Can I Keep Pictures Of Female Family Members?

Answered by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat

Question

Assalamu ‘Alaykum.

I have digital photos of my mother, sister, female cousin, and maybe other females on my computer. I wanted to delete the photos of all female members, but my mom and sister didn’t allow it, as they want to keep them. 

Is it ok if I keep the photos of female members on my computer and CDs in such security that nobody except my Mom and sister can view them?

Answer

Wa ‘alaykum assalam wa rahmatullah wa barakatuh.

I pray you are well.

The photos are permissible to keep. However, the ruling here is based on what the images show and what you are allowed to see. Pictures of your mahrams are fine to keep and see.

Images of non-mahrams, especially if they show parts of their body you are not permitted to see, such as their hair, would not be permissible to look at. (Maydani, al Lubab).

The simplest solution is to have your sister transfer them to a cloud storage space with her as the account holder. The pictures will be safe and only visible to those she gives access to. That is the most precautious approach for yourself and them.

May Allah grant you the best of both worlds.

[Shaykh] Abdul-Rahim

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat began his studies in Arabic Grammar and Morphology in 2005. After graduating with a degree in English and History, he moved to Damascus in 2007, where, for 18 months, he studied with many erudite scholars. In late 2008 he moved to Amman, Jordan, where he continued his studies for the next six years in Sacred Law (fiqh), legal theory (Usul al-fiqh), theology, hadith methodology, hadith commentary, and Logic. He was also given licenses of mastery in the science of Quranic recital. He was able to study an extensive curriculum of Quranic sciences, tafsir, Arabic grammar, and Arabic eloquence.