The Ruling on Making Pictures

Question :

What is the ruling on pictures? What are the Hadiths that have been narrated on this topic, and is there a difference between images that cast a shadow and those that don't according to the preferred view of the scholars? May peace, the mercy and blessings of Allah be upon you.

Answer:

At-Taswir is to make an image of an animate living an on. The Shari'ah ruling is that it is unlawful. The basis for this prohibition lies in the many Hadiths that have been narrated in this regard, and from among them: in the Two Sahihs it is recorded that Ibn Mas'ud, may Allah be pleased with him, said that the Messenger of Allah said :
"The people who will be most severely punished on the day of Judgement will be the picture-makers."

Ibn 'Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"The people who make these pictures will be punished on the Day of Judgement; it will be said to them, "Make alive that which you have created."

It is also recorded by them (Al-Bukhari and Muslim) from Ibn 'Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them, that he narrated the saying of the Prophet ﷺ:
"Whoever makes an image in this world will be commissioned to blow a spirit into it, but he is not one who is able to do so."

It is recorded by Muslim that Ibn 'Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them, said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"Every picture-maker is in the Fire; every image he made will be given a soul by which he will be tormented in Hell."

-Abu Talhah narrated the following Hadith of the Prophet ﷺ:
"The angels do not enter a house in which there is a dog or images".

These Hadiths and others are general, applying to an image that casts a shadow, meaning it has a body, and of one that doesn't cast a shadow, meaning an inscription on a wall, on paper, clothing, etc.

It is confirmed that when the Messenger of Allah entered the Ka'bah and saw pictures in it, he ordered for buckets of water to be brought and he began wiping off those pictures, all the while saying.
"May Allah fight a people who draw that which they do not create."

In these times, though, we might make an exception for paper money with pictures of Presidents and Kings, or Passport pictures and the like out of the need and necessity to carry them. But this is limited to the extent of the need. And Allâh knows best.