْمَلاَئِكَةُ بَيْتًا فِيهِ كَلْبٌ وَلاَ صُورَةٌ "

Translation: Abu Talha Radhiallahu anhu narrates that Nabi Sallallahu alaihi wasallam said “Angels do not enter a house that has a dog or a picture in it.” (Sahih Al-Bukhari: no.3322)

ومن أظلم ممن ذهب يخلق كخلقي، فليخلقوا حبة، « : عنْ أَبِِ هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ: سَعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول » وليخلقوا ذرة

Translation: Abu Hurayrah Radhiallahu anhu narrates, “I heard Rasulullaah Sallallahu alaihi wasallam saying, “Allaah Ta’aala said, “Who can be more oppressive than the one who tries to create something that I created? Let them [show their talent] by creating an ant, a grain seed or a barley seed [if it’s possible for them to do that]!’” (Bukhaari no. 5953, Muslim no. 2111)

The greater the degree of resemblance between the image and the actual animate object, the greater the degree of prohibition would be because the extent of challenging and attempting to resemble Allaah Ta’aala is greater when the image is closer to the original. It is quite clear to every intelligent person that a photograph resembles the original item to a very high degree when compared to a hand drawn image.

It makes no difference whether an image is produced mechanically or by hand. The main thing is the final result. If someone says that wine produced by hand is forbidden, but wine squeezed out from a machine is permissible, then such a statement will hold no weight, since the underlying factor in wine being forbidden is the factor of intoxication. The manner of producing it makes no difference. Similarly, one underlying factor of the prohibition of pictures is resemblance to the creation of Allaah Ta’aala, which is found to a greater extent in images produced mechanicallyiii.

In a mirror reflection, the image is not permanent and is not captured, however, in the instance of a video call and live video broadcast, there exists “particles of an image” or “digital trace data” creating the potential of the broadcast being captured and printed; the broadcast could be printed to form a picture or photo resulting in it becoming impermissible. Hence, due to this potential, especially in this age of technology, live video broadcasting and video calling will ultimately be considered as Tasweer, and hence prohibited. Furthermore, this potential does not exist in the case of a mirror reflection. A mirror reflection does not contain particles, etc. creating the potential of it being captured and printed, hence, the analogy of the mirror reflection and live video broadcasting and video calling would be an oversight and incorrect.

2. On the basis of the above Ahaadith and many others, one should completely abstain from all forms of picture making of an animate object, including emojis iv. 

AND ALLAH TA’AALA ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST

ANSWERED BY: Yusuf Nana 

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

Islamic Date:25 لاوش 1441 

English Date: 17 June 2020