Destroying Photos Ones Does Not Own
Question
Please advise if one is allowed to destroy photographs of
a. Oneself that is not in one’s possession but one has access to.
b. One’s children that is not in one’s possession but one has access to.
c. Family members that do not include oneself and are not in one’s possession but has access to.
Answer
Firstly, we commend you for your desire and determination to destroy the animate photos of yourself that are still available and circulating.
We would advise you not to just acquire the photos, whether hardcopy or digital (even if they are not owned by you) from those people, but to emphatically plead with them to delete/destroy them. If they are prepared to give the photos to you, all the better. In this case, after getting the photos, you should destroy them yourself. In either case, you should make Taubah and Istighfaar for having allowed people to take photos of you. You should also advise family members and acquaintances not to take photos of animate objects while at the same time, applying the same rule for yourself too (i.e. not taking photos of animate objects).
- Approved by
- Mufti Muhammed Saeed Motara Saheb D.B.
Fatawa SA is an independent, read-only index of fatawa already published by Darul Ifta, Darul Uloom Azaadville. It is not a fatwa service. For your own situation, ask the issuing Darul Ifta directly.