Her husband wants her to send him her picture through the Internet
Fatwa No: 144977

Question

i m a muslim girl and i try to observe sharai pardah . i left photography long ago ang now all my previous photographs r all ripped up. i want to ask is it permissible for me to send a digital picture of myself to my husband through the inter net?? my nikah was done one and half yrs ago and 6 months left for rukhsati.. till then my husband is asking for a pic digital... wat answer shuld i giv him knowing that pleasin Allah i s more imp

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

Indeed, the scholars differed in opinion in regard to the photographic pictures as to whether they are forbidden or permissible. In our view, the most preponderant opinion is that they are permissible if there is a need for them provided they are free from any prohibition. However, it is better to avoid them if there is no need for them as we clarified in Fataawa 83020 and 83249.

Hence, if you can convince your husband in a soft and gentle manner to give up his request, then this is good; this could be possible by showing him the two above-referred Fataawa and clarifying to him that it is better for both of you to be on the safe side in regard to your religion. However, if he insists that you send him the picture, then it is permissible for you to do so as we fear that if you do not send it to him, this will lead to problems between you while you are still at the beginning of your marital life.

Also, instead of sending him the picture, you may both see each other through the messenger chatting program (web-cam) if this is possible.

Allaah Knows best.

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