Video taping self for family viewing

11-9-2001 | IslamWeb

Question:

Are we allowed in Islam to film our selves with a video camera in a party among just women and we're sure that no men will see it because we want to send to our family in another country?

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Answer:

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the World; and blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.
Photography of living beings such as paintings on walls, papers, prints on clothes, etc., is forbidden in Shariah.
As for photography by camera or video, Muslim scholars have two different opinions concerning this matter. Some scholars generalize the prohibitions to all kinds of photography so they believe that all kinds of photography are prohibited regardless of how the photos are taken. Some others permitted photography, particularly by camera or video.
Anyway, avoiding all kinds of photography is preferable taking into consideration the Ahadith prohibiting this act, unless there is a real necessity for doing so.
Know also that videotaping women to send the film to other members of the family is also prohibited according to the preponderant opinion of the Muslim scholars for two reasons:
First, there is a strong possibility that alien men would watch the video after a while.
Second, the guaranty that no alien men will watch the film is not enough reason to photograph women by video since many scholars believe that it is not permissible at all. The latter opinion is also supported by strong evidence so keeping oneself away from suspicious things is better.
Allah knows best.