A warning from Shaykh Uthaymeen
O slaves of Allah verily we have been plagued for some time now by a great tribulation done by some people whom Allah has favored with marriage. And this is their taking pictures of the wedding party; pictures with the camera and perhaps with tapes which can be placed in the television and these are the video tapes. This is the affliction which we have been plagued with. And I do not know the intent of these people.
Do they do this in order to increase the love between the husband and his wife? Or do they do this because that is more pleasing to the wife from the husband? Or do they do this to announce the wedding? Or do they do this because it draws them closer to Allah the Exalted? Or do they do this because it is ingratitude to Allah for this favor?
None of these worldly and religious benefits are obtained by way of this reprehensible impermissible action. Rather the only thing that is obtained from this is exposing their disobedience to Allah the Exalted, and removing the veil of shyness from the husband and the wife, and from the community of women.
These pictures which are taken will be exposed for the onlookers anytime they want to look at them. Does it please you to expose your women in front of the immoral people? Does it please you to expose your women in front of the people every time someone wants to show your sister’s face, or your daughter’s face, or your wife’s face? Does that please you O believers?
Do you have jealousy? Do you have belief in Allah? Do you fear Allah’s punishment? Do you not fear that the favor that was sent upon you will be changed into a punishment? Do you not fear the Creator of the earth and the heavens? Are you not afraid that you will be united with the enemies of Allah from the disbelievers and those who resemble them? Because the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
مَنْ تَشَبَّهَ بِقَوْمٍ فَهُوَ مِنْهُمْ
Whoever resembles a people then he is from them.
Are you pleased for the husband and wife to be punished through hatred and animosity between the two of them until the family bond dissolves? All of these affairs are possible to occur even if we are given respite while opening disobeying our Lord. This is only respite from Allah the Exalted. (And the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:)
إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَيُمْلِي لِلظَّالِمِ ، حَتَّى إِذَا أَخَذَهُ لَمْ يُفْلِتْهُ
Verily Allah grants the oppressor respite until He seizes him He does not release him.
And the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم recited:
وَكَذَلِكَ أَخْذُ رَبِّكَ إِذَا أَخَذَ الْقُرَى وَهِيَ ظَالِمَةٌ إِنَّ أَخْذَهُ أَلِيمٌ شَدِيدٌ
And thus is the seizure of your Lord when He seizes the cities while they are committing wrong. Indeed, His seizure is painful and severe. (Soorah Hud 11:102)
O people think, and use your intelligence concerning this affair. What is the result, what are its benefits, what are its harms? Verily Allah has given you intellects He did not make you like animals who do not know what is being done to them. They are driven to their place of slaughter and it goes submissively, and it is taken to pasture so it goes submissively.
You have intellects, with your intellects you perceive that which is beneficial and that which is harmful. And Allah has perfected His favor upon you by sending down upon you His Book and by what He revealed to His Messenger Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم. This affair is horrid. This affair is known by the legislation, known by the intellect, perceived by the senses. It is not hidden from anyone except the one whom Allah has erased away the light of his insight and diminished the jealous from his heart and decreased the religion from his heart.
O Muslims, O you who have jealousy, reflect upon this affair which your scholars have prohibited you from. Do not allow this blessing to sweep you into an abyss. This affair is evil, this affair is haram, and this affair is a prelude to corruption, this affair gradually leads to haram enjoyment and pleasure. Because everyone who takes these pictures whether on video tapes or by camera, he is able to look and enjoy these pictures anytime he wants to look at them.
This issue is very clear. But where are those designated guardians those who have direct responsibility over these women. And where are the guardians over the general affairs, those who have the ability to discipline those who do this with a discipline that will act as a deterrent for them and others. It is upon us to be strong in the religion of Allah. And it is upon us to not be concerned with anyone other than Allah the Exalted. And it is upon us to establish the limits of Allah. And verily I swear that whoever establishes the limits of Allah, for the sake of Allah, according to what the laws of Allah requires then Allah will assist him against all of his enemies.
O believers, O designated guardians, O general guardians, verily it is upon us all to come together to eliminate this evil corrupt phenomenon. By Allah this corruption is not a light matter even if some of the people take it lightly. Enjoying the wedding only occurs by showing gratitude for the blessings of Allah and establishing the ordinances that the legislation allows and not going beyond them or exceeded the limits of Allah or His laws.
Allah the Exalted said:
وَلَوْ أَنَّ أَهْلَ الْقُرَى آمَنُوا وَاتَّقَوْا لَفَتَحْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ بَرَكَاتٍ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَلَكِنْ كَذَّبُوا فَأَخَذْنَاهُمْ بِمَا كَانُوا يَكْسِبُونَ * أَفَأَمِنَ أَهْلُ الْقُرَى أَنْ يَأْتِيَهُمْ بَأْسُنَا بَيَاتاً وَهُمْ نَائِمُونَ * أَوَأَمِنَ أَهْلُ الْقُرَى أَنْ يَأْتِيَهُمْ بَأْسُنَا ضُحىً وَهُمْ يَلْعَبُونَ * أَفَأَمِنُوا مَكْرَ اللَّهِ فَلا يَأْمَنُ مَكْرَ اللَّهِ إِلَّا الْقَوْمُ الْخَاسِرُونَ الأعراف:96-99
And if only the people of the cities had believed and feared Allah, We would have opened upon them blessings from the heaven and the earth; but they denied [the Messengers], so We seized them for what they were earning.”
Then, did the people of the cities feel secure from Our punishment coming to them at night while they were asleep?
Or did the people of the cities feel secure from Our punishment coming to them in the morning while they were at play?
Did they then feel secure against the plan of Allah? None feels secure from the plan of Allah except the people who are the losers. (Soorah Al A’raf: 7:96-99)
Verily it is upon us, the believers; a responsibility. We are not like those who disbelieve, and enjoy themselves and eat as cattle eat, while the fire is their destination. Verily it is upon us believers, those who thank Allah for favoring us with Imaan, there is a great responsibility upon us that we implement the laws of Allah. This is the freedom that is beneficial freedom not unrestricted freedom at the expense of others.
(Agreed upon by Al-Bukhari and Muslim)